Veterinary Professionals - Vet Pro - HANDY FIRST AID TIPS FOR YOUR PET.

jenvetnurse writes " Some Useful Health Tips for Pet Owners:
Make up a first aid kit which is available at all times for you pet. My suggestions would be:
Plenty of clean gauze swabs, (to absorb blood and protect a wound)
A few syringes 2ml and 5ml (in case you need to syringe feed an animal or need to medicate orally)
Selection of different sized Rondopad (or similar to use against a wound)
Softban, to put the first layer of a bandage on,
Vetwrap small + large size for the second layer of a bandage, (remember vetwrap does tighten by itself so always stretch it out first before applying.)
Curved scissors, (these will cut dressings and be useful to trim fur out of the wound)
Muzzle or long thin bandage - such as white open wove, (although your dog may not normally bite when an animal is frightened and in pain they can snap unexpectedly - not worth the risk of making things worse - a muzzle is a good idea.)
A thermometer, (used rectally - with care it can be very useful)
100ml bottle of diluted hibiscrub, (this is a gentle chlorhexadine which will clean the wound well)

Blanket
Rectal thermometer
Your vet’s telephone number and the details of the medication your dog is having,
These are all available from your vet or a chemist.
• Take care when you handle an injured animal even your own can be unpredictable when they are frightened and in pain.
When you are worried about your pet you can do a few simple things to establish how serious the situation is and how soon you need to see a vet.
You can also count how many times your pet breathes over a minute, cats usually breath 20 to 30 times and dogs 10 to 20 depending on their size ( smaller dogs breathe faster then larger dogs). You can listen to ensure the breathing is regular and normal. You can also check the colour of the animals gums – are they pink and does the colour quickly return when you press on an area of the gum? This can tell you if the animal has lost blood or if it is in shock if it has pale, white or even blue gums – which tells you the animal is seriously ill and needs veterinary attention immediately.
Check how your pets pulse compares to these normal resting rates. You can take a pulse by gentle pressing with your fore finger against the femoral artery which is located on the inside area of the top of a back leg (thigh area). Count how many pulses you feel over a minute – it is easy to do once you have found it. The pulse should feel strong and regular.
Cats = 150 to 200 beats a minute.
Little dogs under 10 kgs = 90 to 120
Medium dogs 10 to 20kgs = 70 to 110 beats a minute.
Large dogs 20 to 40kgs = 60 to 90 beats a minute.
Taking the temperature is also useful. Make sure the thermometer is at zero and then lubricate the end with Vaseline. Insert gently into the rectum and hold against the side. Have someone holding on to the animal and talk gently to it at the same time to calm it. After a minute wipe it clean with a piece of tissue and read it. Most dogs and cats temperatures are around 100 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
An accurate history is vital when contacting the vet. You should let the person who knows the animal the most speak to them. It is often the case that people relay information to the vet through a few people – this is a waste of time and important facts could be missed. We need to know how urgent the situation is, what the obvious problem seems to be, when you first noticed the animal was ill, the age, breed, sex of the animal and a general idea of the situation. Also you will need to give your name, address and contact telephone number.
If there is obvious bleeding, press some gauze pads firmly over the area. Apply a bandage if possible. Tourniquets are seldom used but in a real life threatening situation i.e. if there is arterial blood spurting from a wound you can use a tourniquet but it can not be on for longer than 15 minutes.
If you notice any signs of an internal bleed you need to keep the animal warm and see your vet urgently. The signs could be blood from the nose, mouth, rectum or blood in the urine, faeces or vomit Never feed your pet in these situations as if the animal needs an anaesthetic it could be very dangerous, as vomiting can kill an animal if it happens when it is waking up from anaesthetic.
If your animal gets burnt flush the whole area with plenty of cold water. Keep a cold compress over the area and see your vet.
If your animal is in shock keep it warm and quiet and see you vet immediately – signs of shock are usually fear, weak pulse, rapid or laboured shallow breathing, pale gums and a vacant expression. Shock could be caused by a road traffic accident, a fight with another animal, having a traumatic experience or as a result of an illness which has gone unnoticed and become serious.
Other signs of illness could be lethargy, collapse, odd behavior, change in character – aggression or fear, not eating or drinking or drinking more than usual. Passing little or no faeces or urine or passing more than usual amounts.

Minor problems abcesses, small cuts and abrasions are best treated by removing some hair with curved scissors - very carefully and cleaning the area with salty water or hibiscrub if available.
Your vet or vet nurse will give advice to you on the telephone but it is very difficult to tell what the problem is over the phone. Little signs could prove to be a serious illness and lots of discharge on the fur and an aggressive cat could jsut be an abcess - it is difficult to judge when just relying on an owners observations.
Common sense is needed really when you have a sick animal and care not to let the animal attack you through pain and fear.

"


RIG Vet Recruitment is the trading name of RIG Veterinary Recruit Limited. Registered in England and Wales number 5452945. Registered Office: The White Cottage, 19 West Street, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 7BS All logos and trademarks in this site are property of their respective owner. The comments are property of their posters, all the rest © 2004 by me