First Aid for Your Pet

Even your pet can suddenly become ill or injured. It is important to stabilize your pet prior to getting him to our hospital. Here are some simple first aid tips that can provide a necessary and life-saving remedy until proper medical attention can be gotten.

Stay Calm: Don't panic. When you are calm, you pet is calm as they feed off of your energy. If you are calm you will be better able to describe the incident and your pet's symptoms to the doctor, which will allow the doctor to better assess the problem.

Focus: As you get ready to take your pet to the hospital, call or have someone call the hospital. If you are focused you can administer first aid, such as applying direct pressure to a wound to help stop bleeding, and/or assess the best way to move your pet without causing further injury or pain.

Handle with Care: Restraining an injured pet can be dangerous to you. Even the friendliest pet can bite or scratch. This redirected or displaced aggression can cause serious injury to you so you should muzzle your pet unless he or she is unconscious. You can use a pair of pantyhose to secure the mouth while you are moving your pet. Use caution in tying the mouth too tight as to not cause restricted breathing. You can also use an E Collar, blanket, towel or carrier to assist.

Hot or Cold?: The normal body temperature for dogs and cats is 99 to 103. A cold or hot nose will not accurately tell you the body temperature. You can take your pet's temperature rectally if you are able to properly restrain your pet. If your pet's temperature is below 99 or over 103 you should see medical attention for him or her.

While it is imperative that you do not attempt to diagnose your pet yourself, you do need to assess the situation. Broken bones, burns, toxins, bleeding, seizuring, vomiting, diarrhea, eyes and inappropriate medicine ingestion are among a few of the urgent care symptoms that require immediate attention.

Creating your pet's first aid kit:

• Veterinarian's phone number and address
• Emergency clinics phone number and address for after hours
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Gloves
• Sterile Saline (1 quart)
• Bandage materials
• Gauze pads
• Gauze rolls
• Ace bandage rolls
• Basket muzzle
• Alcohol prep pads
• Cold pack
• Digital thermometer
• Hydrogen peroxide and measuring cup/spoons
• Rags or rubber tubing (tourniquet)
• Blanket/ towel/ pillow case
• Leash/ collar/ E Collar/ Carrier

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