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PET FIRST AID IN 2024

Pets

PET FIRST AID IN 2024

No pet parent prays for an emergency to happen at home. Sometimes we are faced with situations that demand we think on our feet and act fast. 

While first aid is not a substitute for veterinary consultation or clinic visits, it could be the stitch in time that saves the nine lives of your pet. 


WHAT IS FIRST AID 

The first thing that comes to my mind when the word ‘First Aid” is mentioned is the Red Cross and their little red boxes racing across a field to attend to an athlete that suddenly fell over clutching their thigh. The Red Cross and their urgent response to accidents is a fine example of first aid but the real question is; could that be the same type of prompt attention a cat or dog might need? 


First, let me tell you a story about Princess a cute Rott Weiler that had been playing in her compound when her owner noticed the tip of her ear was bleeding. Drops of blood followed Princess’s trail and the ear would not stop bleeding. Her owner Mrs R quickly accessed the wound and asked her husband what they should do about it. He looked at the ear and seeing it was just a pinpoint injury, told her to leave it because it would soon stop bleeding as it was a ‘baby wound’. But this ‘baby wound’ kept oozing out blood which made Mrs R uncomfortable so she took matters into her own hands went into her first aid kit and got bandages. She wrapped the ear as tightly as she could and it stopped bleeding. After which she called our veterinary clinic to come in for a home visit.


When we arrived at her house the next day and took out the bandages we noticed the baby wound was more complicated than it looked. The oozing blood had come from a blood vessel that was punctured and if Mrs R had not bandaged the wounds as she did Princess would have lost a lot of blood or worse the wound would have been infected. Either way, if Mrs R had not stepped in, the situation would have become more complicated.


That is my way of saying that First Aid is a quick fix given to pets in the event of an emergency or even a minor illness to keep them safe and stable until they can receive professional medical help. This can include simple actions like cleaning a cut, bandaging a wound, helping them breathe if they're choking, cooling them down in cases of heatstroke or keeping them calm and comfortable during an emergency.


First aid is believed to be most effective when provided by someone with basic medical training. Hence every pet owner is advised to have basic knowledge of what to do in case of injury or sickness before a doctor arrives.


…AND WHY THE BUZZ


Like every medical intervention, first aid is implored to achieve these three things:

  1. Preserve life: when done correctly first aid should reduce pain, anxiety and further injury

  2. Prevent further harm: first aid techniques involve applying measures to prevent further damage to your pet by removing them from the source of injury/illness or applying pressure to stop bleeding

  3. Promote recovery: first aid can sometimes be the only intervention required for complete treatment or it could be the starting point to saving your pet’s life.


ESSENTIAL CONTENTS OF A BASIC FIRST AID KIT FOR PETS


There are plenty of recommendations on what to keep in a basic first-aid kit and you can even buy them already assembled. But what makes it truly useful is when you customize your kit based on your and your family’s personal needs and activities.


First aid kits for companion animals such as cats, dogs and other small animals like lizards and rabbits should include the following:

  1. The phone number and address of the pet’s veterinarian

  2. Instruction manual on various emergency procedures like what to do when a pet is choking or bleeding.

  3. A mouth muzzle 

  4. Elizabethan Collar

  5. Latex gloves

  6. Gauze pads or rolls

  7. Crepe bandages

  8. Adhesive dressing strips (bandaids)

  9. One pair of scissors

  10. One pair of tweezers

  11. Clinical thermometers and lubricants like Vaseline

  12. Instant cold packs

  13. Liquid flushes like Chlorhexidine 2% and povidone-iodine are good options, although both must be diluted. Don’t use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol to clean wounds as they can damage healthy tissues and delay healing.

  14. Cotton wool balls

  15. Adhesive tape

  16. Wound healing oils

  17. Sterile saline vials and otocleaners for flushing the eyes and ears.

  18. Towels

  19. Notepad and pencils

  20. Vet-approved medications like Antihistamines (Prednisolone or Benadryl) are used in case of allergies, antibiotics (metronidazole) are used in mild cases of diarrhoea and topical antibiotic ointment such as Sudocrem.


