|
Just a reminder, before we continue on helpful Basic
First Aid tips, the concept of this column is to help
you provide care and treatment of your pet until you
can obtain professional help through your veterinarian.
Bites (snake)
-get your pet to a veterinarian immediately
-keep both yourself and the pet quiet and still
-if possible bring the dead snake with you. The head
is essential to establish the type of snake to get the
correct type of anti-venom.
-some veterinarians will recommend a tourniquet, others
feel they are useless as the poison has already entered
the bloodstream. If recommended, do this after you are
on your way. Time is essential.
Bites (cat)
-cats carry a certain bacteria in their mouth
-watch for "cat scratch fever". All cat caused wounds
should be thoroughly cleaned as soon as possible after
the infliction.
Bites (big dog little dog)
-in a situation where a big dog was fighting with a
little dog, it is a good idea to have the little dog
checked by a veterinarian. There may be underlying injuries
not as apparent as a bite wound.
Bites (small wounds)
-clean the wound and use sterile dressings. Contact
your veterinarian.
Bites (large open wounds)
-if the situation ever occurs where the dogs insides
are outside, keep the evisceration moist with saline
or water. Use sterile dressings. Do not try to replace
the organs yourself. Try and control the bleeding and
treat for shock. Transport immediately to a veterinarian.
Try and keep both yourself and the pet as calm as possible.
Bloat
-This is an emergency that requires immediate veterinary
assistance. Breeds with stomach tuck-up are more at
risk (Boxers, Great Danes, Retrievers), than other breeds.
The stomach turns and twists the intestines which cuts
off circulation, etc. Watch for a bloated stomach, retching
and white gums. A recommendation lately is to elevate
the food dish as a possible prevention to this condition.
Broken toe nails
-try to clip off the broken end. Use a commercial remedy,
or corn starch to stop the bleeding. Bandage the paw
to keep the wound clean. Change bandage frequently and
watch for infection.
Blistered or cut pads
-evaluate the size, depth, location of the wound, the
source, amount of bleeding and check to see if there
are contaminations such as glass, etc. in the wound.
Is the wound a burn? Does it just need cleaning and
bandaging, or does the wound need sutures?
Chemicals
-Any time you suspect your pet has ingested any type
of chemical, such as antifreeze, slug bait, flea sprays,
rat poisons, etc. contact the veterinarian immediately.
Identify the product and take the package to the veterinarian
with you. Depending on the chemical the veterinarian
may recommend you induce vomiting with a couple of tablespoons
of peroxide. He will not recommend vomiting if your
pet has ingested caustics, acids, or petroleum distillates.
Hit by a car
-always seek veterinary attention, even if the pet seems
fine. Injuries could be superficial, or there could
be spinal or internal injuries. Stabilize the pet and
take it to a veterinarian.
Diarrhea
-dogs and people get diarrhea from time to time. Usually
Vomiting there is no real concern and can be treated
with medicines such as Kaopectate (consult your veterinarian
for dosage amounts for the size of your dog). Diarrhea
becomes an emergency when it lasts more than 24 hours,
if there is blood in the stool, if there is vomiting,
if the dog is listless, not eating or acting ill, or
if there is a fever. In these instances, immediately
contact your veterinarian.
Drugs
-Any time a dog eats any type of human medication it
is an emergency. Also, non-prescribed drugs such as
marijuana or hallucinogens can cause severe problems.
Locate the bottle the drug came in and contact your
veterinarian immediately. It is important to stop the
absorption of the drug immediately The veterinarian
will likely recommend you induce vomiting by giving
a couple of tablespoons of peroxide. Mustard also works.
Electrocution
-this usually happens with bored puppies looking for
something to chew on. Prevention is worth a pound of
cure. Keep electrical cords either unplugged or tucked
away. Provide your puppy with ample toys and a restricted
area in which to play safely. Electrocution will show
very few signs of injury, but usually there is pulmonary
injury to the heart and lungs. Any time you suspect
electrocution immediately contact your veterinarian.
Eye injuries
-this is a big emergency that requires immediate appropriate
treatment in order to save the eye. If the eyeball has
come out of the socket, do not try to replace it yourself.
Rely on your veterinarian to do this. If the eyeball
remains out of the socket too long the cornea will dry
out, and it may not be possible to save the eye. On
the veterinarians advise, first aid can consist of applying
eye drops or ointments to keep the eye moist. Tap water,
or anything not recommended by the veterinarian can
cause damage.
Fractures
-any bone in a dogs body can be fractured. Fractured
limbs are quite common. Fractures require treatment
by your veterinarian. Attempts to immobilize the fracture
with splints can cause more injury and pain for your
pet. It is better to immobilize the whole pet and transport
it to the veterinarian with a minimum amount of movement.
Fractures are usually accompanied with shock, keep your
pet calm and warm.
Return next week for more helpful tips.
Remember: Do not panic,
stay calm, assess the situation, evaluate the pet (do
you need to muzzle it), and do not make the situation
worse. Keep your veterinarians telephone number in a
handy location, and drive safely.
-------------------------------------------------
// ------------------------------------------------
Reprinted with permission by Terrie Simpson.
|
