First Aid ~ Pets

First Aid Kit

Phone numbers:  poisons information line, your vet, after-hours vet, local wildlife rescue and council ranger.

• Sterile saline solution (purchase from chemist or vet). Saline is used to flush eyes and wounds.
• Tweezers.  Used to remove ticks or stings.
• Blanket/Towel/Rags- this is a must-have..can be used to restrain an animal..as a stretcher.. or to stop bleeding.
• A muzzle.  When an animal is in pain they may bite.  A piece of sock/stocking or rope can also be used.
• Bandaging (crepe), gauze, a roll of elastoplast, tape and of course, scissors.
• Thermometer, betadine (antiseptic), sodium carbonate crystals/washing soda or mustard (to induce vomiting)..they are not necessary but may come in handy.

What To Do In An Emergency

Bleeding Beak

Try putting soft soap or paraffin wax on the beak.  Take animal to the vet.

 

Broken/bleeding toenail

Same as above for bleeding beak.  Wrap toenail and take animal asap to the vet.

Bites/Cuts

A muzzle will need to be used if your cat or dog is in pain because they will probably bite or scratch.  Flush wound with saline.  Large wounds should be wrapped with a clean towel, cloth or bandage to help stop blood loss.  If the bleeding is bad, tying a tourniquet above the wound will help reduce bleeding..do not leave the tourniquet on for more than 15 minutes.  If your pet licks the wound constantly or the area is swollen, you should take your pet to the vet asap.  The wound may be small but there could be tissue damage underneath or the wound may be infected, so it's best to seek veterinary assistance straight away.

Limping

Keep your pet from moving around.  Have a look at their toe nails and toe pads, look for wounds or embedded foreign objects.  If the animal is limping but can weight-bear on the affected leg..could be a joint strain, sprain or arthritis.  If it can't weight bear on the affected leg..could be broken.  If your pet is in pain, see vet immediately.

Choking

Open your pet's mouth and gently feel around the roof of its mouth and the back of its throat.  Bones can also get stuck between teeth.  Use your fingers or pliers to remove object.  You can also try a gentle, quick chest compression to help remove obstruction.  See vet asap.

                                                        

Fits/Seizures

Do not touch your pet as they may bite you or scratch you.  If the animal is an enclosed area, try to make the surroundings as quiet and dark as you can..move any objects out of the way so your pet dosen't hurt itself.  Fits usually last for a couple of minutes.

Diarrhoea 

If your pet is OK and dosen't look sick, take away the food but leave its water.  After 24 hours, give small portions of rice and chicken.  Parasites could be the problem so you will need to worm your pet.

If your pet looks sick,  take to vet immediately and also take with you a sample of the diarrhoea for the vet to test.

Vomiting

If your pet appears to be OK,  take away its food and water..give small sips of water after a couple of hours.  Do not offer food for at least 12 hours (a day would be even better).  

If your pet is unresponsive, quiet or weak,  take to vet immediately.

Not Breathing

Lie the animal on its right side..check for heartbeat by listening to chest where the front leg meets with the rib cage.  If you can hear the heart beating but the animal is not exhaling (respiration), put your mouth over its muzzle and blow into the nose until you see the chest rise...do this every four seconds.

Burns and Scalds

Cold water or a continuous stream of water should be gently hosed on burnt areas asap..if the animal is in obvious pain or shaking due to being cold,  then stop doing same.  Wrap unburnt/unaffected areas of the body in warm, dry blankets and protect animal from draughts.  Injuries can also be kept cool by putting a cold, wet towel or ice packs on same.  Clean wounds with saline solution before applying a light non-stickdressing and bandaging same in place.  If no dressings are available, use a clean sheet of polythene or 'clingwrap' to cover injured area.  Put cold, wet towel over same.  Immediately transport to vet.  

Poisoning

Remove your pet from the poison and place them in a secure place.  Any traces of the poison should be removed (please see below for cleaning solutions for contaminated coats)..prevent the animal from grooming itself.  Induce vomiting immediately if your pet hasn't already vomited..but do not induce vomiting if the poison is not corrosive i.e. petroleum products, disinfectant, acids or alkalis.. do not induce vomiting if your pet is unconscious or having a fit.  If the poison has been eaten in the last hour and it is non-corrosive, put one to two pea-sized crystals on the back of the tongue or give 2 teaspoonfuls of mustard in a cup of warm water.   If the poison has been eaten in the last hour and it is corrosive, mix a beaten raw egg with a small amount of milk and one teaspoonful of sugar and give by mouth.  The proteins of the egg and milk gel together and deposit themselves on the mucosal surface, thereby lessening damage to the tract;  the sugar can soothe the tissues.  Once again, only give the aforementioned solutions if the animal is fully conscious.  If the symptoms are worsening or if the animal is deteriorating, transport to vet immediately.  If you don't know whether a substance/compound is poisonous:  Call your poisons information line (in the phone book) or call your vet/emergency vet.  When you take your pet in to the vet, they may ask to see the package the substance/compound came in. 

Poisonous Snake-bites

Your pet must be made to rest (this slows the circulation and therefore the effects of the venom/toxins).  The bitten limb can be splinted to prevent movement, reduce swelling and pain.  A crepe bandage should be used to wrap entire limb, starting at the toes and continued up the limb as far as possible. 

How to lift badly injured animals

If you are going to transport your pet in a cage or other suitable carry-box/container..find a sheet of hardboard or thick cardboard (the same size as the cage or box), and slide this gently under the animal.  Do not lift the animal without assistance.  Your back needs to be straight, knees bent, legs slightly apart, palms facing upwards and the animal/load close to your body.

Contaminated coats - Cleaning Solutions

Non-oily e.g. disinfectant - Wash coat thoroughly with water.

Liquid oily e.g. sump oil - Use liberal amount of 'Swarfega'/liquid paraffin/cooking oil and work same into hair.  Wash coat with suitable detergent/shampoo and warm water until the smell of the contaminant has completely gone.

Solid oily - Contaminated fur should be clipped..if the tar is attached to the skin, liquid paraffin, butter or vegetable oil can be rubbed into area and bandaged to prevent grooming.