First aid tips for your pet

Being prepared is very important when your pet has an emergency. Always be sure you know how your veterinarian handles emergencies or where you should go if your pet should have one. For example, some veterinarians always have someone on call, while others use special emergency hospitals for after-hour occurrences.

In an emergency, first aid is not a substitute for veterinary treatment. However, before you are able to get your pet to a veterinarian, knowing some basic first aid can help. ALWAYS SEEK VETERINARY CARE FOLLOWING FIRST AID ATTEMPTS.

Bite wounds

Approach the pet carefully to avoid getting bitten and muzzle the animal. Check the wound for contamination or debris, and clean the wound with large amounts of saline or balanced electrolyte solution. If these are not available, then regular water may be used. Wrap large open wounds to keep them clean. Apply pressure to wounds that are bleeding profusely. Do not use a tourniquet. Wear gloves when possible.

Diarrhea

Withhold food for 12 to 24 hours, but not water. Sometimes pets that appear to be straining are sore from diarrhea rather than from constipation. Your veterinarian can help you decide which it is and what will help. Trying at-home treatments without knowing the real cause may make things worse.

Breathing stops

Check to see if the animal is choking on a foreign object. If you see an object in the airway, remove it. If an animal is not breathing, place it on a firm surface with its left side up. Check for a heartbeat by listening at the area where the elbow touches the chest. If you hear a heartbeat but not breathing, close the animal's mouth and breathe directly into its nose - not the mouth - until the chest expands. Repeat 12 to 15 times per minute. If there is no pulse, apply heart massage at the same time. The heart is located in the lower half of the chest, behind the elbow of the front left leg. Place one hand below the heart to support the chest. Place your other hand over the heart and compress gently. To massage the hearts of cats and other tiny pets, compress the chest with the thumb and forefingers of one hand. Apply heart massage 80 to 120 times per minute for larger animals and 100 to 150 per minute for smaller ones. Alternate heart massage with breathing.

For a step-by-step guide to pet CPR and other helpful pet first aid tips, become a member of HomeAgain today! As a member of HomeAgain, you'll have 24-hour access to our on-call veterinarians who can offer medical advice or connect you to an emergency vet, regardless of your location.