First Aid
Knowing pet first aid can feel overwhelming, as there is a lot of information to know. However, starting with the basics and focusing on one skill at a time will help ensure you are prepared for an emergency, as well as being able to share what you know with others. This post discusses some of those skills and what to have in a first aid kit, whether you purchase one or build it yourself.
Being a pet owner is not all kisses and cuddles. Unfortunately, emergencies happen. While we can’t prepare for every situation, knowing basic first aid will help with some of the common incidents including choking, heatstroke, and bleeding.
Choking
Symptoms: difficulty breathing, excessive pawing at the mouth, choking sounds when breathing or coughing, blue-tinged lips/tongue.
Use caution – a choking pet is more likely to bite in its panic.
If the pet can still breathe, keep it calm and get it to a veterinarian.
Look into the pet's mouth to see if a foreign object is visible. If you see an object, gently try to remove it with pliers or tweezers, but be careful not to push the object further down the throat. Don't spend a lot of time trying to remove it if it's not easy to reach—don't delay, and get your pet to a veterinarian immediately.
If you can't remove the object or your pet collapses, place both hands on the side of your pet's rib cage and apply firm quick pressure, or lay your pet on its side and strike the rib cage firmly with the palm of your hand 3-4 times. The idea behind this is to sharply push air out of their lungs and push the object out from behind. Keep repeating this until the object is dislodged or until you arrive at the veterinarian's office.
Heatstroke
Never leave your pet in the car on warm days. The temperature inside a car can quickly rise to dangerous levels, even on milder days. Pets can succumb to heatstroke easily and must be treated quickly to give them the best chance of survival.
Additionally, be mindful and watch how your pet responds while outside during the summer. Even your “normal“ walk could be enough to send your pet into heat stroke if not addressed.
If you cannot immediately get your pet to a veterinarian, move to a shaded area and out of direct sunlight.
Place a cool or cold, wet towel around the neck and head (do not cover your pet's eyes, nose or mouth).
Remove the towel, rewet it, and rewrap it every few minutes as you cool the animal.
Pour or use a hose to keep water running over the animal's body (especially the abdomen and between the hind legs), and use your hands to massage its legs and sweep the water away as it absorbs the body heat.
Transport the pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Bleeding
Press a clean, thick gauze pad over the wound, and keep pressure over the wound with your hand until the blood starts clotting. This will often take several minutes for the clot to be strong enough to stop the bleeding. Instead of checking it every few seconds to see if it has clotted, hold pressure on it for a minimum of 3 minutes and then check it.
If bleeding is severe and on the legs, apply a tourniquet (using an elastic band or gauze) between the wound and the body, and apply a bandage and pressure over the wound. Loosen the tourniquet for 20 seconds every 15-20 minutes. Severe bleeding can quickly be life-threatening—get your animal to a veterinarian immediately if this occurs.
Unfortunately the bleeding is not always external. Internal bleeding can occur after trauma such as being hit or falling off a tall structure.
Symptoms: bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum, coughing up blood, blood in urine, pale gums, collapse, weak and rapid pulse.
Keep animal as warm and quiet as possible and transport immediately to a veterinarian.
If you need to get Pet CPR and First Aid Certified, propethero.com is the place to go! For 10% off their course, use the code: CPR-petsitterconfessional
Your First Aid Kit Should Contain
Absorbent gauze pads
Adhesive tape
Cotton balls or swabs
Fresh 3% hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting (always check with veterinarian or animal poison control expert before giving to your pet)
Ice pack
Disposable gloves
Scissors with blunt end
Tweezers
OTC antibiotic ointment
Oral syringe or turkey baster
Liquid dishwashing detergent (for bathing)
Towels
Small flashlight
Alcohol wipes
Styptic powder
Saline eye solution
Artificial tear gel
Phone number, clinic name, address of your veterinarian as well as local veterinary emergency clinics.
Make sure to check your pack every few months to make sure nothing has expired or needs to be replaced, and keep your kit out of the reach of children. You may also decide to buy a pre-built kit and customize it for your needs.
