Pets

FIRST AID MONTH PET AWARENESS

BY HAILEY LAWSON

April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month. This month is dedicated ness Month. This month is dedicated to teaching pet parents about emer to teaching pet parents about emergency care for their precious pals. For the month of April, we encourage you the month of April, we encourage you to brush up on emergency care for your to brush up on emergency care for your furry friends. Generally, it’s always a good idea to see a veterinarian if your pet gets hurt or sick; good idea to see a veterinarian if your pet gets hurt or sick; however, you may need to be prepared to give them first aid however, you may need to be prepared to give them first aid until you can make it to the vet. Here’s some information to until you can make it to the vet. Here’s some information to help you handle a few pet emergencies. help you handle a few pet emergencies.

ACCIDENTAL POISONING

Know the signs of poisoning: dilated pupils, drooling or foaming at the mouth, seizures, bleeding, and abnormal behavior. If you think your pet has been exposed to a poison or havior. If you think your pet has been exposed to a poison or toxic substance, it is important to act quickly. First, try to identify the poison so you can provide as much information identify the poison so you can provide as much information to your vet as possible. Even if your pet is acting normal, do to your vet as possible. Even if your pet is acting normal, do not wait for signs of sickness because by then, it might be too not wait for signs of sickness because by then, it might be too late — always seek veterinarian treatment right away.

DEHYDRATION

If your pet is severely dehydrated, your dog or cat must re If your pet is severely dehydrated, your dog or cat must receive emergency care immediately! Contact the nearest an-ceive emergency care immediately! Contact the nearest an imal emergency for medical advice and let them know that imal emergency for medical advice and let them know that

you are on your way. In milder cases of dehydration, provide you are on your way. In milder cases of dehydration, provide your dog with small amounts of water or ice cubes every few your dog with small amounts of water or ice cubes every few minutes. You can perform a quick test to see if your pet is de minutes. You can perform a quick test to see if your pet is dehydrated by pulling up on their skin between their shoul-hydrated by pulling up on their skin between their shoul der blades. If the skin doesn’t spring back, this is a sign der blades. If the skin doesn’t spring back, this is a sign of dehydration. If your pet shows signs of severe dehy-of dehydration. If your pet shows signs of severe dehy dration, they will need to see vet care immediately dration, they will need to see vet care immediately for IV fluids.

HEAT STROKES

Heat strokes may present with several symptoms — including collapsing, panting excessively, breathing difficulty, increased heart rate, bloody di-creased heart rate, bloody di arrhea, vomiting, wobbling, and a temperature of 104°F arrhea, vomiting, wobbling, and a temperature of 104°F or greater. In addition, heat strokes can cause swelling of or greater. In addition, heat strokes can cause swelling of the brain and kidney failure. Therefore, immediate veterinary care is necessary. On the way to the vet, open your car nary care is necessary. On the way to the vet, open your car windows and turn the air conditioner on high. Until you windows and turn the air conditioner on high. Until you make it to the vet, be sure to let your dog drink as much cool make it to the vet, be sure to let your dog drink as much cool water as they want without forcing them and place a wet water as they want without forcing them and place a wet towel on their back.

WOUNDS, BROKEN BONES, OR BLEEDING

Pets attacked by other animals need vet attention to prevent infections and to check for internal wounds. If your pet is bleeding, apply direct pressure using a gauze. However, if the gauze soaks completely through with blood, do not remove it — just add more gauze on top of it until you get to the pet animal hospital.

WOUNDS, BROKEN BONES, OR BLEEDING

Pets attacked by other animals need vet attention to prevent infections and to check for internal wounds. If your pet is the gauze soaks completely through with blood, do not re move it — just add more gauze on top of it until you get to the

KEEP THE FOLLOWING THINGS ON HAND JUST IN KEEP THE FOLLOWING THINGS ON HAND JUST IN CASE OF A PET EMERGENCY:

1. Phone numbers and addresses to your regular veteri-Phone numbers and addresses to your regular veteri narian and animal emergency hospital. 2. The phone number of poison control. 3. A pet first aid kit, including food and drinking water, and any medications.

SOME ITEMS TO INCLUDE IN A PET FIRST AID KIT:

© Absorbent gauze pads © Adhesive tape © Cotton balls © Disposable gloves

© Scissors (with blunt end) © Tweezers © OTC antibiotic ointment

SOME ITEMS TO INCLUDE IN A PET FIRST AID KIT:

Adhesive tape

(with blunt end) ointment © Oral syringe © Liquid dish soap © Towel © Small flashlight © Alcohol wipes

© Styptic powder Liquid dish soap © © Saline eye solution © Antihistamine (for allergic reactions)

© Styptic powder © Antihistamine (for

Pets are our companions and a big part of our family, and Pets are our companions and a big part of our family, and they trust us to take care of them. As pet caretakers, we they trust us to take care of them. As pet caretakers, we must do as much as possible to prevent at-home accidents. must do as much as possible to prevent at-home accidents. We never want anything bad to happen to our beloved fur We never want anything bad to happen to our beloved furry friends, but unfortunately, emergencies happen. A pet ry friends, but unfortunately, emergencies happen. A pet emergency can range from unexpected injury to sudden emergency can range from unexpected injury to sudden illness to acute allergic reactions and everything else in be illness to acute allergic reactions and everything else in between. Learning how to respond to an emergency can make tween. Learning how to respond to an emergency can make a big difference — just remember to stay calm, assess the a big difference — just remember to stay calm, assess the problem, and be there for your four-legged family member. problem, and be there for your four-legged family member.

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