Pet First Aid

Creating a First Aid Kit

Get a water resistant container large enough for the following items; such as a tackle box or a rubber maid container:

Gauze (roll & pads)

Tongue Depressors

Alcohol Prep Pads

Ace Bandage

Adhesive Tape

Probe covers

Antiseptic Wash

Eye Dropper

Tweezers

Rope Leash

Benadryl Tabs

Zip Lock Bags

Can Dog Food

Peroxide

Cotton Balls & Swabs

Moist Towelettes

Thermometer

Antibacterial Ointment

KY Jelly or Vaseline

Normal Saline Rinse

Scissors

Latex Gloves

Flashlight

Pepto Tabs

Bottled Water

Pen & Notepad

Blanket

Canine First Aid Basics

 

Dogs are active animals, and that’s one reason why they’re prone to accidents. You can’t always prevent mishaps, but you can prepare for them by reading about basic first aid techniques and then discussing what you’ve learned with your veterinarian. If an emergency occurs, stay calm and think clearly. Once you’ve given your pet first aid, take him into a veterinarian.

Approach: An injured dog is likely to be frightened and in pain, and is capable of biting anyone. If you don’t know the dog, it may be unwise to approach it. Even if it’s your pet, approach slowly, calling your pet’s name. If your pet appears calm, let it smell your closed hand before examining

his injuries. But if it snarls or snaps, protect yourself first by restraining the dog.

Restrain: You can capture a loose dog by tossing a blanket over it. To keep the dog from biting, loop a long strip of fabric or roll gauze over its muzzle at a point 2/3 thirds of the way from nose-tip to jaw. Knot it on top and again beneath the chin; then tie the ends behind the ears.

Assess: Injuries should be treated in order of severity. Give your pet a quick examination, then decide what to treat first.

 

Vital Signs: Check for regular breathing and pulse rate, in that order; begin treatment immediately if either is absent. A healthy dog breathes 12 to 30 times per minute. To feel for a pulse, place your fingertips on the inside of his upper hind leg, ½ to ¾ of the way up. Count the beats for 15 seconds, and multiply this number by 4. Totals that fall between 70 and 160 are within the normal range for dogs.

 

Artificial Respiration: Your first priority is to restore your pet’s breathing. If he is unconscious, follow these steps:

1)  Lay your dog carefully on its side

2)  Extend its head and neck

3)  Gently use a blunt instrument wrapped in a cloth to clear the mouth of any liquids      or solids

4)  Close your dog’s mouth, and place your mouth over its nose to form an airtight         seal

5)  Exhale into its nostrils until your dog’s chest expands

Give your dog 8 to 12 breaths per minute. When your dog begins breathing on its own, rush it to a veterinarian.

Heart Massage:

1)  Lay the dog on its side

2)  Place the heel of one hand on its lower chest, right behind the left front elbow

3)  Put your other hand, palm up on the equivalent spot beneath the dog’s body 

4)  Firmly press both hands toward each other, then pause

Repeat this action 80 times per minute.

CPR: CPR combines artificial respiration and heart massage. Massage the heart 5 times, then give 1 quick breath. Repeat until normal breathing and heartbeat are restored.

Temperature: To take a dog’s temperature you will need a digital thermometer, probe covers, and some KY jelly or Vaseline. Place a probe cover over the end of the thermometer and put a small amount of KY jelly or Vaseline on the end of the thermometer and place it into the dog’s rectum. A dog’s normal temperature ranges from 100-102 degrees.

 

Shock: Severe injuries and other traumas may cause shock. The symptoms include weakness; rapid breathing; and a weak, fast pulse. Be careful not to move your dog quickly. Cover him warmly, and go to a veterinarian.

 

Internal Injuries: Pale gums, a swollen abdomen, vomit mixed with blood, shock, and paralysis are some signs of internal injury. DO NOT attempt treatment yourself. Wrap warmly and, moving your dog with extreme care, get it to a veterinarian.

Move: If you suspect that your dog has internal injuries, carefully slide him onto a board, blanket, jacket, or other makeshift stretcher. You can carry a small dog with minor injuries by resting its hindquarters in the crook of your arm and using the same arm to support your dog’s stomach and chest. With your other arm, hold up its head and neck. To carry a large dog, stoop and wrap one arm around its front legs and the other around its hind legs; then lift.

Treating Common Dog Injuries

 

ALLERGIC REACTION

Symptoms: These range from tearing or itching eyes, a swollen face, and sneezing to difficulty in breathing, collapse, and unconsciousness.

 

Treatment: If your pet’s reactions appear severe, rush it to a veterinarian.

 

BURNS

Symptoms: Reddened skin and singed hair are signs of first-degree burns. In the case of second-degree burns, the area will be swollen and the skin may appear loose. Blackened or whitish skin signals a third-degree burn.

 

Treatment: Apply cold water or ice to first-degree burns. Cover extensive second- or third-degree burns with a cool, damp cloth (do not use cotton), and take your pet to a veterinarian.

HEATSTROKE

Symptoms: Intense heat coupled with inadequate water and ventilation can cause a dog to pant excessively and run a fever in the 105 to 110 degrees range. Shock, collapse, and death may follow.

 

Treatment: Immerse the dog in water to its neck to lower its body temperature. An ice pack will help cool the dog’s head. When its temperature approaches the normal range, 100-102 degrees, take the dog to a veterinarian.

