Medical & Emergencies
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
Contact the Foster Care Management Team immediately if you suspect your foster animal is having a veterinary emergency.
If your emergency is during Bideawee hours of operation, you will be instructed to come to Bideawee’s Animal Hospital. If you have an emergency medical concern outside of BAW’s hours of operation, call the emergency phone number provided on the Emergency Contacts portion of this manual, so they can offer advice for temporary care or instruct you to go to an emergency hospital. Bideawee will cover the cost of the emergency visit. If you cannot get ahold of anyone after calling the number, and it is a true emergency you should bring your foster to one of the emergency hospitals on the list in this Foster Manual.
Below are examples of emergencies and non-emergencies. Please note that if you bring an animal to an emergency hospital without Bideawee’s prior knowledge for a NON-emergency, Bideawee WILL NOT cover the expense.
Emergencies Situations: Contact Foster Care Management Team Immediately:
- Failure to eat or drink for more than 24 hours
- Show signs of severe lethargy or behaving uncharacteristically
- Gasping for air
- Erratic breathing
- Accidental injury
- Unable to stand or walk
Seizures
A seizure is any sudden and uncontrolled movement of the animal’s body caused by abnormal brain activity. Seizures can range from very mild to quite severe. Some of the signs of a seizure can include collapse, involuntary movement also known as a convulsion( the body moving in an exaggerated way while animal is on its side or upright)The pet may urinate or defecate. There is often a period of confusion and a dazed appearance following a seizure.
What to do:
Stay calm. Keep noise at a minimum. Turn off the tv or music, lowering or turning off bright lights can help. Any loud noise or activity can make the seizures worse. Stay beside the pet and prevent them from hitting their head. Do not reach in their mouth- animals are not in danger of swallowing their tongue and you may be bitten.
IF SEIZURE ACTIVITY LASTS LONGER THAN 3-5 MINUTES IT CAN CAUSE SEVERE SIDE EFFECTS.SEEK EMERGENCY CARE IF THE SEIZURES PERSIST.
After a seizure, the pet is normally confused or dazed, sit with them and speak calmly. After they are fully awake, they can be offered food and water.
Non-Emergencies: Contact the Foster Care Management Team During Normal Business Hours:
- Diarrhea when the animal is first brought home even if there is some blood in it
- One-time vomiting
- Sneezing or coughing
- Scratching
- Not eating or drinking in the first 12 hours.
Poisonous/ Toxic Materials:
If you think your pet may have eaten a potentially poisonous substance, contact the Foster Team immediately or call: Animal Poison Control Center 888-426-4435 Call for expert toxicology advice. A consultation fee may apply. This is not a complete list- if you are concerned your pet may have eaten something dangerous, contact the Foster Team right away:
Chocolate
Xylitol (often found in sugar-free gum)
Macadamia nuts
Grapes and raisins
Onions
Garlic
Alcohol
Caffeinated drinks
Raw yeast dough
Raw or undercooked meat
Paint
Glue
Cleaning Chemicals
Rodenticides, Insecticides
Products designed to kill rodents are particularly dangerous to pets, who may be tempted to eat the tasty bricks, granules, or pellets left out for mice and rats. Rodenticides kill rodents by causing internal bleeding, high calcium levels, brain swelling, or toxic gas production. Never put rat bait out where your pet can find it and keep your pet confined to your yard to prevent him from eating your neighbors’ rodenticides. Ant baits, bug sprays, and foggers can be poisonous to your pet. Read labels to ensure proper use of these products and prevent pets from exposure during and after use. Store all insecticides on high shelves out of a pet’s reach.
Plants toxic to pets
Plants found in flower beds, vegetable gardens, and indoor planters and arrangements can be toxic to pets. Cats, who particularly like to munch on greenery, are sensitive to many plant types, but dogs also can be at risk. A complete list of toxic and nontoxic plants can be found on ASPCA’s website, but the most common toxic plants include:
Autumn crocus
Azalea
Cyclamen
Daffodils
Dieffenbachia
Hyacinth
Kalanchoe
Lily of the valley
Lilies
Oleander
Sago palm
Tulips
EMERGENCY CONTACTS & HOSPITALS
Please contact the Foster Management team with any concerns or questions. Included below is a list of emergency contact information.
