Knowing emergency first-aid could save your pet’s life
There’s almost nothing we love more than our furry friends. And whether it’s displayed with a soft purring or a wagging tail, we know they love us just as much.
That’s why it pains us so much emotionally when they’re in pain physically. Our hearts go out to our hurting pets when they’re suffering. And we do everything we can to get them whatever medical attention they require as soon as possible.
Sometimes, however, that medicinal help may not be immediately available. On occasion, our pets may need us to step in and administer some kind of medical assistance before we are able to transport them to the veterinarian’s office.
That’s why it’s crucial to possess some basic pet first-aid skills. Someday it could mean the difference between life and death for one of your precious pets.
Pet First-Aid Supplies
The first thing you should do is acquire as many pet first-aid supplies as you can and keep them in a place where you can access them quickly.
These supplies would include:
- Phone numbers for your veterinarian, the emergency vet clinic and the Animal Poison Control Center.
- Towels, non-stick bandages and strips of clean cloth, for the purpose of protecting wounds or controlling bleeding.
- Gauze, for wrapping wounds.
- Adhesive tape, for securing the gauze or bandage.
- Digital “fever” thermometer (must be inserted rectally).
- Eyedropper, for oral treatments or flushing wounds.
- Benadryl, for countering the swelling accompanying bee or wasp stings.
- Milk of magnesia and activated charcoal, for absorbing poison (always consult a veterinarian or a poison control center before treating a poisoned animal).
- Hydrogen peroxide, for inducing vomiting (always consult a veterinarian or a poison control center before inducing vomiting in an animal).
- Leash, for transporting a pet able to walk without pain.
- Stretcher, for transporting an animal unable to walk without pain.
Another item to keep handy is a muzzle. Your pet may be the most mild animal on earth, but pain can change an animal’s temperament quickly. However, do not muzzle a pet that is vomiting.
Also, talk gently to your injured pet to reassure them, but don’t try to hug them just yet until they’ve received care and their stress level has been reduced.
Poisoning
If you believe your pet has been poisoned by a product such as a cleaning agent, quickly read the warnings on the label and follow the same advice you would for a human.
This might include flushing the skin or eyes with water, or washing the skin with soap and water.
If your pet is already experiencing obvious signs of being poisoned, such as a seizure or losing consciousness, call the Animal Poison Control Center hotline (1-888-426-4435). Be ready to give them information including your pet’s breed, age, sex, weight and symptoms.
If your pet is having a seizure, don’t try to restrain them. Time the seizure (they usually last two to three minutes), then keep your animal as warm and quiet as possible while contacting your vet.
Bleeding
If your pet is bleeding, muzzle them first. Then wrap the wound with a clean, thick gauze pad, keeping pressure on the wound until blood clotting starts. Check every two or three minutes.
Possible Fracture
If you are concerned that your pet may have broken a bone, first muzzle them, then gently lay them on a flat surface for support before transporting them to your vet or an emergency vet clinic.
Burns
Muzzle the animal first. If it’s a severe burn, quickly apply an ice water compress to the wound. If it’s a chemical burn, flush it immediately with large quantities of water.
Choking
Try to look into your pet’s mouth, but be careful about being bitten. If you see an object that shouldn’t be there, try to remove it with a tweezers or small pliers. But be very careful not to push it farther down the throat.
Evacuations
If extreme weather or some other emergency forces you to leave your house in a hurry, you’re going to want to take your pet with you.
Just as you should have a bug-out bag packed and ready for yourself, you should also have a fully-stocked pet bug-out bag.
Your pet’s kit should include the following items:
- At least three days’ worth of dry or canned pet food
- At least two weeks’ worth of current medications (including flea and tick prevention)
- Food and water bowls
- Litter and litter box
- Medical records
- Photo of your pet
- Carrier case
- Favorite toys and treats
- Bedding
You should also have bottled water ready to transport to your vehicle for your use, as well as for your pets.
As with just about everything in life, being prepared is the way to go. You’ll be able to save valuable time if you know in advance what to do in the case of a pet emergency. And that’s time that could save your pet’s life.
Colloidal silver kills bacteria and viruses. Honey mixed with water heals infectionso on skin or eyes.
Try to have only one place for water bowl. Animals are creatures of habit. If dehydrated, give liquid thru recrum.
For diarrhea, give probiotics and colloidal sulver.
And you should always have a (paper) photo of your pet and you together. This will help find him and proove that he belongs with you . (I say paper photo in case the Internet goes down and you can’t access the photos on your phone or computer.)
You asked if Net Neutrality is worth trying to Save?
YES! That’s what made the internet what it is today. Internet service providers should provide access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites.
I believe in the right to communicate freely online and protecting free speech. And, I believe that individuals, and especially small businesses will suffer without Net Neutrality because they do rely on an open Internet to start businesses, create markets, advertise products and services, and reach customers.
I heartily agree with Josh Steimle, owner of the digital marketing firm MWI. Like him I believe the loss of Net Neutrality will give the U.S. government control over the Internet and will result in less competition, less privacy and less freedom. If we allow government control, we will see the Internet become another mismanaged public monopoly, suffer increased scrutiny, and it will open the door to whatever the government wants to do—nothing to the benefit of internet users that’s for sure.
Internet control should remain with the free market. We net users should have the freedom to access whatever information we want from the Internet without the government or corporations controlling our Internet use. Keep the government and corporate entities from controlling the Internet and leave that control in the hands of the free market!
Your chickens are able to forage for themselves .let them go and come back for them if you must .chickens will eat bugs or grain ,how. Are you going to transport them ? Ina small cage in your car or truck! Think of the bacteria. You’ll be traveling with.
Most animal have a very high temperature post seizure do to the muscle activity. Many time the body temperature is between 104 and 106 degrees F. Do not bundle the pet in a blanket unless it’s rectal temperature is below 99.0 degrees F. Normal body temperature for dogs and cats is 100.0 to 102.5.
thanks for the reminder of taking care of our furry friends. I had started to collect dog food. but your suggestions are very helpful
what do we need to pack for chickens? I have five and if I have to bug out want to take them with us. besides, I will miss my fresh eggs and if they are left, they will die with no one to take care of them.
Chickens must have plenty of water , food , and don’t forget grit. I would think chick grit would be much easier to pack & it would do the job needed. Also you would want to have some medicated food in case they get stressed ( but never give medicated food to ducks it can kill them) also some type of electrolytes would be a must to insure their hydration. If you have room a bag of dry sawdust is much better than straw & can also be used as tender for a fire. A little goes a long way. And of corse you would need some type of portable nesting boxes and a small roll up fence of some kind that could move with you but be put out when you stop. Chickens feel safe in their boxes so being closed up would not be a problem but you would still want to give them time out and you also have to Clean. Keeping the boxes clean would be a major consideration when it comes to their health