Taking Care of your Pets’ immediate Needs

Taking Care of your Pets’ immediate Needs People love their pets, and their cats and dogs often become an extension of who they are; the pets take their place alongside other family members since it is so easy to treat them the way we all expect to be treated – with love and respect.

Therefore pet owners offer their cats and dogs – and other pets – love, food, and shelter. Animals thrive when they receive attention, much like humans, and they deserve the best from their owners, also when they are sick or distressed. When there is a time one books an appointment with the vet or animal hospital, but at times first aid measures are called for. Much like a child hits their foot against and object and starts bleeding, for example, there are those times that immediate intervention is needed with one’s pets too. At times accidents happen at home, but then there are those times that one may be travelling, or having a picnic at the river or out somewhere in the bush with the dog accompanying the owners. Even though cats and dogs are different in many ways and do not always react in the same fashion when something unforeseen – such as an accident – happens, it is always a good idea to be prepared for all eventualities whether one’s sick or hurt pet is a cat or a dog. The first thing to remember would most likely be: have the vet’s contact details handy, either to take the pet to the clinic or speak to someone who can offer advice. In addition to this, one should always carry a first-aid kit for pets since there are many occasions where this can help to offer comfort – even save the pet’s life. The following are practical suggestions as to what one keeps in the car, as well as in the house to be prepared at all times:  Bandages such as a roll of self-adhesive crepe;  Dressings to cover open wounds;  Cotton wool;  Sterile gauze;  Towels and scissors; water.

Few pet owners are trained on how to treat emergencies, but most would be able to, first of all, keep the pet calm, and if not, at least prevent being bitten by it since they are scared and need to be handled with care. If the pet allows the owner to do so, then certainly open wounds can be cleaned as much as possible, gauze and bandages applied – until such time that the vet takes over. Avoid being bitten by an animal in distress. No-one wants to add to their woes. Rather be careful and get the pet to the vet soonest. If it is more than a fairly small open wound, or a broken tooth, or a torn ear, the treatment is as a real emergency and speaks to the vet and asks for the best advice. Broken legs, or worse, could lead to serious health issues later on. Pick the dog up carefully – muzzle its nose with tape if need be – and get it to the vet immediately. Be careful how you pick it up: smaller dogs are easier to handle by placing a hand under their chest and the other under their hindquarters, for example. For bigger dogs, one may have to improvise a stretcher with a blanket or large towels. Circumstances will dictate.

Of course, there could be other issues, such as a dog struggling to breathe or hyperventilating. Calm it, let it have water – and proceed to the vet if it doesn’t relax. Dogs and cats suffering from burns should be treated carefully too: run cool water over them - do not apply any ointments, at best a saline dressing, for example. Dogs are often more easy to handle than cats in these situations.

However, if your cat loves and trusts you, it may well allow you to touch and comfort it, put it in a carrier and take it to the vet. Seeing one’s pets suffer is a painful thing. Make sure of the vet’s details, the minimum first-aid kit materials – and try and stay calm for the pet’s sake – until the vet takes over.

About Us: At Powell Veterinary Service we offer all pet owners almost 30 years of dedicated, unrivalled service to ensure their pets remain healthy and happy. We offer a great experience and are proud of the services we offer about all aspects of animal care. We perform surgeries, we spay and neuter, we offer boarding facilities and we provide puppies for different activities that appeal to our clients. At PVS we also offer a wellness service for pets to ensure any conditions are picked up early. We are Kersey, CO-based and serve the Surrounding areas. We are available by appointment, but also for emergencies.

Pets are our passion and we ensure that your animal receives excellent treatment from our practice. For more about us please visit https://powellvets.com/