What You Need to Know About Pet First Aid

What is first aid for animals?

Animal first aid is the emergency care provided to a domestic animal before it is examined by a qualified, certified veterinarian. Untrained individuals can administer first aid to stabilize an animal and make it more comfortable before it can be treated by a veterinarian, despite the fact that some medical operations can only be performed by a veterinarian.

Basic first aid for animals

Three concepts and four guidelines guide basic first aid for animals. When dealing with an injured or ill animal, pet owners, veterinarians, and other animal care professionals resort to these, which are the same as first aid for humans.

Please keep in mind that there is very little chance that your pet will survive resuscitation. In an emergency, though, it can be your pet’s only hope.

Never forget that any first aid given to your pet should be followed by prompt veterinary attention. First aid treatment cannot replace veterinary care, but it may prolong your pet’s life while waiting for medical attention.

1. Animal Poison Control and a 24-hour emergency clinic’s phone numbers should be noted on an emergency contact card, along with your veterinarian’s. A copy of the card can be given to the pet sitter if you have to leave your pet in their care.

2. Scissors with a blunt tip

Try to find scissors with blunt tips. Avoid cutting too near to the skin if you don’t want to unintentionally nick your pet. When shaving hair close to the eyes, nose, or ears, this is especially crucial.

3. Sutures

Any dog first aid kit or cat first aid kit must include bandages. Often, the bandage you apply after an injury will just be there while you wait to see your veterinarian. It still plays a crucial function in supporting and preventing pollution.

Make sure the bandages are secure enough to prevent slipping, but not too tight as to restrict blood flow.

A self-adhering bandage, cat, and small animal bandage, can make bandaging less difficult. This bandage applies pressure while lowering the possibility of cutting off circulation, and won’t stick to skin or fur.

4. Sanitized Eye Drops

It’s unsettling to consider that chemicals or strange substances could get close to your pet’s eyes. The animal is prone to itch or massage the irritation further if it gets into the eye.

5. Rubber or latex gloves

Gloves are a need while administering first aid to animals. Wearing gloves reduces your chance of infection as well as the risk to your pet. Unintentionally contaminating an animal’s wound is surprisingly simple.

Think about storing several pairs of gloves in your kit. One pair might fall apart, or you might require assistance from a friend.

6. A plastic needle

A syringe is invaluable to anyone who has attempted to administer liquid-based oral pet medications to a restless animal. A needleless syringe can also be used to wash out and clean a wound or to administer oral fluids to a pet who is dehydrated.

Until you use it, keep your syringe clean and tightly closed. Two distinct tips are included with the Four Paws simple feeder syringes, allowing for flexibility in application. Choose a tapered tip if you need to give your pet a thicker dose of medication.

7. Drugs

You might need to include specific prescriptions (including prescription meds) in your first aid kit for dogs depending on the needs of your particular dog or cat, but be sure to keep an eye on those expiration dates.

Stocking your box with a few common cures is also useful in addition to any prescription meds.

Styptic powder is used to halt minor bleeding, especially if the quick of the nail has been cut too close to the nail or fractured.

Hydrogen peroxide is a traditional component of first aid kits. It can be used to cause vomiting with the approval of your veterinarian or a poison control specialist.

8. What to do if there is no heartbeat in your pet

Once you’ve established an airway and started rescue breathing, only then should you start chest compressions.

Lay your pet down on a solid surface with its right side facing up. The heart is situated behind the elbow of the front left leg, in the bottom portion of the chest on the left side. Put one hand for support underneath the pet’s chest, and the other over the heart.

For medium-sized canines, softly press down on your pet’s heart; for larger animals, press down harder; and for tiny animals, less forcefully.

Cats and other small pets’ hearts can be massaged by placing your hand over the animal’s chest with your thumb on the left side and your fingers on the right, compressing the chest by squeezing it between your thumb and fingers.

For larger animals, press down 80–120 times per minute; for smaller animals, 100–150 times per minute.

Alternate chest compressions and rescue breaths rather than performing them simultaneously. You can even operate as a team with a partner so that one person conducts chest compressions for 4-5 seconds before pausing long enough for the other to provide one rescue breath.

Continue until you hear your pet’s heartbeat and they are breathing normally, or until you get to the vet office so they can take over the resuscitation efforts.