Sometimes, dangerous situations arise requiring emergency action for your animal’s sake. The first line of defense should always be to contact your veterinarian, however, preparedness and quick response can save your pet’s life! And save a costly trip to the vet if all turns out well.
Here are some tips on simple first aid for your pet. This is in no way meant to replace veterinary care and should be used with veterinary permission or on the way to the vet, depending on the severity of the situation:
Here are some tips on simple first aid for your pet. This is in no way meant to replace veterinary care and should be used with veterinary permission or on the way to the vet, depending on the severity of the situation:
Ingesting something foreign: First, try to verify what the animal has eaten. This information may be critical for poisoning purposes. Next, check the airway by feeling the throat and looking in the mouth (if safely permitted). For dogs: If there is no blockage, administer one teaspoon (5 ml or 5cc) of 3% hydrogen peroxide for every 10 pounds of dog’s weight. Rub the belly to mix contents. If the dog does not vomit in 10 – 15 minutes, it is safe to repeat once. If dog does not vomit after second administration, go immediately to a veterinary emergency center. And take lots of towels. Sometimes the movement of a vehicle can help the peroxide! For cats, rule of thumb is 3 teaspoons of 3% peroxide. Wrap the cat firmly in a towel, burrito-style, and administer via eyedropper. Repeat up to three times (at 10 -minute intervals) before taking him to the vet.
Bleeding from toenail: It’s easy to cut your pet’s toenail too short and cause bleeding, especially if your pet has black nails. Be sure to keep cornstarch on hand at it is an effective coagulant. Dip the affected toe in the cornstarch. Bleeding should stop within a minute or so. A styptic pencil also works great.
Small cut or laceration: For deep puncture wounds, seek immediate medical attention. For shallower surface wounds, try to limit the use of bacitracin, adhesive bandages, or anything that may cause the pet to lick or dig at the wound. Instead, try cleaning it with saline or water, and then wrap it in gauze with a non-adhesive bandage (Ace bandage or like). If bleeding does not stop, or the wound is deeper than suspected, contact your veterinarian or emergency center immediately.
If your pet gets hit by a vehicle: Sadly, this happens too often, but if s/he is still breathing, first muzzle the animal. Even the best pet may bite in defense when it is injured. After assessing injury and administering any necessary immediate first aid, wrap your pet in a towel or blanket to minimize movement and lessen the chance of shock. Secure the blanketed animal to an improvised stretcher (based on size of animal – for example, a cat may only require cardboard which has been folded several times, whereas a larger dog may need more support, such as wrapping a blanket around two poles, like broom handles or shovel hands, spaced 2 feet apart). Call your vet from the car!
Your pet stops breathing: Check the diagram below for how to administer CPR to a pet. And be sure to go straight to the vet!
Small cut or laceration: For deep puncture wounds, seek immediate medical attention. For shallower surface wounds, try to limit the use of bacitracin, adhesive bandages, or anything that may cause the pet to lick or dig at the wound. Instead, try cleaning it with saline or water, and then wrap it in gauze with a non-adhesive bandage (Ace bandage or like). If bleeding does not stop, or the wound is deeper than suspected, contact your veterinarian or emergency center immediately.
If your pet gets hit by a vehicle: Sadly, this happens too often, but if s/he is still breathing, first muzzle the animal. Even the best pet may bite in defense when it is injured. After assessing injury and administering any necessary immediate first aid, wrap your pet in a towel or blanket to minimize movement and lessen the chance of shock. Secure the blanketed animal to an improvised stretcher (based on size of animal – for example, a cat may only require cardboard which has been folded several times, whereas a larger dog may need more support, such as wrapping a blanket around two poles, like broom handles or shovel hands, spaced 2 feet apart). Call your vet from the car!
Your pet stops breathing: Check the diagram below for how to administer CPR to a pet. And be sure to go straight to the vet!
Recommended items for a pet first aid kit (we keep ours in a plastic bin as the cover doubles as a makeshift stretcher for our cats):
3% Hydrogen Peroxide
Latex gloves
Elastic, non-adhesive bandages (example: ACE)
Gauze pads & sterile ones
Towels
Blanket
Muzzle (cat and dog, if you have both pets)
Sterile saline solution
Eyedropper
Cornstarch or a styptic pencil
List of emergency phone numbers: Regular vet, Emergency vet center, and the National Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435). If you regularly have dogwalkers or petsitters, you may wish to include a nearby friend or family member’s number as well.
These are only a few tips to help Fido or Fluffy in an emergency. You are the most important resource to your pet. The hardest part of an emergency is staying calm, but do so for your pet’s sake. By preparing a few things ahead of time, you can be sure of yourself and keep your pet calm and well!
3% Hydrogen Peroxide
Latex gloves
Elastic, non-adhesive bandages (example: ACE)
Gauze pads & sterile ones
Towels
Blanket
Muzzle (cat and dog, if you have both pets)
Sterile saline solution
Eyedropper
Cornstarch or a styptic pencil
List of emergency phone numbers: Regular vet, Emergency vet center, and the National Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435). If you regularly have dogwalkers or petsitters, you may wish to include a nearby friend or family member’s number as well.
These are only a few tips to help Fido or Fluffy in an emergency. You are the most important resource to your pet. The hardest part of an emergency is staying calm, but do so for your pet’s sake. By preparing a few things ahead of time, you can be sure of yourself and keep your pet calm and well!
For more tips on pet first aid kits, visit http://www.redcross.org/images/pdfs/code/First_Aid_Kit_for_Pets.pdf
For more information on pet first aid in general, visit http://vetmed.illinois.edu/petcolumns/petcols_article_page.php?OLDPETCOLID=530
For more information on pet first aid in general, visit http://vetmed.illinois.edu/petcolumns/petcols_article_page.php?OLDPETCOLID=530
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