POISONING

Symptoms: These vary with the poison taken. Small amounts of medication, antifreeze, or other household chemicals can be fatal to dogs. In general, look for lack coordination, severe vomiting, diarrhea, delirium, collapse, and convulsions.

 

Treatment: If you suspect poisoning, call a veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. A $65 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.

 

FRACTURES

Symptoms: A bent or dragging leg, pain, and swelling.

 

Treatment: DO NOT try to set the bone yourself. Restrict your pet’s movements while in route to a veterinarian.

DROWNING

Hold the dog upside down for 10 to 15 seconds. Administer CPR. Then wrap the dog warmly and take to a veterinarian.

Feline First Aid Basics

 

Cats are curious, independent animals, and that’s one reason why accidents can happen to them. You can’t always prevent mishaps, but you can prepare for them by reading about basic first aid techniques in the booklet and then discussing what you’ve learned with your veterinarian. If an emergency occurs, stay calm and think clearly. Once you’ve given your pet first aid, take him into a veterinarian.

 

Approach: Loud crying, labored breathing, and an anxious expression are signs that a cat is in pain and therefore potentially dangerous. Call to the animal as you approach it slowly. Be especially cautious with a cat you don’t know. If it hisses, tries to bite, or scratches, you may need to try and restrain the cat.

 

Restrain: You can capture a cat by tossing a towel over it. A towel wrapped around your pet will also keep it from scratching you. If the cat’s injuries appear minor, you may hold it by the back of the neck. But don’t ever try to muzzle a cat.

 

Assess: Injuries should be treated in order of severity. Give your pet a quick examination, then decide what to treat first.

 

Vital Signs: Begin by checking respiration and heartbeat. A healthy cat will breathe 16 to 32 times per minute. To feel for a heartbeat, lay your pet on its side, position your thumb on the cat’s chest just behind the front left elbow, and place the other fingers on the equivalent spot beneath its body. A normal cat’s heartbeat will equal 100 to 160 beats per minute. To save valuable time, count the number of beats for 15 seconds, then multiply by 4.

Artificial Respiration: Your first priority is to restore your pet’s breathing. If he is unconscious, follow these steps:

1)  Lay the cat carefully on its side

2)  Clean any liquids or solids from the cat’s mouth with a blunt instrument wrapped       in a cloth

3)  Close the cat’s mouth, and place your mouth over its nose

4)  Exhale into the cat’s nostrils until you see its chest rise

5)  Pause briefly

Give your cat 10 to 12 short puffs of air per Minute.

 

Heart Massage:

1)  Lay your cat on its right side

2)  Place your fingertips on the lower left side of the chest wall, behind the front      

    elbow

3)  Put the fingertips of your other hand on the equivalent spot beneath the cat

4)  Press both sets of fingers toward each other

Repeat this action 80 times per minute.

CPR: CPR combines artificial respiration and heart massage. Massage the heart 5 times, then give 1 quick breath. Repeat until normal breathing and heartbeat are restored.

 

Temperature: To take a cat’s temperature you will need a digital thermometer, probe covers, and some KY jelly or Vaseline. Place a probe cover over the end of the thermometer and put a small amount of KY jelly or Vaseline on the end of the thermometer and place it into the cat’s rectum. A cat’s normal temperature ranges from 101.5-102.5 degrees.

Shock: Shock results when a cat’s body is unable to adjust to serious injuries or other traumas. Look for weakness, rapid breathing, listlessness, and legs that are cool to the touch. Wrap the cat warmly in a blanket or towel, move it slowly and carefully, and hurry to a veterinarian.

 

Internal Injuries: If your cat’s back legs do not respond to pinching, a spinal injury may be the reason. Labored breathing, and bleeding from the mouth or nose may indicate internal bleeding. Move the cat with extreme care and take it to a veterinarian.

 

Move: A seriously injured cat should be slid gently onto a board, blanket or towel and transported as if on a stretcher. You can carry a cat with minor injuries by using your arm and hand to support his hindquarters, abdomen, and chest, supporting its head and neck with your other hand.

 

Treating Common Cat Injuries

 

BITES

Symptoms: These include a temperature above the normal range of about 101.5 to 102.5 degrees, loose tufts of fur, dried blood, and swelling. Bites are frequently suffered by “outside” cats, especially intact males.

 

Treatment: Because of the chance for serious infection, it’s best to take the cat to a Veterinarian.

BURNS

Symptoms: Reddened skin and singed hair are signs of first-degree burns. In the case of second-degree burns, the area will be swollen and the skin may appear loose. Blackened or whitish skin signals a third-degree burn. Some cats develop the dangerous habit of chewing on electrical cords. This can cause serious burns to the mouth and often leads to death from electrical shock.

 

Treatment: If a burn is superficial, apply cold water or ice immediately. Cover a serious burn with fabric (do not use cotton), and keep the cat warm while you take it to the veterinarian.

POISONING

Symptoms: Small amounts of medication, antifreeze, or other household chemicals can be fatal to cats. The symptoms, which vary with the type of poison, include collapse, diarrhea, delirium, lack of coordination, convulsions, and vomiting.

Treatment: If you suspect poisoning, call a veterinarian immediately or the Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. A $65 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.

FRACTURES

Symptoms: A bent or dragging leg, pain, and swelling.

 

Treatment: DO NOT try to set the bone yourself. Restrict your pet’s movements while in route to a veterinarian.

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