Emergency situations can occur at any time with your pet, whether you’re at home, or out and about.
Now that some of us are mostly indoors due to the lockdown, we think having this information at your disposal will be helpful especially considering the restriction in movement (transporting your pet to the vet could be tough).
When something happens to your pets, the first few steps you take before getting him to the vet can be the difference between life and death. We hope to teach you a few tips that will help to put your mind at ease if a crisis occurs.
What is a First aid Kit?
This one is a ‘no brainer’, but just as an FYI, a pet first aid kit is a collection of equipment and supplies that are used to treat pets in emergency conditions, which might have been caused by an attack from another animal, poisoning etc.
Let’s start with the items you need to deal with any pet emergency situation:
- Sterile gauze
- Bandages
- Adhesive tape
- Cotton swabs
- 3% hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting
- Activated charcoal
- Sanitizers or wipes
- Ice pack
- Latex gloves
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Scissors (Blunt Blunt, Sharp Sharp)
- Tweezers
- Alcohol swabs
- Oral syringe
- Muzzle
- Basic antibiotics
- Pet special shampoo
- Thermometer
- Towels
- flashlight
- Basic Eye drops
- Styptic powder
- Antiseptic lotion
What are the situations in which a first aid kit is needed?
There are some common emergency situations that pet owners find themselves in day-to-day life:
Heat Stroke: this usually occurs when an animal is placed in a very hot environment with little or no access to water.
A Fall: your cat, dog, or rabbit might fall off a staircase or balcony and begin to limp.
An attack from another animal: There are cases where pets are attacked by predatory animals.
Poisoning: A situation in which your dog or cat eats something poisonous.
A fight: Your cat or dog could get into a fight with another pet and get injured.
If you experience any of these situations, it could be nerve-racking for you, so to avoid panic, we recommend that you always have a first aid kit ready and follow the steps below to ensure that you are prepared.
First step!
The first step in first aid is to always muzzle your pet because when your pet is in pain, even most docile pet can bite, so it is best to be careful.
How to give first aid to an injured pet?
If your pet was injured in any situation
- Use a thick, clean gauze pad over the wound and apply pressure to the wound so that the blood begins to clot. You can learn from your vet how to use gauze in this situation. Or watch this video here for reference.
- In case of small cut or injury, you should first wash with an antiseptic solution and then apply antibiotic ointment.
How to give first aid to a pet that eats poison?
If your dog or cat accidentally ingests a poisonous substance. To induce vomiting which reduces the impact of the poison, you can take these first aid measures before going to the veterinary hospital.
- Rinse their mouth with water.
- You can induce vomiting by giving 3% hydrogen peroxide. Administer a second dose in 10 – 15 minutes if vomiting is not induced.
- If vomiting does not occur within 30 minutes, you should immediately transport your pet to the vet clinic.
How to Give First Aid to a Pet Suffering from Heat Stroke?
If your pet suffers a heatstroke;
- Move him immediately to the shaded area, you can cover him with a damp towel or put your pet in the breeze from the fan.
- Allow your pet to drink a small amount of cold water.
Read more about heat strokes here.
How to give first aid to a pet that suffers a fracture?
If your pet suffers a fracture, do not don’t walk him to the vet; use a flat board or a stretcher to transport it to the hospital or any other safe place.
Always keep in mind that first aid is not the whole treatment, and your pet needs immediate veterinary attention to save his life in all emergency cases.
If you have a unique type of pet in your home, you need to learn from your veterinarian the basic use of first aid kits and how to transport an injured animal to the hospital.
