New England pet emergency guide
What counts as an emergency, who to call, what to bring, and how to prepare for ticks, winter and storms. Built for the six New England states.
Short versionIn an emergency, call your veterinarian or the nearest 24-hour emergency clinic first. For a possible poisoning, ASPCA Poison Control is (888) 426-4435 and Pet Poison Helpline is (855) 764-7661. This guide helps you prepare before it happens, with New England’s ticks, winters and storms in mind.
Have a plan before the emergencyPawLine gives calm triage and first-aid steps, helps you find nearby vet clinics, and keeps your pet’s profile and notes ready to share.Be ready before it is an emergency. Free to download. Try it free, no payment info needed, then decide after the trial.What is PawLine? An AI-powered pet health app whose answers draw on published veterinary research, including sources like PubMed. Ask health questions any hour, get emergency triage and first-aid steps, set medication reminders, keep a profile and daily notes for each pet and email them to your vet, and find nearby vets. Try it free for 30 days with no payment info needed; after the trial, continued access is an in-app purchase (weekly or yearly). Guidance only, not a diagnosis.
Do these four things today
- Save your regular vet, your nearest 24-hour emergency hospital and both poison hotlines in your phone.
- Find out the route and the real drive time to the emergency hospital, especially in winter and in rural areas.
- Make a pet go-bag: records, medication list, leash or carrier, food, and a photo of your pet.
- Put your pet’s medical history in one place you can share fast.
Ask with your region in the question
Tick season, cold snaps, storms and power cuts all look different in New England. Ask in the app and the answer is tailored to your pet and where you live.
This site covers
Prepare, decide, call
Storm go-bag builder for pets in New EnglandA pet evacuation kit checklist based on the AVMA, with blizzard, ice storm, hurricane and summer outage extras and a printable wallet card.Is it a pet emergency? What to do firstSigns that should not wait, and how to use a phone call to your vet or an emergency clinic to decide.Pet poison hotlines and what to tell themASPCA Poison Control (888) 426-4435 and Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661: both 24/7, fees may apply. What to gather before you call.How to find an emergency vet before you need oneA checklist for locating your closest 24-hour animal hospital in New England, checking hours, and saving it in your phone.New England tick season and your petCDC guidance: check pets daily, use a tick preventive, watch for signs for weeks. Lyme vaccine is a question for your vet.Winter pet safety in New EnglandASPCA cold-weather tips: antifreeze, ice melt, paws, and why more dogs go missing in winter.Storm and power-outage plan for petsNor’easters, ice storms and flooding: the Red Cross and ASPCA preparedness lists for pets.What goes in a pet first-aid kitStart from the Red Cross pet first-aid guidance and ask your vet to tailor it. Check expiration dates twice a year.Printable pet emergency info sheetFill in once, keep on the fridge and in the go-bag. Contacts, medications, and what to say on the phone.About Ready North and our sourcesWho publishes Ready North, how guides are written and sourced, review status, and every source we cite.
Frequently asked questions
Who do I call first in a pet emergency?
Your veterinarian or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic. For possible poisoning you can also call ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661.
Sources
- ASPCA Poison Control https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
- Pet Poison Helpline https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/
- American Red Cross: Pet disaster preparedness https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/pet-disaster-preparedness.html