First Aid Techniques

Credit to Jim Humphries, D.V.M. and Family Circle Magazine

Remember... The following are guidelines and basic maneuvers for animal first aid and should not be a replacement for veterinary care. Use at your own risk.

Choking

Symptoms: gagging, drooling, pawing at mouth or crying in pain.
Solutions: Act fast. Pull down jaw and remove object with fingers or tweezers. If object remains lodged, and your pet is still breathing, get to an animal hospital right away. If breathing stops, perform the Heimlich maneuver for animals (see below).

Heimlich Maneuver for Pets

The Heimlich Maneuver for Pets is similar to the method for humans. As your pet faces away from you, wrap your arms around its belly, below the rib cage. With the heels of both hands, press up in a quick, jerking motion. It may take several attempts to dislodge an object.
For big dogs try this technique: As the dog lies on a table (tail to your left, head to your right), wrap your arms around its waist. Join hands below the rib cage. Push up forcibly, toward its head.

Minor Cut

Symptoms: shallow cut with minimal bleeding.
Solutions: Before starting first aid, dogs should be muzzled: Wrap a strip of gauze twice around nose, cross under chin, and tie behind ears. Do not muzzle an unconscious animal or one with breathing difficulties. For a short-nosed dog or for a cat, cover head loosely with a towel or pillowcase.
Control bleeding: Using clean gauze or a towel, apply direct and gentle pressure to the wound. Bleeding should stop in several minutes. Carefully trim surrounding hair. (Trick: Water-soluble jelly (Vaseline) prevents loose strands from entering the cut.) Clean with iodine based soap and rinse thoroughly with warm water. Dab with antibiotic ointment and let heal uncovered. Repeat daily as needed.

Bee Sting

Symptoms: swelling, pain, pawing or biting at sting site.
Solutions: Scrape away stinger with dull edge of a butter knife. Place ice pack over sting site to reduce swelling. Let a vet treat any allergic reactions including vomiting, breathing difficulties, diarrhea, prolonged swelling.

Snake Bite

Symptoms: extreme swelling , pain, bluish color at bite site (on face / chest).
Solutions: If fang marks are visible, the snake was probably poisonous. Place a cold pack (ice in moist towel) at bite site to slow venom. Go to the animal hospital immediately.

Heat Exhaustion

Symptoms: prolonged panting, gasping, weakness, unsteady gait, fainting.
Solutions: Move animal to a cool, ventilated place. Immerse in cool water. DO NOT treat with ice water which could lead to shock. Offer drinks of cool water and take the animal to the animal hospital.

Exposure to Cold

Symptoms: shivering, lethargy, fainting, gray gums and tongue.
Solutions: Move to warm area and dry with a towel. Warm the body with heating pads or place near heater. Offer warm broth to raise internal body temperature. Wrap in blankets and take to the animal hospital right away.

Household Toxins

Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, fainting, strange breath odor, bluish gums and tongue.
Solutions: Wrap in blanket. Determine poison source (antifreeze, cleaning com-pound); call vet for instructions. Or call the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Hotline, 1-800-548-2423 (cost is about $30).

Do-It-Yourself First Aid Kit

Credit to Jim Humphries, D.V.M. and Family Circle Magazine

Remember... The following are guidelines and basic maneuvers for animal first aid and should not be a replacement for veterinary care. Use at your own risk.

Got an old shoe or shipping box? Make your own kit with these supplies from a pet store (or local pharmacy).

• 2 gauze rolls
• 6 gauze pads
• 1 adhesive tape roll
• Chemical ice pack
• Water-soluble jelly (Vaseline)
• Rectal thermometer
• Antiseptic lotion
• Antibiotic ointment
• Eyewash
• Tweezers

Animal Care and First Aid