Those sleepless nights, the endless wait before he or she gets better ? how many times have you experienced this trauma of not being able to give your little pug or family labrador the kind of attention he needs during the testing times?

Nothing can be worse than the constant cry of anguish of your little pet. As all households with pets will vouch, if the little puppy or kitty is not eating, neither are the owners able to. If they are awake in pain, so is the rest of the household.

Just like other members in the family, your pets, too, need to have a regular consultant or a doctor to monitor their growth and problems over time. Like people, pets also require professional help once in a while, especially during emergencies.

Deepak Mahato: A consultant vet at the Tata Steel Veterinary centre, he attends calls from 5.00 pm to 8.30 pm. As a vet who has been taking care of pets since the last 15 years, he has been instrumental in pet care in the city.

He is more than willing to share interesting trivia ? like did you know that among 90 per cent of the road-accident cases, only 10 per cent require intensive medical attention? But if your dog meets with an accident, he advises, the best thing to do is to take him to a doctor as soon as possible, rather than expect him to recuperate on his own. ?You never know what works best. Sometimes a simple drip and ample rest tend to clear matters up, but if we see that the animal is showing no sign of recovery, then we go for surgery,? he says. Per visit charges comes to Rs 110 (approx), while the second round of visits may cost Rs 120, (approx) depending on the distance travelled. Contact No: 2142708

Debashish Deb: Based in Telco, Jamshedpur, Deb has been attending canine emergency cases for the last 17 years. A private practitioner, his biggest worries are epileptic fits that cats and dogs often fall prey to. He too wants the owners should rush the pets to the clinic as soon as any emergency occurs or for diseases that do not seem to subside.

?Winters are harsh and cruel towards young pets. Extra care in matters of food and proper shelter should be provided to the animals ? be it a pup, a kitten or a bird. Vitamin supplements and warmer (not hot) food should be given. The cages or sleeping areas should be covered with extra thick materials like jute or rags to insulate the area. The first step should be to consult a vet to learn about the winter care needed and ensure that the pet does not get dehydrated,? says the doctor. Doctor Deb is usually on call from six in the evening to 10 pm and the charges vary with the distance that the vet has to travel. Contact No: 9431300799

Sushil Prasad: A retired veterinary surgeon of the district veterinary hospital, Jugsalai, Prasad is based in Mango and has been attending to birds and beasts since the last 15 years or more.

He is on call from six till nine at night. Now a private practitioner with his own clinic in Mango, he charges Rs 50 (approx) for local cases, while the charge goes up to Rs 150 (approx) for cases that requires more travel. Contact No: 9431166799

First hand

Get to know basics first

“We are at a loss when a pet owner informs us at the last possible moment. Either owners over-react and call us when there is no need to panic, or they don’t call us till it is really late. “Before one decides to keep a pet a little background knowledge in pet care goes a long way,” stresses Mahato.