Just as you would learn First Aid to save a person or help someone who is injured, our furry friends rely on us as well to receive care when they are involved in an emergency situation. Our pets are impacted by emergencies along with their families in a variety of instances such as a house fire, flooding, or other natural disaster. Knowing First Aid for dogs and cats can ensure that all members of your family, even the ones with four paws, receive proper care during an emergency situation.
Coming into contact with poison and/or chemicals can be fatal to our pets. Keeping chemicals and poisons put up and out of reach of our furry friends is good for preventative measures, but sometimes accidents can happen and they can come into contact with these items. You will need to monitor your pets to determine if they ingested the harmful chemicals or if they have it on their skin, nose, or in their eyes. Reading the labels can help you take the first step. If the label says to flush your eyes or wash your hands after coming into contact with that product, then you will need to do the same for your pet if you can. If they have ingested the product, you should call your veterinarian or an animal poison control center hotline. Be sure you have all of your information such as breed, age, weight, number of animals involved, symptoms, and a description of the substance your pet has come into contact with. If your pet has vomited or chewed something up, put it in a sealable bag to bring to the veterinarian when you seek professional help.
Seizures are another medical condition that might require First Aid. Keep your pet away from anything that may be harmful, like furniture. Do not try to hold your pet down, this can cause even more stress and panic from the animal. Time the seizures, they usually only last a few minutes, but this information will be important to the veterinarian. After the seizure has stopped, keep your pet calm and quiet and contact your veterinarian to book an emergency appointment.
External bleeding can happen when your pet has an accident or is involved in an emergency situation. You will need to muzzle your pet to protect yourself so that you can administer pet First Aid. Take a gauze pad and firmly apply pressure to the wound and hold until the blood starts to clot. This can take up to several minutes. If the bleeding is severe, you will need to make a tourniquet the same way you would for a person. Severe bleeding can be life threatening. Seek immediate emergency care for your pet if they are bleeding.
These are just a few First Aid tips for our family dogs and cats. There are many other topics and situations to learn about when it comes to First Aid for our furry friends. Taking an online certification class in First Aid for dogs and cats is the first step in being proactive in their care during an emergency situation. Get certified in First Aid for Dogs and Cats today to keep those four-legged members of our families healthy and safe!
