Preventative Care@3x

Great Tips for Pet First Aid Awareness Month

Apr 11, 2016 | All About Animals, Arizona Pet Health, For Your Pet

Knowing how to identify a potential emergency and what to do in an actual emergency situation can help you stay calmer and provide help to your pet until you can reach a veterinary hospital.
The American Red Cross offers some common emergency tips:

To determine if your cat or dog is dehydrated: pull up on the skin between the shoulder blades. It should spring right back; if it stays tented this is a sign of dehydration.

Signs of pet poisoning: these include bleeding externally or internally, dilated pupils, drooling or foaming at the mouth, seizures or other abnormal mental state or behavior.

If your pet has a seizure: make sure it is in a safe place, but do not restrain the animal. Keep your hands away from its mouth as your pet may not know who you are during a seizure and could bite you.

Signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion: these include collapse; body temperature of 104 degrees F or above; bloody diarrhea or vomiting; wobbliness; excessive panting or difficulty breathing; increase heart rate; mucous membranes very red; and increased salivation.

Your pet has been bitten by another animal: Seek vet attention to prevent the wound (even if minor) from becoming infected and to check for internal wounds. Never try to break up a dogfight yourself because you could be bitten.

If your pet is bleeding: apply direct pressure using gauze over the bleeding site. If blood soaks through, apply more gauze (do not removed soaked gauze) until you can reach a veterinary hospital.

Get the app! The American Red Cross offers a free Pet First Aid app for smartphones. Owners have access to step-by-step instructions, videos and images for more than 25 common first aid emergencies. In the interest of being prepared, it might be a good idea to download the one for people, too! Text “GETPET” to 90999.

Source: RedCross.org

Disclaimer: Not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition of your pet. If you think your pet has a medical emergency, call or visit your veterinarian or your local veterinary emergency hospital immediately.