Very Basic First Aid for Pets. Some Tips for the Pet-Owner.

Prevention is always better than cure! Know your pet, know how to care for it, know what to look out for and with reasonable diligence most accidents can be avoided. However, accidents will happen and then knowing what to do can often save you and your pet a lot of suffering and trauma. It could even save your pet's life. Most pet first aid is common sense and a basic understanding of your chosen species. Many of the fundamental principles of first aid for humans (St. John's, Red Cross, St. Andrew's etc.) apply also to pets, so do consider taking one of their excellent training courses. you will also feel less helpless in emergency situations involving people. Do keep a suitable first aid kit at home and in the car. In an emergency take a deep breath and DO NOT PANIC. Time is of the essence. The first thirty minutes after an incident is crucial to the survival of the victim. Assess the situation. Try to work out what has occurred. Do NOT in any circumstances put yourself in danger. First and most important (unless you are absolutely certain that you can handle the situation completely yourself) send someone to summon professional help, in most cases a vet. Give as much information as possible to the vet, thus allowing him or her to assess the seriousness of the situation. If you are alone, summon help yourself before you do anything else unless the patient is not breathing or has no pulse. More information on this situation is given in the section on RTA's. Unless absolutely vital do not move the pet. You may cause more damage. Do not give the animal food or water. Remember the ABC (airways, breathing, circulation) procedure. Do not lift or move the pet's head in any way that could allow bodily fluids, blood, vomit etc. to run back into the airway and risk blocking it. Thus preventing a potentially fatal escalation of the situation.

Do comfort the pet by gentle stroking and soothingly talking to it all the time.

Bleeding.

Cuts on the paw are one of the most common pet injuries. The treatment for bleeding is, however, much the same whichever part of the body is injured. Using a clean absorbent dressing (or improvise with a clean handkerchief, piece of sheet or some similar material) folded up into a pad apply firm pressure on the wound to stem the flow of blood. NEVER use that old favourite, cotton wool directly onto a wound. In our opinion cotton wool should not even be in your pets first aid kit. Arterial blood will usually be bright red and will come out in spurts. This is a life-threatening situation. Do NOT apply a tourniquet, but continue to put more and more layers on the absorbent pad whilst still pressing firmly until professional help arrives.

Burns.

Typical signs that a pet has burnt or scalded itself are swelling, redness, singed fur and even fur coming away from the body. Before attending to the victim ensure that the same accident cannot happen to you. For instance, if chewing through a cable carrying an electrical current has caused a burn be certain that the electricity supply has been turned off, preferably at the mains, before touching the pet. Saturate the injured area with clean cold water, preferably under a convenient cold-water tap or by using a showerhead if at all possible. In order to minimize the damage you will need to keep this up for at least 10 minutes and probably longer in order to ensure that the burn or scald is not continuing to damage the skin. NEVER apply oils or creams, as this will just increase the severity of the injury. Application of a light non-fluffy dressing (no pressure and definitely NOT cotton wool) soaked in cold water will also help. Do try to keep the animal calm until the vet arrives.


Choking.

Again your most likely patient will be a dog mainly because given the opportunity most dogs will attempt to eat almost anything. Do NOT allow your dog to play with anything, which due to its size is likely to get stuck in its mouth.

Should a dog start to retch and paw at its mouth, check for obvious signs of an obstruction. If it is possible to gently remove the object by flicking it forward and therefore out of the mouth, do so taking care not to get bitten in the process. Remember the pet will be in great distress and quite possible unable to control its natural reactions. The mouth will automatically close when the obstruction is removed so make sure that your fingers come out first! Flat nosed breeds such as bulldogs; boxers and pugs can also suffer choking fits, especially in hot weather when areas of the respiratory tract swell making it extremely difficult for the pet to breathe. Additionally an asthma attack causes similar problems with the possibility of the animal beginning to turn blue. All these situations require urgent veterinary attention. Again sooth and reassure the pet throughout the journey to the vet.

Collapse.

A heart attack, epileptic fit, diabetes, accidents, burns or exposure to extremes of temperature often brings on shock.

The ABC procedure (airways, breathing, circulation) must be carried out. Your purpose in this situation is to keep the pet alive until the vet arrives. Loosen any collar, open patient's mouth and gently pull the tongue forward to ensure that the airway is open. Feel for a pulse either at the inside of the thigh at the join between leg and torso or under the armpit. IF and ONLY if you can feel NO pulse start to gently massage the heart with the fingers of one hand. Do thus about once every second. Count out loud (a thousand and one, a thousand and two etc.). For very large dogs you may have to use two hands. Although this technique undoubtedly saves lives it is very DANGEROUS and great care must be taken to ensure that you do not damage the pet further. Only use this technique if you are ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that the heart has stopped. If the pulse returns continue monitoring the pet (congratulate yourself later) keeping it quiet, warm and away from strong light until a more qualified hand than your own takes over.

