How to save your pet’s life.
Though summer is upon us and there are many good summer tips to keep your pet out of harms way, here is year-round advice that can save a life.
An emergency situations calls for staying calm and making quick decisions. What should you do? Knowledge is power, so take the steps right now to learn how to handle an emergency. In addition to the first aid kit you have for home, camping, have a fully stocked pet first-aid kit (see below) know where the nearest 24-hour emergency pet clinic is. It could mean the difference between life and death. And act cautiously—animals in severe pain or fear may bite.
CAR ACCIDENTS
A pet that has been hit by a car needs to see a vet immediately. Internal bleeding is common, and outward signs of distress may not show for several hours. Also, puncture wounds that close rapidly can cause life-threatening infections later on. Enlist someone’s help in moving the animal by sliding a heavy towel beneath it. To avoid being bitten, tie a strip of cloth over your dog’s nose, or cover your cat’s face with a coat.
BLEEDING
Using direct pressure, apply a clean, dry cloth to the wound. If blood soaks through the first layer of fabric, add more so you don’t disrupt any clots that may be forming. Use a tourniquet only as a last resort, and make it just tight enough to significantly reduce the flow of blood. Loosen it every five minutes, and don’t keep it on for longer than 20 minutes. Transport your pet to the vet as soon as possible.
CHOKING
Dogs or cats that are choking may breathe loudly, drool, paw at their mouth, cough, gag, become anxious, or faint. If this happens, gently open your pet’s mouth to locate and manually remove the object. If your pet isn’t breathing and you can’t find what is obstructing its windpipe, perform a modified Heimlich maneuver. With your pet facing away from you, clasp your hands around its waist, just beneath the rib cage. Compress the abdomen three to five times with quick upward thrusts. Repeat as necessary. If that doesn’t work, take your pet to the vet.
LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS
If your pet exhibits signs of cardiopulmonary arrest—unconsciousness, a weak or irregular pulse, no heartbeat, and no obvious signs of breathing—begin CPR. The techniques used on humans can be modified easily to work on animals. If possible, enlist someone else’s help—it’s best to perform CPR on your way to the hospital, so that resuscitation can be continued there. Do not attempt it on a conscious animal.
POISONING
Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, excitability, difficulty breathing, disorientation, poor coordination, twitching, convulsions, and collapse. Common sources are medications, household cleaning products, rat poison, antifreeze, insecticides, and plants. Not all poisons are treated alike, so if you think your pet may have ingested something dangerous, head to the vet immediately. Try to bring any plant material, vomit, or toxic substances with you.
As you transport your pet to the hospital, provide a cover for warmth and talk in a soothing voice. That way, it’ll know it’s in good hands.
FIRST-AID KIT
•Phone number and directions to your veterinary clinic
•Phone number and directions to the closest emergency veterinary hospital
•Phone number of poison-control center
•Rectal thermometer
•K-Y jelly without spermicide
•Tweezers, to remove ticks, burrs, and splinters
•Blunt-tip scissors
•Disposable latex gloves
•Syringes of various sizes
•Pen light
•Nylon slip leash
•Rubbing alcohol
•3% Hydrogen peroxide, for cleaning wounds
•Diphenhydramine, or Benadryl, for allergic reactions
•Antibiotic ointment, for wounds
•Wound disinfectant such as Betadine or Nolvasan
•Cortisone spray or cream
•Sterile saline, for flushing eyes
•Ear-cleaning solution
•Roll of 2-inch-wide gauze bandage
•Roll of 1-inch-wide bandage tape
•Roll of 2-inch-wide Vetrap
•Gauze pads in different sizes
•Nonstick pads
•Roll of cotton
•Cotton balls
•Cotton swabs
•Soap or mild shampoo, for cleaning
•Muzzle
•Styptic powder/sticks, Kwik-Stop, or cornstarch, to control nail bleeding
•Nail clippers and metal nail file
•Magnifying glass
•Two heavy towels/blankets to use as a stretcher and to keep pet warm
•Several clean towels
•Paper towels
•Pedialyte, for dehydration
•Nutri-Cal nutritional supplement
•Karo syrup, for low blood sugar
•Flea comb















Maureen Adams















July 2nd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
The biggest summer problem for us in the mountains are flees. There is not a medicine that can protect the dog from them. The only possibility is to wash her every some days with creolin. It’s something really terrible.
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