Pet First Aid is an important topic for owners. Knowing the basics in pet first aid can really save your pet’s life. In this blog, we focus our attention on teaching fellow pet parents about providing emergency care to their animals. First aid for pets does not only involve being ready for emergencies; it also includes preventing injury. Knowing how to prevent injuries from occurring can not only save you money from seeing the vet, it can most importantly protect your pet from a life-threatening injury.
Here is some information related to Pet First Aid that may help you prevent and spot emergencies.
Prevention
Preventing injury is one of the most significant steps you can take to protecting your pet, so that first aid does not need to be given. Prevention can occur as physical protection from harm or internal and microscopic protection from disease, infection, or reaction to poisonous substances.
You can prevent a physical injury by knowing where you are going and how much your dog can handle. For example, if you’re going hiking, make sure you research the path if the terrain is too rugged for your dog. Ensure that the level of difficulty matches your dog’s age as well as their activity level. Refrain from taking your dog to dangerous or unknown areas where something can harm them.
Prevention from harmful substances can occur at home as well. Ensure that any toxic chemicals, food, or substances are properly stored away in your home. This will allow for a safe environment for your pet and less worry for you. Whether it’s the unpredictable terrain, unknown plants or substances, or the risk of a wild animal, make sure you know where you are taking your pet.
Identifying the signs of an Issue
A behavior change is a big sign that something is wrong with your pet. Some signs are going to be clear and will require action right away. For instance, an unresponsive pet that becomes unconscious will be easy to spot and will require CPR to be administered immediately. Other easy signs to spot are visible cuts, bites, and limping from broken or damaged bones or tissue. Other potentially serious problems that are not as easy to spot may require a bit more observation to spot. Some less immediate signs for a severe issue are vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, lack of appetite, constipation, lethargy, or unusual behavior changes. These behaviors are a huge indicator that something may be wrong, and your pet might be suffering from a bowel obstruction.
Plan of Action and Be Prepared
Whatever the injury may be, a plan of action is always good to have. Knowing who to call as an emergency contact can help you administer first aid quickly and efficiently. It may also help get your pet to a veterinarian a lot faster to receive further attention for whatever is happening to them.
In addition to having emergency contacts, having a first aid kit specifically for your pet can also help save their life by giving you all the tools you need to administer first aid. The first aid kit can be a portable kit with the materials you need for physical injuries and medications for upset stomachs or inducing vomiting if something unwanted is ingested.
Any good plan of action contains the appropriate reaction to the issue, the administration of first aid and contacting emergency contacts and the vet.
Go to your Vet Immediately
If you experience any first aid emergency, make sure you take your pet to the vet right away or after any immediate first aid is administered. This will allow the vet to continue treating your pet and determining the issue based on the symptoms they’re experiencing.
Being informed about Pet First Aid is essential as responsible pet parents. This ensures we are prepared for any accidents or emergencies that may occur. Please do your research and ask your vet if you are unsure about administering any pet first aid. Please contact us and let us know your first aid plan if you are using our pet sitting services.
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