[CorkyMax]

Basic First Aid For Your Pet - What To Do In Case Of Emergency (Part I)
In this article, “Basic First Aid For Your Pet - What To Do In Case Of Emergency (Part I)”, we will look at common household emergencies that you may face in the course of owning a dog and how to solve/deal with these problems.

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Have you ever heard of a situation of a stressed person trying to figure out how to dial 911? Believe me it happens. We had a medical emergency at our home and I had asked my husband to call 911. He was so stressed. I was listening for him to talk, and all I heard was paper rustling. He was looking in the phone book, trying to get the number for 911. Keep a list of emergency numbers by your telephone, preferably one that not only includes your veterinarians name and phone number, but also the name and phone number of an emergency animal hospital, plus your own name, address, and phone number.

Over the next couple of articles I will attempt to give a little insight to some common situations. You will find just as you did with the First Aid Kit, that there are a lot of similarities between animal and human needs. I must stress that the articles are just meant to be helpful just as taking a First Aid class is meant to be helpful. Never self diagnose your pet, consult a veterinarian. Hopefully, these article can help until you can get professional treatment.

The concept of First Aid means: emergency car and treatment of an injured or ill patient until proper medical treatment is obtained. It may be critical to move the patient from further injury, but try not to make the situation worse (”DO NO HARM”). First Aid should never take the place of professional advice and care.

The first tool you will need is common sense. Remember, your pet cannot communicate to you the full nature of the injury or illness. Realize that your pet is probably going to be upset and frightened. Determine whether or not you will have to muzzle your pet. Take stock of the situation, and decide what equipment and help you will need. Relax yourself. Your being upset will only further upset your pet. Take a deep breath and talk calmly and softly to the injured pet. Use basic psychology. It works for pets as well. Treat your pet just as you would like to be treated in the same situation. You will accomplish more than you would expect. This will help your pet, yourself, and your veterinarian. Once you have conversed with a veterinarian and have decided to transport the pet to the hospital if necessary, DRIVE SAFELY! If a muzzle is necessary, one can be created from a belt, a necktie, or gauze. Wrap the gauze around the muzzle, cross the strips under the chin and then bring the gauze around the neck and tie it behind the ears. This will prevent the dog from biting you if it is upset. Small animals can be restrained in a blanket. Blankets can also be used to move an injured animal off the road. They can also be used warm and comfort an animal that is possibly going into shock. So, lets begin:

ALLERGIES -if you suspect allergies because the animal has hives, has swelling of the face or ears, vomiting or diarrhea, respiratory problems you should immediately contact your veterinarian. Some common allergies are spider bites, wasp or bee stings, foods, fleas, cedar, drugs such as penicillin or sulpha drugs. Keep your pet from biting or scratching itself, which may cause further problems such as infection. It’s easier said than done.

ANAPHYLAXIS -this is a severe life threatening allergic reaction. In some cases not only will there be respiratory failure but also internal bleeding. This requires immediate veterinary treatment. Keep the pet warm and relaxed until you get there.

BURNS -It is rare that a dog gets burned accidentally by fire. Most common injuries are from falling into hot water, or having hot water or grease spilled on the animal. Pets can also get burns in the throat or esophagus from trying to eat hot foods that may have been dropped in the kitchen. All of these situations require veterinary care. Keep the pet relaxed in a clean spot until you get to the veterinarian.

BITE WOUNDS -assess the severity of the wound. Wash with lots of clean fresh water. Bandage and apply a pressure bandage if the pet is bleeding severely. Determine if the biter has rabies. Contact the veterinarian who will determine how quickly the injured pet needs to be seen.

More to follow--------->

[CorkyMax]

Just a reminder, before we continue on helpful Basic First Aid tips, the concept of this column is to help you provide care and treatment of your pet until you can obtain professional help through your veterinarian.

Bites (snake)
-get your pet to a veterinarian immediately
-keep both yourself and the pet quiet and still
-if possible bring the dead snake with you. The head is essential to establish the type of snake to get the correct type of anti-venom.
-some veterinarians will recommend a tourniquet, others feel they are useless as the poison has already entered the bloodstream. If recommended, do this after you are on your way. Time is essential.

Bites (cat)
-cats carry a certain bacteria in their mouth
-watch for “cat scratch fever”. All cat caused wounds should be thoroughly cleaned as soon as possible after the infliction.

Bites (big dog little dog)
-in a situation where a big dog was fighting with a little dog, it is a good idea to have the little dog checked by a veterinarian. There may be underlying injuries not as apparent as a bite wound.

Bites (small wounds)
-clean the wound and use sterile dressings. Contact your veterinarian.

Bites (large open wounds)
-if the situation ever occurs where the dogs insides are outside, keep the evisceration moist with saline or water. Use sterile dressings. Do not try to replace the organs yourself. Try and control the bleeding and treat for shock. Transport immediately to a veterinarian. Try and keep both yourself and the pet as calm as possible.

Bloat
-This is an emergency that requires immediate veterinary assistance. Breeds with stomach tuck-up are more at risk (Boxers, Great Danes, Retrievers), than other breeds. The stomach turns and twists the intestines which cuts off circulation, etc. Watch for a bloated stomach, retching and white gums. A recommendation lately is to elevate the food dish as a possible prevention to this condition.

Broken toe nails
-try to clip off the broken end. Use a commercial remedy, or corn starch to stop the bleeding. Bandage the paw to keep the wound clean. Change bandage frequently and watch for infection.

Blistered or cut pads
-evaluate the size, depth, location of the wound, the source, amount of bleeding and check to see if there are contaminations such as glass, etc. in the wound. Is the wound a burn? Does it just need cleaning and bandaging, or does the wound need sutures?