Fitting.

Epilepsy and similar conditions are not uncommon in dogs and cats. A pet's first such fit is a traumatic experience for both animal and owner. Veterinary help must be obtained and suitable advice as to how to care for the pet should further fitting take place be heeded for the future.

Typical symptoms are drawn back lips, glazed eyes, foaming mouth and flailing limbs. Loosen the pet's collar, cover with a blanket and make it as comfortable as possible. Do not leave the pet until professional help arrives, always ensuring that the pet is unable to injure itself on adjacent stairs etc.

Heatstroke.

Never leave a dog (or other pet) in a car during hot weather. In the UK this is an offence for which you will almost certainly be prosecuted. However, dogs in particular can and will suffer grave problems if allowed or forced to indulge in too much sun without the provision of shelter, shade and drinking water. Both cats and dogs that sunbathe or go out in hot weather should have a high factor sunscreen applied to their noses and the pink tips of their ears to help prevent sunburn! The classic signs of heatstroke are panting, frothing of the mouth and eventually collapse. Try to notice the early warning signs and remove the pet from the sun into the shade well before the problem becomes serious.

Wipe the pet's mouth with a clean wet cloth and sponge down the entire body with cold water. Cover the patient with wet towels. Additionally improvise a fan and rapidly (without causing the pet to panic) cool it down until professional help arrives. NEVER throw buckets, cups etc. of cold water over it, as you will almost certainly send it into shock. All actions should be gentle and soothing.

Poisoning.

Pets can suffer poisoning in a variety of different ways involving many different common household substances in addition to venom from snakes, toads, insects etc. Paint, bleach, chemicals of varying types, weed kills, rat poison and many other dangerous substances claim pets lives every year. Typical symptoms of poisoning are breathing difficulties, orientation problems (loss of balance), pawing at the mouth, dribbling, convulsions and eventually collapse. Telephone your vet immediately. Tell him the substance (or likely substance) that has caused the problem and if at all possible take a sample with you (or better still the original container). Unless the vet has instructed you do NOT give the patient a drink (particularly not milk) or attempt to make the pet vomit. If the animal has been doused with a substance such as bleach or acid completely wash it with a weak soapy solution to reduce the risk of absorption through the skin. Keep washing until you are sure there are no traces left. Gently dry the pet either with a towel or gentle heat from a hairdryer. There is a high risk of shock so try to keep it calm and warm until you get veterinary assistance, which is absolutely necessary in these circumstances.

Road Traffic Accidents.

The Road Traffic Accident is most pet-owners personal nightmare and quite possibly one of the most traumatic situations that you are ever likely to find yourself in. As ever you MUST assess the situation first and do NOT put yourself at risk. You will be of no use whatsoever to your pet if you are also on your way to hospital!! Get assistance to stop or divert the traffic. Try to reassure the pet. Talk gently to it. BE CAREFUL, for even your own dog may well bite you. If the pet is showing signs of aggression but does NOT appear to have any breathing problems it is a wise move to, approaching from behind the head muzzle the patient with a bandage, scarf or something similar. Do not move the pet unless it is vital to its safety. If you are forced to use a blanket, overcoat or similar item as a stretcher or gently place a cat in a box or wrap in a blanket. The Airway, Breathing, Circulation routine is once again imperative in these situations. Should the airway be clear but you can hear or even feel air leaking out of a wound gently press a dampened pad to the wound to seal it thus reducing the risk of a collapsed lung. This is a very serious situation indeed. Do read all the other parts of the first aid notes as almost any of them can suddenly apply in a road traffic accident situation. In these circumstances the pet WILL suffer from shock and should be kept warm, quiet and reassured (talk to it gently) until a vet arrives.



Stings & Insect Bites.

Wasp or bee stings and snakebites etc. can be very serious injuries indeed to a pet. Often the victim will be allergic to the sting or bite and in need of urgent veterinarian treatment. Usually the first you know of this type of injury is a swelling and the obvious distress of the patient. Cooling a swelling caused by a bee sting with bicarbonate of soda will help, whereas a wasp sting will be better treated by bathing in vinegar. Obviously if the injury is caused (or could have been caused) by an insect or snakebite from a poisonous creature the administration of the appropriate antidote is of the utmost urgency. ANY swelling in the region of the throat requires immediate treatment or the consequences to the pet may prove to be grave.