It's natural to panic when your pet is injured, but getting yourself into a frenzy won't help anyone. Instead of panicking, take a moment to assess the situation and then take action. That's why we're here to give you some tips on how to handle common animal emergencies—from cuts and scrapes all the way up to life-threatening situations.
The most important thing to remember when helping an injured pet is to stay calm, and talk softly to the animal.
The first thing to remember when helping an injured pet is to stay calm, and talk softly to the animal. If you can, try to distract them with a toy or treat. Think about how you would want someone talking to you if you were hurt--and then do exactly that!
If your pet is conscious, let them rest and recover on their own for a few minutes before touching them.
If your pet is conscious, let them rest and recover on their own for a few minutes before touching them. This will help calm the animal down and make them feel safe. If you want to give them reassurance, speak in a soothing voice while stroking their fur or gently rubbing their head.
If they are unconscious:
- Check for breathing by placing your cheek close to the mouth of the animal and feeling for air coming out of its nose or mouth (you should be able to feel this even with thick fur). Do not put your face in line with theirs unless absolutely necessary because if there's been a lot of bleeding or trauma to their face it could cause additional injury if you breathe on them!
- If there is no breathing present then begin CPR immediately until help arrives (if available).
If you suspect that there's a serious injury, call your vet or local animal hospital immediately.
If you suspect that there's a serious injury, call your vet or local animal hospital immediately.
Injuries to the head, neck, and chest are often serious and require immediate medical attention. If you believe your pet has suffered a spinal injury, don't move them at all--if they can't move their limbs on their own then they need immediate veterinary attention! If there's bleeding from an open wound where you can see bone (this is called an "open fracture"), keep the animal still while waiting for help; if possible use something soft like towels or blankets as a stretcher until help arrives.
If possible cover any bleeding wounds with bandages until help arrives -- this will stop blood loss while waiting for treatment by professional staff members who have access to proper supplies such as clean gauze pads which should be used instead of clothing scraps since they won't get stuck in the wound like shirtsleeves might do if used improperly..
Keep pets hydrated by offering water or electrolytes.
- Keep pets hydrated by offering water or electrolytes.
- If you can't get to a vet, call the vet and ask them what to do.
- If you have to make the decision, go with water first.
- What to do if your pet is injured:
- Stop bleeding by applying pressure or elevation (if possible).
- Clean any wounds with soap and water, then apply antibiotic ointment or creams as instructed by your veterinarian; keep an eye out for signs of infection like swelling around wounds or redness around them!
Don't move the injured animal unless it's absolutely necessary.
If you can, keep the animal still. Moving an injured pet can cause further injuries and worsen its condition. If you must move them, do so gently and slowly; if there is an embedded object (such as a thorn), don't try to remove it yourself--call your vet immediately!
If your pet is conscious and able to stand on its own power, let them rest for several minutes before touching them so that they have time to recover on their own without interference from humans. Do not attempt any first aid procedures until after this period has passed; otherwise, it's possible that any pain caused by those procedures will make matters worse instead of better! Remember: Never restrain an injured animal unless instructed specifically by a veterinarian trained in emergency veterinary medicine or another qualified professional who has been certified in pet first aid techniques such as CPR/AED certification courses offered through organizations.
If you can see an embedded object (such as a stick or needle), do not try to remove it yourself. Call your vet immediately.
If you can see an embedded object (such as a stick or needle), do not try to remove it yourself. Call your vet immediately.
If the object is not visible, call your vet immediately and have them examine the pet. If it is causing your pet to choke, remove it only if you can safely do so; otherwise, leave things alone until help arrives.
You can help your pets in an emergency by staying calm and using common sense
- Stay calm. Your pet will sense your anxiety and become more nervous.
- Speak softly to the animal, who may be in pain or frightened by their injuries.
- Let the animal rest and recover on its own for a few minutes before touching them or moving them from where they are lying down.
- If you suspect that there's a serious injury, call your vet or local animal hospital immediately! Don't wait until tomorrow--time is critical when treating an injured pet! Keep hydrated by offering water or electrolytes (such as Pedialyte) if needed; don't give alcoholic beverages like beer because they'll dehydrate you further instead of hydrating you as water does.
- Don't move the injured person unless absolutely necessary; keep them still so they don't aggravate any internal bleeding while waiting for help.
- If possible try removing any objects sticking out of their bodies such as sticks/needles etc., but only do so if no bones look broken near where these objects are stuck because trying to remove them could cause more harm than good this point--call 911 instead if something like this happens so trained professionals can remove these items safely without causing further damage!
Conclusion
As a pet owner, it's important to know how to care for your animal when they're injured. It can be a scary situation, but by staying calm and using common sense, you can help your pet get back on its feet in no time at all!