STORING YOUR FIRST AID KIT

Worthy suggestions for storing your pet’s first aid kit include:

  • Your first aid kit doesn’t do you any good if it’s not easily accessible, so think about the best place to keep it. It could be in your home, your car, or at work. 

  • Make sure everyone in your family knows where the first aid kit is stored.

  • A first aid kit must be kept cool, dry and away from children, especially toddlers

  • Some items in a first-aid kit have an expiry date, it is advisable to regularly check your kit to ensure items are not expired and to replace used items.


FUNDAMENTALS OF ADMINISTERING FIRST AID TO PETS

Different animal species and breeds require different approaches to handling and management especially when it comes to disease/wound management. Likewise, different illnesses or diseases demand specific approaches to managing them. 


However, here are four (4) basic steps that can be implored to asses a pet during illness or emergencies:

Step 1: SAFETY 

Emergencies such as a dog fight, automobile accident or alien invasions can make us panic to the point that our blood is so filled with adrenaline that we think ourselves to be indestructible Superheroes. It is always important to take a minute and observe our environment to make sure we keep ourselves safe as you cannot help a pet if you get hurt yourself. For instance, if your pet suddenly starts vomiting and stooling first thing to do is keep your children (if you have any) away from the pet, grab a pair of latex gloves and a nose mask to protect yourself till you are certain your pet cannot infect you or your family with whatever bug they have got.

Friendly pets when hurt can be viscous and may attract even their owners so once a dog is hurt, make sure to speak softly to them, move slowly and touch them gently.

Finally, if you happen to come across a pet that is not yours and they are hurt, it is important not to touch them with bare hands as you do not know their medication history.

Step 2: ASSESSMENT

Certain skills are super important for giving first aid, especially the "ABC"s of first aid, which are all about saving lives and everyone should know them. Where ABC stands for Airway (ensure the airway is patent), Breathing (perform CPR if necessary), and Circulation (check heartbeat or pulse rate to make sure dog is still alive) assessment which should be done before taking care of smaller injuries. Next, check your pet for signs of bleeding or broken limbs if it was involved in an accident. 

Sometimes it can be tasking to tell when a dog needs emergency medical attention. However, sometimes it is very obvious like when a dog is hit by a car and lays limp/unconscious bleeding from various injuries. 

It might be necessary to check your pet’s temperature in cases of sickness and evaluate other vital signs like the colour of their mucous membrane (gums and eyes).

Step 3: INTERVENTION

If you are confident with your assessment and first aid knowledge you can proceed to administer the appropriate measures to preserve their life, preventing further damage and promoting recovery. 

Measures vary from one incident to the next so you have to make sure you are sure you know what you are doing.

Step 4: SEEK PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVISE

First aid is a placeholder for professional medical intervention. Regardless of how much you believe in your abilities, it is usually best to seek medical counsel even before administering any first aid measure. This is just to make sure you are on the right track and doing the right thing. 

Informing your veterinarian can also mean prompt responsiveness as they will be on standby waiting to receive your pet as soon as you make it to the clinic. 

You can even book an immediate session with a veterinarian online if you cannot get a hold of a local veterinarian. This can be useful to know what cases require a trip to the veterinary clinic or not.


Finally, home care and first aid are rarely a substitute for professional medical assessment and intervention. However, as Petra Nemcova said, “We cannot stop emergencies but we can arm ourselves with knowledge to survive them…” That being said, adopting/adhering to basic preventive measures including:

  • Keeping your dog on a leash when you take them for a walk

  • Removing dangerous items that can harm them from their reach

  • Regular check-ups with your vet to make sure pets are up-to-date on vaccines and routine medication

  • Proper training and supervision of your pets

  • Ensure pets eat balanced diets and are properly groomed.


NEED SOME HELP?

Verified animal experts and veterinarians are available for personalized consultations to answer all your questions about your pet’s behaviour, health, nutrition, and even coping with loss.


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