Many times people bring their pets to a veterinarian for things they could prevent themselves at home. "Though it is important for your pet to have regular exams," advises Dr. Ernie Ward, "pet owners should do at-home check ups that could ultimately save your pet's life and save you money."

• Torn or bleeding toenails. Dr Ernie explains that torn or bleeding toenails is one of the most common reasons pets end up in the ER. If this happens at home and you don't have any styptic powder to stop the bleeding, Dr. Ernie suggests taking some corn starch or flour and pack it into the bleeding nail. "If you don't have that," he says, "take a bar of soap and strike it across the nail to plug the bleeding. It should work in most cases."

• Vomiting or diarrhea. According to Dr. Ernie, the number one alignment that people try to treat on their own - but should go to the vet instead - is typically going to be chronic vomiting or diarrhea, something that lasts more than two or three days. "If your pet has minor diarrhea, a simple home remedy that works great is to give him some canned pumpkin," Dr. Ernie points out. "It has both soluble and insoluble fibers to help your pet's diarrhea. If you don't have any canned pumpkin, another great remedy is plain yogurt. It has probiotics which are good bacteria and get that gut feeling better in no time."

• Trouble breathing or choking. "If a pet owner ever sees that their pet is having difficulty breathing, they should see their vet immediately," Dr. Ernie warns. "If your pet is choking, you can do the Heimlich maneuver. The first thing you want to do is take your finger and sweep the inside of their mouth to dislodge anything that may have gotten stuck in the back of their throat. If it's a small dog, take them and turn them on their back with their head toward the ground. Your arms go around them and very firmly compress five times quickly to expel anything from its throat. After you perform the Heimlich, be sure to see a vet because there could be a more serious problem occurring."

• Ear infections. Dr. Ernie notes to pay special attention to your pet's ears. "I like to smell them," he explains. "If you smell a strong musty odor or see debris or they seem painful or irritated that could be a problem, could be an infection that needs to be checked out by your vet. To prevent ear infections in your pet (which could cost over a hundred dollars if it gets one!) take care of their ears. Get a good quality cleaning solution, one that contains a drying agent such as protin glycal. Don't make the mistake of using hydrogen peroxide in the ears because that is just going to turn into water. All you have to do is put the solution down the ear, massage the base and wipe it out. You'll save hundreds of dollars and your pet will thank you!"

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Dr. Ernie Ward