Chemicals
-Any time you suspect your pet has ingested any type of chemical, such as antifreeze, slug bait, flea sprays, rat poisons, etc. contact the veterinarian immediately. Identify the product and take the package to the veterinarian with you. Depending on the chemical the veterinarian may recommend you induce vomiting with a couple of tablespoons of peroxide. He will not recommend vomiting if your pet has ingested caustics, acids, or petroleum distillates.

Hit by a car
-always seek veterinary attention, even if the pet seems fine. Injuries could be superficial, or there could be spinal or internal injuries. Stabilize the pet and take it to a veterinarian.

Diarrhea
-dogs and people get diarrhea from time to time. Usually Vomiting there is no real concern and can be treated with medicines such as Kaopectate (consult your veterinarian for dosage amounts for the size of your dog). Diarrhea becomes an emergency when it lasts more than 24 hours, if there is blood in the stool, if there is vomiting, if the dog is listless, not eating or acting ill, or if there is a fever. In these instances, immediately contact your veterinarian.

Drugs
-Any time a dog eats any type of human medication it is an emergency. Also, non-prescribed drugs such as marijuana or hallucinogens can cause severe problems. Locate the bottle the drug came in and contact your veterinarian immediately. It is important to stop the absorption of the drug immediately The veterinarian will likely recommend you induce vomiting by giving a couple of tablespoons of peroxide. Mustard also works.

Electrocution
-this usually happens with bored puppies looking for something to chew on. Prevention is worth a pound of cure. Keep electrical cords either unplugged or tucked away. Provide your puppy with ample toys and a restricted area in which to play safely. Electrocution will show very few signs of injury, but usually there is pulmonary injury to the heart and lungs. Any time you suspect electrocution immediately contact your veterinarian.

Eye injuries
-this is a big emergency that requires immediate appropriate treatment in order to save the eye. If the eyeball has come out of the socket, do not try to replace it yourself. Rely on your veterinarian to do this. If the eyeball remains out of the socket too long the cornea will dry out, and it may not be possible to save the eye. On the veterinarians advise, first aid can consist of applying eye drops or ointments to keep the eye moist. Tap water, or anything not recommended by the veterinarian can cause damage.

Fractures
-any bone in a dogs body can be fractured. Fractured limbs are quite common. Fractures require treatment by your veterinarian. Attempts to immobilize the fracture with splints can cause more injury and pain for your pet. It is better to immobilize the whole pet and transport it to the veterinarian with a minimum amount of movement. Fractures are usually accompanied with shock, keep your pet calm and warm.

Remember: Do not panic, stay calm, assess the situation, evaluate the pet (do you need to muzzle it), and do not make the situation worse. Keep your veterinarians telephone number in a handy location, and drive safely.

[CorkyMax]

Rabies
Although cases are rare in BC, there have been cases where the carriers are Brown Bats, Squirels, and infected animals traveling within the Province. Prevention is the best policy. Vaccinate your pet. If you suspect a rabid animal contact the SPCA. If your pet may have been bitten consult your veterinarian.

Seizures
Animals cannot swallow their tongue and basically are in no condition to bite you. Keep both yourself and the pet calm and relaxed. Whether it is a human or an animal, the first aid provider must keep the patient from injuring itself any further. Some recommendations include suspending the pet like a mother cat carries its kittens or suspending the pet in a blanket (hammock style). Assess the situation. Determine the cause of the seizure. Was it trauma, temperature induced, drug induced, possible epilepsy, or unknown? Any situation involving a seizure requires veterinary follow-up.

Shock
This is a very serious condition and requires immediate medical attention. The worst possible scenario for an injured patient who goes into shock is death. Watch for signs of disorientation, weakness, dazed or glazed expression, pale gums, and collapsing. Get the animal to lie down and keep it warm. If possible, elevate the feet. It is important to keep the blood flowing to the brain and prevent heat loss.

Sunburns
Yes, pets that have exposed skin are subject to sunburn. You can use children’s nontoxic sunscreen. Prevention is the best cure. In the case of sunburn, consult your veterinarian for topical ointment and make sure your pet is not also suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Provide plenty of fluids.

Spinal trauma
If you suspect spinal trauma, minimize the movement of the patient. Improvise a spinal board and transport the pet to the veterinarian. Keep the pet calm and quiet.

Stings
Bees leave poison sacks, other insects do not. Watch the swelling. Some animals can be allergic to stings. It’s always a good idea to keep Benadryl in the home.

Ticks
Watch for them in peak seasons. Remove them properly and thoroughly. Using tweezers carefully, steadily and slowly remove the tick ensuring you remove the mouthparts. Clean and disinfect the wound and your hands. Watch for symptoms of Lyme disease, which include (arthritis, depression, lethargy, fever, severe pain, and lameness). If you suspect Lyme Disease consult your veterinarian. Ask your Veterinarian about vaccinating for Lyme Disease.

Toxic Substances
Just a quick reminder as we head into the Christmas season that many of our human traditions are toxic to the animals. If your pet has ingested any of the following items, consult your veterinarian - Christmas Rose, Poinsettia, Holly, Mistletoe, Soap Berries, Avocado, Nutmeg, Mushrooms, Spinach, Indian Laurel, and Chocolate.

Whelping
Generally, any dog that is having a lapse of 5-6 hours between puppies and is still in labor needs to see a veterinarian. Any dog that becomes weak during labor should see a veterinarian for the sake of the unborn puppies and to prevent possible problems to the mother. The best source for answers to any of your medical concerns for your pet is always your veterinarian. Maintain regular checkups and vaccinations. Never hesitate to seek care for your loved one.