Having a sick pet is stressful no matter when it happens, but pet illness becomes even more of an ordeal if it happens on the weekend. Suddenly, options like calling your local vet become a lot harder, care can take longer to reach, and your pet’s health will be at a generally higher risk of deteriorating.

Unfortunately, though, illness doesn’t work to a schedule, and pets do often seem to fall ill during these out-of-hours periods. That’s why it's vital that pet owners understand the alternative steps they can take to save their pets, even on a Sunday! Keep reading as we talk you through your options.

# 1 - Find a Professional by Any Means

When animals fall ill, they often deteriorate fast. That’s why you should never simply sit tight and wait for your usual vet to open its doors again – even just 12 hours of waiting could prove fatal.

As such, your first plan of action should always be to seek professional help. Luckily, you have two options here. For instance, did you know that many vets offer an out-of-hours service? It’s always worth contacting your regular vet to see if they’re available to help you.

If that’s not an option, then look for an emergency vet near you. These vets are a little like A&E for animals and, in some cases, they can even provide crucial in-home care. Even if you have to drive a little while to access emergency services, it’s better than waiting at home. As well as generally providing emergency immediate urgent care, an emergency service of this nature can keep your pet as healthy as possible until normal veterinary hours resume.

# 2 - First Aid What You Can (And Monitor What You Can’t)

First aid for pets should always be handled with care. For instance, in no circumstances should a well-meaning pet owner give their pet human medicine of any kind! However, it is sometimes possible to administer first aid before you’re able to access a vet. Simple things, like applying a bandage to an open wound, or even just getting your pet to take more fluids, can all help their prospects.

It’s also possible to administer CPR on a pet yourself if necessary. There are videos about how to do this, which are worth watching, but you’ll generally want to use 100-120 compressions per minute, interspersed with rescue breaths every 30 seconds.

# 3 - Think About Your Pet’s Comfort

The feeling of being ill, and the panic that can follow, can be overwhelming for a pet that’s probably already frightened, and it can also mean that you leave them in potentially uncomfortable positions.

That’s why our last tip is to simply prioritise your pet’s comfort. For one thing, you should try to keep them in a calm, quiet space. It’s also important to get them set up on a comfortable bed or cushion, with a blanket that can help them feel a lot more relaxed until you find some help.

Pet sickness out of hours is a nightmare, but you’re all far more likely to get through it with these top tips.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.