FIRST AID PROCEDURES

• Immediately consult your Vet for advice and let him know you are on your way for treatment.
• Pets do not understand pain and may try to bite or scratch you.
• Muzzle dogs and wrap cats in a blanket, leaving head exposed.
• Apply pressure pads to wounds to stop or control bleeding.
• Injuries may cause pets to go into shock.
• Keep warm with a blanket. If pet is unconscious, place head lower than body during transportation.
• Avoid unnecessary movement during treatment.
• Transport pet in box or on a hard flat object such as a board to minimize movement of injured body parts.
  

NORMAL TEMPERATURE RANGES

Dogs: 100 - 103 degrees Fahrenheit
Cats: 100.5 - 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit

HEIMLICH MANEUVER

Place pet on side, press quickly down on chest, release immediately. Direct force of hands slightly forward. Repeat several times. Open mouth and remove object. Apply artificial respiration if needed.

ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION

Mouth, nose and throat airways should be cleared. Clamp your hands around pet's face and blow into nose airway until chest expands. Remove your mouth until chest deflates. Repeat procedure every 5 seconds until pet breathes on his own.

ALLERGIC REACTION

SYMPTOMS

Minor: Itching and swelling of eyes, ears, face. Skin lesions. Animal paws at affected area. Acute: Caused by food, sting or vaccine.

FIRST AID - TREATMENT

Minor: Wash affected area with a mild soap. If poisoning suspected, give milk of magnesia and enema. Use child's glycerin suppository. Acute: Rush to vet. Needs shot of Adrenaline.

CHOKING

SYMPTOMS

Gagging, drooling, making choking sounds. Difficult to breathe and swallow. Paws at mouth. Possibly unconscious.

FIRST AID - TREATMENT

Examine nasal and throat passages for foreign object. Remove if possible. If unable to dislodge, apply HEIMLICH MANEUVER. Consult your Vet.

HEAT STROKE

SYMPTOMS

Slobbering, panting, rapid heart beat, high temperature. Vomiting. Possible coma.

FIRST AID - TREATMENT

Possibly life threatening. Consult Vet. Lower temperature by moving out of sun and bathe in cold water. Apply ice to chest. Massage limbs gently. If conscious, feed small amounts of cool water. RUSH TO VET.

RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS

SYMPTOMS

Slow or stopped breathing. Pupils dilated. Discolored lips and tongue. Gasps. Possibly unconscious.

FIRST AID - TREATMENT

Remove pet's collar. If fluid in the throat, hold upside down. If pet chokes, begin Heimlich Maneuver. If breathing stops, begin artificial respiration.

CARDIAC ARREST

SYMPTOMS

Unconsciousness, from stupor to unresponsiveness Dilation of pupils or unequal size. Weak pulse. Varied respiratory rate. Animal will not feel pain if feet pinched hard.

FIRST AID - TREATMENT

Treat as for shock. Do not give anything by mouth. Obtain Vet's assistance immediately. THIS ACTION IS CRITICAL TO SAVE THE PET.

BLEEDING

SYMPTOMS

Small cut or open wound. Minor pain. OR deep laceration or puncture. Arterial wound. More painful.

FIRST AID - TREATMENT

Gently and cautiously muzzle dogs. Wrap cats in blanket with head exposed. Clean wound with hydrogen peroxide or antiseptic cream. Apply pressure pad. If bleeding continues, apply more pressure pads and elevate wound. RUSH TO VET.

FRACTURES

SYMPTOMS

Limping, swollen joints, protruding bones. Severe pain. Possible shock.

FIRST AID - TREATMENT

Gently and cautiously muzzle dogs. Wrap cats in blanket with head exposed. Treat for possible shock. Cover wound with gauze. Do not move fractured body part or attempt to treat injury. RUSH TO VET FOR TREATMENT

EAR INJURIES

SYMPTOMS

Bleeding and swelling from fights, lacerations or scratching. Rubbing ear on floor or ground. Head shaking.

FIRST AID - TREATMENT

Apply pressure to wound with sterile pads. Bandage by laying ear over top of head and cover both sides with gauze pads and bandage in place. If severe, consult Vet.

INTERNAL INJURIES

SYMPTOMS

Difficult to breathe. Sensitive to touch in wound area or abdomen. Signs of blood in eyes, mouth or urine. Possibly in shock.

FIRST AID - TREATMENT

Cover and treat for shock. RUSH TO VET carefully in flat secure position. Apply cold compress to bruised areas.

EYE INJURIES

SYMPTOMS

Red eyeballs, excessive tearing. Eyelids closed. Pet paws at eye or rubs face on floor or ground. Pain.

FIRST AID - TREATMENT

Do not rub. Flush with water. If foreign object, remove with moistened cotton pad. If bleeding, apply pressure with gauze pads. Hold cold compress over pads. Consult vet.

BURNS

SYMPTOMS

Singed hair, inflamed skin, blisters, hair pulls out easily. Possibly in shock. Pain.

