Before you transport the animal, call your veterinarian or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic so they can be ready when you arrive. Explain briefly what happened and the current medical status of your pet. Always obey all traffic laws, speed limits, stop signs and signals when transporting an injured pet. Keep your pet’s medical or vaccination records in a safe, easily accessible place. Present these records at the facility for emergency treatment. Many modern veterinary clinics allow online access to your pet’s basic medical records. Some pet owners store a copy in the glove box of their car, so if traveling or in an emergency they are always prepared. First aid care is not a substitute for veterinary care, but fast thinking may provide necessary emergency stabilization, allowing for the time to reach the veterinary facility. It is always best to follow up on any injury immediately with your veterinarian. Finally, the best way to care for accidents is to prevent them in the first place. Keep your dog on a leash or under control at all times. When unattended, dogs should be inside or in a secure, escape-proof outdoor enclosure. Never let a dog ride hanging out of a car window or in the back of a pickup truck. Often an injured pet will run off following an incident, so it may be confused and scared. Registered microchips and personal tracking devices are of great help in the safe return of lost pets. Most local animal wardens carry microchip scanners to help identify lost pets on their network. Remember to register your chip with your most current information. ND Christy Bell is a licensed veterinary technician at Blue Ridge Veterinary Associates.
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If necessary to move the pet, and if it is not vomiting, fasten a makeshift muzzle to reduce the chances you’ll be bitten. Dogs may be muzzled with towels, stockings or gauze rolls, or a leash wrapped around the mouth (muzzle). NEVER muzzle or occlude the pet’s mouth if it is vomiting or bleeding profusely from the mouth. Cats and other small animals may be wrapped in a towel or blanket to provide restraint or placed in a pet carrier, small box or clothes basket. Be certain not to wrap too tightly, and keep the pet’s nose uncovered so it can breathe. If possible, before moving an injured animal, try to “stabilize” broken or exposed areas by splinting or bandaging. While transporting an injured pet, keep it confined in a small space, like a pet carrier, to reduce the risk of additional injury. For larger dogs, you can use a board, sled, throw rug, blanket or something similar to act as a stretcher.
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