Foster Program Management Team: Contact first with all questions/concerns:
Foster Phone Number: Fosters can text and call. Please use this number for emergencies. *We can only respond to EMERGENCIES after business hours* 347-474-9114
Medical team contacts (can be cc’d on emergency emails):
Leticia Lopez – Manhattan – [email protected]
Amy Steares – Westhampton – [email protected]
Laura Rosa – Wantagh – [email protected]
EMERGENCY HOSPITALS:
If your emergency is during Bideawee hours of operation, you will be instructed to come to Bideawee’s Animal Hospital. If you have an emergency medical concern outside of BAW’s hours of operation, call the emergency phone number provided on the Emergency Contacts portion of this manual, so we can offer advice for temporary care or instruct you to go to an emergency hospital. Bideawee will cover the cost of the emergency visit. If you cannot get ahold of anyone after calling the number, and it is a true emergency you should bring your foster to one of the emergency hospitals on following list. You will alert the staff that you have a Bideawee foster pet and that billing should go on Bideawee’s account.
Please Note:
The Animal Clinics listed below are not affiliated with Bideawee nor are we recommending that you use them for your personal pets. We are, however, asking that if you are fostering a Bideawee animal and one of your fosters has a medical emergency after Bideawee has closed please contact one of the above clinics closest to your residence for medical assistance. This service is only applicable if you believe your Bideawee foster is in a life-threatening situation. Please try and contact the Bideawee Foster Care Management Team first so that we can guide you in critical situations.
24 HOUR ANIMAL HOSPITALS & CLINICS – EMERGENCY ONLY
Manhattan:
Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC)
Manhattan: 510 East 62nd St
212-838-7053
Blue Pearl
Manhattan: 410 West 55th St
212-767-0099
Brooklyn:
Veterinary Emergency & Referral Group (VERG)
Brooklyn: 196 4th Ave
718-522-9400
Blue Pearl
Brooklyn: 718-596-0099
Animal Kind Veterinary Hospital
Brooklyn: 365 7th Ave
718-832-3899
Queens:
Elmhurst Animal Emergency Hospital
Queens: 87-06 Queens Blvd
718-426-4444
Blue Pearl
Queens: 107-28 71st Road
718-263-0099
Staten Island:
Veterinary Emergency Center *NOT 24 hours
Staten Island: 1293 Clove Road
718-720-4211
Yonkers:
Animal Specialty Center
Yonkers: 9 Odell Plaza 914-457-4000
Long Island
Plainview:
Long Island Veterinarian Specialists
167 South Service Road
516-501-1700
Riverhead:
East End Veterinary Emergency & Specialty
Center
67 Commerce Drive
631-369-4513
Bohemia:
Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists
3250 Veterans Memorial Hwy
631-285-7780
West Islip:
VMCLI
75 Sunrise Hwy North Service Rd
631-587-0800
Commack:
Veterinary Emergency Group
6240 Jericho Turnpike
631-462-6044
FOSTER RECEIPT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Bideawee typically cannot reimburse fosters because we provide supplies, but there are
instances where our team will approve reimbursement (ex- picking up a special medication for a
foster pet, purchasing a special food or chicken if we ask you to try that for your foster pet, etc).
Reimbursement requests are considered on a case by case basis.
If approved:
- For every receipt, please be sure to indicate your first and last name & the animal’s name on the back of the receipt.
- (Supply purchases require prior authorization from Foster Manager)
For supply purchases, please be sure to include an itemized receipt along with any other proof of purchase, such as a credit card receipt.
- Please submit receipts in a timely manner within one month of a purchase, etc. or it cannot be reimbursed. Receipts can be photographed and emailed in to make it easier for you to have a copy of your own. Please note it will take 2 to 3 weeks to receive your check once your receipt has been approved for reimbursement. (Please keep a copy of the receipt for your personal records.)
- And finally, if you have moved to a new address, please inform the Foster Team as soon as possible so that your information is updated into our database.
Thank you, in advance, for your cooperation while providing care for animals in need.
FOSPICE CARE
A very important extension of the Foster Care Program is what we like to call Fospice Care. This is part foster, part hospice. The Bideawee Adoption Center sometimes receives animals who are not medically healthy enough for adoption, but still have the right to live out their golden years in a loving home with proper medical care and treatment. For these pets Bideawee supports their enjoying life until it’s time they cross the rainbow bridge. Bideawee provides all supplies, medical care, and makes all medical decisions in the interest of the quality of life of the fospice animal.
Which Animals Qualify for Fospice Care?
Elderly Cats and Dogs
- Arthritis
- Chronic Skeletal Condition
- Chronic Muscle Condition
Terminally Ill Cats and Dogs
- Cancer
- Heart Failure
- Kidney Disease
Each and every animal that has been identified as needing Fospice Care has been examined by a DVM. It has been determined that the pet is not in any pain and its quality of life is stable and good. Each individual Fospice Care case will have its entire medical care tailored to support, treat and care for its individual needs
Animal Cruelty
Unfortunately, people who work with animals will likely come across a case of an animal who has been treated cruelty at a point in their lives. It is extremely important to understand what animal cruelty is, what it looks like, and how to report it should you come across it.