FIRST AID - TREATMENT

Flush area with cold water, apply cold wet compresses. Apply antibiotic burn ointment. For minor burns, clean daily with sterile pad and antiseptic soap. More serious burns, treat for shock and RUSH TO VET. Do not give pet any type of drugs without ad vice from Vet.

SHOCK

SYMPTOMS

Paleness in mouth, eyelids and lips. Weak and shallow breathing. Cool body. Semi-conscious. No response.

FIRST AID - TREATMENT

Cover pet. If unconscious, head should be slightly lower than rest of body. Massage paws and body gently and RUSH TO VET.

INSECT BITES

SYMPTOMS

Scratching at affected area. Panting or drooling caused by allergic reaction. Possible vomiting and collapse

FIRST AID - TREATMENT

Use paste of baking soda and water or meat tenderizer dissolved in water and apply to wound. If outdoors, apply mud pack. If swelling occurs or breathing becomes difficult, RUSH TO VET for venom antidote. 

SNAKE BITES

SYMPTOMS

If poisonous, painful swelling and discoloration in area of bite will occur within minutes. Difficult to breathe. Possible convulsion and bleeding from punctures

FIRST AID - TREATMENT

Immediately apply tourniquet between bite and heart. RUSH TO VET for venom antidote. Remove venom from wound if possible. Clean affected area well and apply cold compresses

POISONING

SYMPTOMS

Staggering blindly, looks aimless, groans in agony, trembling, writhing, near stage of collapse. Possible convulsions, coma or uncoordinated movements. Vomiting, salivation and diarrhea possible.

FIRST AID - TREATMENT

To induce vomiting, give 1 to 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide every 5 to 10 minutes until vomiting occurs. NO MORE THAN 4 DOSES. Or, 1 teaspoon of mustard in warm water.

VOMITING

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms difficult to diagnose. Frothy yellow fluid expelled. Pain, weakness, fever and dehydration. Vomiting can be caused by overeating, motion sickness, ear problems or diet change.

FIRST AID - TREATMENT

Do not feed or water for 24 hours. If pet is thirsty, give 2 tbsp. water at regular intervals. You can give Pepto-Bismol to dogs only: 1 tsp. per 20 lbs. body weight every 4 hours.  After 24 hours, boiled egg and rice.  If symptoms persist, contact the vet.

SKUNK SPRAY

SYMPTOMS

Offensive smell of skunk.

FIRST AID – TREATMENT

Flush the pet's eyes with lukewarm water and then apply warm olive oil or over-the-counter artificial tears. Neutralize the smell by bathing the pet's body thoroughly. Wear rubber gloves while doing so. 

MOTION SICKNESS

SYMPTOMS

Restlessness, panting, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling or swallowing.

FIRST AID – TREATMENT

Stop the car and provide the pet some fresh air. (Veterinarians can offer medication to administer before traveling.)

OVEREXPOSURE TO COLD

SYMPTOMS

Very cold skin, ruffled fur, shivers, weakness, bloody stool, unconsciousness, gums and tongue pale pink-gray in color.

FIRST AID – TREATMENT

If the condition is severe, immediately take the pet to a veterinarian, making sure to keep him warm on the way. If the condition is not severe, wrap the pet in a towel and apply a hot water bottle to him. Also try using a blow dryer on him. If the pet is conscious, offer him some warm broth.

TICKS AND LYME DISEASE

SYMPTOMS

Cats usually show no signs of ticks, but many kinds of ticks are visible on dogs, especially between their toes and behind their ears and front legs. Deer ticks, which transmit Lyme disease, often go undetected.

FIRST AID – TREATMENT

Soak ticks in alcohol or small amounts of tick spray. Wait thirty minutes, and then carefully grasp the ticks with tweezers. Be sure to pull them straight out. After removal, apply antiseptic to the bites, burn or flush the ticks, and thoroughly wash your hands.

FLEAS

SYMPTOMS

Small red dots on skin, biting and/or scratching of self.

TREATMENT – FIRST AID

Use only natural flea preparations. Vacuum your home thoroughly, and then discard the vacuum bag. Use natural insecticides in your home and regularly wash and dry the pet's bedding on the hottest settings. Consult a veterinarian.

EAR MITES

SYMPTOMS

Shaking or rubbing head on ground, carrying head to one side, scratching ears, dark red wax in ears. (Cats are more likely to get ear mites than dogs.)

FIRST AID – TREATMENT

Call a veterinarian. Pets' ears are fragile, and therefore should be treated only with directions from a professional.

FIRST AID SUPPLIES TO KEEP ON HAND

• Cod Liver Oil
• Antiseptic Cream
• Milk of Magnesia
• Mustard
• Muzzle
• Pliers
• Blanket
• Gauze Pads
• Bandages
• Surgical Tape
• Kaopectate
• Activated or Medical Charcoal
• Burn Ointment
• Bicarbonate of Soda
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Pepto-Bismol
• Child Glycerine Suppositories
• Rectal Thermometer