|
· Emergency Care Tips For Your Pet
This is not intended as a substitute for
expert veterinary care. Ask your own veterinarian clinic if they hold pet
first-aid classes for owners. Many are now doing this, sometimes in partnership
with other clinics in their area.
Heat Stroke,
Hyperthermia
Pets cannot tolerate high temperatures as well as people can and they rely on
rapid breathing to exchange hot air for cool air. Pets' temperatures are
higher than ours -- a dog and cat have an average temperature of 101.5
degrees Fahrenheit.
Common situations and features that can predispose a pet to
overheating:
- Being
left in a car in warm weather, even if the windows are left slightly
open.
- Having
a muzzle on while a pet is being groomed, and/or leaving the muzzle on
while a pet is put in a drying cage.
- Short-nosed
breeds such as pugs, bulldogs, boxers and Persian cats.
- Any
pet with an airway disease.
- Being
confined outside without shade or an adequate supply of fresh water.
Suggested treatment
when this condition occurs:
- Mild
Hyperthermia can sometimes be treated by simply removing a pet from the
situation and/or environment where overheating has occurred, and placing
it in a cool place in the shade or in an air-conditioned room.
- If
a pet is unsteady on its feet and you have moved it to a cooler
location, you can start cooling it by placing cool water on the feet.
Rubbing alcohol on the skin of your pet's stomach (with a fan blowing on
the pet) can also aid in cooling.
- While
these steps are in progress, have someone call your veterinarian so that
they can determine if you should bring your pet in for treatment.
Note: it is very dangerous to cool an overheated pet too quickly.
Never put a pet in an ice bath, or use ice cold water, unless under the
direct supervision of your veterinarian. Cool water is best.
The most common sign of hyperthermia is restlessness and agitation, with
vigorous panting. A pet's saliva may be thick, and the gums and tongue may be
bright red. Depending on the severity of the hyperthermia, the gums can also
be very pale and a pet may be lying down with its head, neck, and limbs
extended and thick saliva coming from the mouth and nose.
Always call your veterinarian, even if the pet appears to have recovered from
hyperthermia, after you have administered any of the treatments above. Your
veterinarian may not want to see your pet if it has recovered, but it is
always best for them to determine whether or not your pet needs to be
examined.
Choking
Choking is caused by a foreign object being lodged in the pet's airway and
adding pressure to the trachea or windpipe. To avoid a choking incident,
always provide your pet with toys that are the appropriate size. Toys that
are too small (relative to your pet's size) can be easily swallowed and
become wedged in your pet's airway.
It's important to provide supervision when an edible treat is being chewed.
Some treats that dogs enjoy, such as rawhide, cow hooves, and pig ears, can
break off in pieces and may not be small enough for your pet to swallow
completely.
Always remove strings, foil, and feathers from cat toys -- these items can be
enjoyable to your cat but may potentially become caught in its throat or
intestinal tract.
Indications of choking:
- Noisy
and labored breathing sounds – your pet will have difficulty inhaling
- Pawing
at the nose and mouth
- Gums
may be white or blue
- Excessive
drooling
- Unconsciousness
Determine if your pet's airway is able to be cleared
by performing a finger swipe of the mouth -- this is accomplished by placing
your finger on the side of the pet's mouth and sliding it down and toward the
center of the throat. If no foreign object or substance is removed and your
pet is still having breathing difficulties, contact your veterinarian for
immediate instructions and care. Do not try and perform CPR or the Heimlich
method unless instructed by your veterinarian.
Bleeding
A physical trauma can cause pets to suffer blood loss. Regardless of what
caused the trauma to your pet, immediate attention to blood loss is required.
Pressure:
Apply gentle pressure to the bleeding; do not remove a cloth or bandage even
if it becomes saturated, simply apply additional layers. The bandage can be
held in place by bandage material if you need to free your hands. Elevation
can be used to aid in stopping the bleeding, but try to continue applying
direct pressure to the wound. Try to keep your pet calm, and contact your
veterinarian immediately, or if the situation warrants it, begin transporting
your pet to the veterinarian while controlling the bleeding.
Tourniquet:
The use of tourniquets can be dangerous and cause damage to the limb if
applied incorrectly. A tourniquet should only be used if the pet is
experiencing a life threatening situation, due to the amount of blood loss
that is occurring from a limb or tail.
How to Move and
Transport an Injured Pet
An injured pet is unpredictable, regardless of its personality. When pets are
in pain, they react instinctively and unpredictably and cannot be held
responsible for their actions.
Always take precautions to protect yourself, and your pet, from further
injury when transporting to the veterinarian. An emergency muzzle' can be
made from a neck tie, silk stocking, a section of linen fabric, or other
strong material. Using the middle of the material, make a loop and place it
around your pet's muzzle. Bring the ends under the chin and tie snuggly
around the back of the head under the ears.
If your pet is unable to walk, or you have determined that walking may cause
further injury or damage, a blanket can be used as a transport device. Gently
lift the pet onto the blanket, and grip the edges of the blanket to lift and
place the pet in the vehicle. Covering your pet is important to prevent heat
loss and can create a calming effect.
Smaller pets can be transported in a carrier or a box (with holes large
enough for air to allow for adequate breathing) with a lid. Try to minimize
the amount of movement, and make your pet as comfortable as possible. Always
try to contact your veterinarian, in advance, to share as many details as
possible, and the estimated time that you will arrive at the clinic.
Snake Bites
The first thing you must do if you think your pet has been bitten by a snake
is to stay calm. Do not add any additional excitement to the situation. Your
pet will need to be examined to determine if and where the snake bite
occurred, and there may be more than one location, so examine carefully. A
constrictive bandage can be placed on the limb involved, above the bite. A
bandage will need to fit firmly on the leg, but not too tightly.
If possible, try to identify the snake – you should attempt to determine the
size, color, the shape of the head, and if there was a rattle at the end of
the snake's tail. Do not risk injury to yourself in attempting to get this
information.
Carry the pet to the vehicle or, if too large to carry, walk it slowly to
your vehicle and go to the nearest veterinary hospital. (This may not be the
hospital that you regularly use, but immediate care is required for a snake
bite.) In the meantime, keep your pet as calm as possible.
Contact your veterinarian if you think a snake bite may have occurred, but
you are unable to find the fang marks. Your veterinarian may want to examine
your pet to insure a bite mark was not accidentally overlooked.
Spider Bites
Veterinary treatment is required for any spider bite. Unfortunately, you will
probably not know when your pet has received a spider bite. Spider bites can
be painless when they occur. What you may see is a patch of skin where the
hair has thinned; there may be a single hole visible, with skin discoloration
around the hole. The skin may be a dark purple or black in color.
There might be lameness in the limb other than where the bite occurred, as
well as fever and chills. Spider bites can be life threatening to you and
your pets.
Research the area you live to determine which poisonous spiders are
prevalent, and always examine the areas where spiders like to build nests. Contact
an exterminator to remove spiders from your home.
(A
handy guide to complete, print and keep in your home and car)
Primary Information you need
in case of emergency:
Veterinarian
Name:
Address:
Phone Number:
Fax:
Hours of operation:
Alternate or emergency phone number:
Emergency Veterinarian
Name:
Address:
Phone Number:
Fax:
Hours of operation:
Animal Poison Control: 1-888-426-4435, a charge applies to every call
|
