When Your Pet (Cat or Dog) Needs Immediate Medical Attention

 Your pet's life may depend on quick action!

• Fractures
  • Muzzle animal.
  • Gently lay animal on a board, wooden door, tarp, etc. padded with blankets.
  • Secure animal to the support.
  • Do not attempt to set the fracture.
  • If a limb is broken, wrap it in cotton padding, then wrap it again with a magazine, rolled newspaper or a towel and two sticks. The splint should extend one joint above the fracture and one joint below. Secure it with tape and make sure blood flow is not constricted.
  • If the spine, ribs, hip, etc. appears injured or broken, gently place the animal on the stretcher and immobilize it if possible.

• Bleeding (external)
  • Muzzle animal.
  • Press thick gauze pad over wound. Hold firmly until clotting occurs.
  • If bleeding is severe, apply a tourniquet between the wound and the heart.
  • Loosen tourniquet for 20 seconds every 15-20 minutes.
  • A tourniquet is dangerous and should only be used in life-threatening hemorrhaging of a limb. It may result in amputation or disability of the limb.

• Bleeding (internal)
  • Symptoms: bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum; coughing blood; blood in urine; pale gums; collapse; rapid or weak pulse.
  • Keep animal as warm and quiet as possible.

• Burns
  • Chemical
    • Muzzle animal.
    • Flush burn immediately with large quantities of cold water.
  • Severe
    • Muzzle animal.
    • Quickly apply ice water compresses to burn.
    • Treat for shock if necessary.

• Shock
  • Symptoms: weak pulse; shallow breathing; nervousness; dazed appearance.
  • Often accompanies severe injury or extreme fright.
  • Keep animal restrained, quiet and warm.
  • If unconscious, keep head level with rest of body.

Handling an Injured Animal (Restraint Methods)

Any animal injured or in pain can bite or scratch you. Even the friendliest of pets must be handled with care for the safety of all involved. If you are accidentally bitten or scratched, seek medical attention. Both dog and cat bites can become infected quickly.

If your animal is injured, you must restrain him/her for your safety as well as your pet's. Muzzle your pet to restrain it unless it is unconscious, has difficulty breathing or has a mouth injury.

Dogs (Muzzles)

• Speak and move calmly and quietly.
• Have someone restrain dog with a leash.
• Approach dog from the side and behind its head; do not attempt to put muzzle on from the front.
• Quickly slip a nylon or wire cage muzzle over nose, secure snugly behind ears.
• If a muzzle is not available, you can make one from a strip of gauze, rag, necktie, belt or rope about three feet long.
  • Make a large loop in the center. Quickly slip loop over dog's nose.
  • Bring ends under chin. Tie snugly behind ears.

Cats (Muzzles)

• Speak and move calmly and quietly.
• Have someone restrain the cat by holding the scruff of its neck firmly. This does not hurt the cat; it just prevents him/her from moving.
• Working from behind the cat, quickly slip a nylon muzzle over the cat's face. The muzzle will cover most of his/her face, including the eyes. Secure snugly behind head.
• If you are alone, scruff the cat with one hand and put the muzzle over the cat's face with the other. Slide both hands along muzzle straps and secure behind the head.
• If a muzzle is not available, one can be made with a rag or a strip of gauze. Make sure it is carefully placed around the cat's mouth and securely fastened, as cats can escape from these temporary muzzles.

Emergency Provisions to Keep on Hand for Your Dog 

• A working rectal thermometer. It doesn't matter if its a digital or old fashioned, you should have one on hand to take the temperature of your dog.

• Anti-gas medication. Either Mylanta liquid or Gas-X chewable tablets. I prefer the liquid because its faster acting, but the Gas-X chewable tablets have more simethicone which is what breaks up the gas. The chewable tablets can be carried easier in a portable first aid kit. Check those expiration dates!

• A 12 or 20 CC syringe without needle. This is how you give the liquid anti-gas or any liquid medicine your dog may need. I would never be without one in an emergency.

• Pepto-Bismol liquid or tablets. Sometimes the dog isn't gassy, but just feels icky. The Pepto can help calm the stomach, keeping the dog from vomiting later on.

• Anti-diarrheal medicine. Either Kaopectate or Imodium. Many dogs have problems with stress and show it with their stool. Left unchecked, the dog could become dehydrated. Usual dosage for Imodium is 1 mg. per 30#.

• Pedialyte. This will replace the electrolytes lost with vomiting or diarrhea. Another use for your syringe. Or, make your own..a salty drink that saves lives

• A jar of honey in the refrigerator. If your animal is ill, the honey will help the dog keep its sugar up. Low blood sugar is a problem when a dog stops eating due to illness. A teaspoon to tablespoon of honey will coat the dog's stomach and keep its glucose normal. There aren't too many dogs who will refuse this treat.

• Jar of baby food. A jar of Turkey or Chicken and Veggies diluted slightly with water or Pedialyte can help the dog continue to function. Again, the trusty syringe can administer this if the dog doesn't want to eat.

• Peroxide. If you need to make a dog vomit and don't have Syrup of Ipecac, giving 1-3 teaspoons every 10 minutes will help the dog vomit. Repeat this 3 times.

• Aspirin. It reduces fever, helps the dog deal with pain, etc.  Dosage is 5 or 10mg/lb. of body weight twice a day. (Try the lower dosage first) Enteric coated aspirin is not recommended in dogs because about half the time the coating isn't digested and the aspirin is excreted whole in the stool. Use buffered aspirin or Ascriptin, which is aspirin with Maalox. 

• Benadryl. Absolute must have. It can save the life of an animal who has been bitten by a bee. Usual dosage 1 mg. per pound.
  
  
• Saline Solution. The stuff you rinse your contact lenses out with.  Not the all in one solution like Renu, just plain old saline solution.  Wonderful to use when the animal gets something in its eye.
  
  
• Phone numbers of vet, emergency clinic and poison control. A good idea is to have these posted near your phone or programmed into your cell phone. You don't want to have to be fumbling around for a phone number when every minute counts.