First Aid & Health Check

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Basic First Aid

The following situations generally require veterinary attention. These tips are designed to help you stabilize your pet while veterinary help is being obtained.

Bleeding

Arterial bleeding is an immediately life-threatening situation. Arterial blood will be bright red, will bleed in “spurts", will be difficult to stop, and requires immediate veterinary attention.
For any type of bleeding, place a clean cloth or sterile gauze over the area.
Apply direct pressure for at least 5 to 7 minutes to stop bleeding.

Note: Do not apply tourniquet unless absolutely necessary

Loss of consciousness

In case of drowning, clear lungs of fluid. Lift animal’s hindquarters high over head and squeeze chest firmly until fluid stops draining.
In case of electrical shock, DO NOT touch the pet until it is no longer in contact with the electricity source.
In case of airway obstruction, the object will need to be gently removed. See “Choking.”
If animal is not breathing and has no pulse, start CPR

Vomiting

Examine vomit for blood or other clues as to cause.
If poisoning is suspected, bring a sample of the suspected poison, preferably in its original packaging, to the veterinarian.
Gently press on stomach to detect any abdominal pain.
Withhold all food and water until a veterinarian has been consulted.

Note: Abdominal pain, enlarged stomach, and unproductive vomiting are serious signs. Call a veterinarian immediately.

Choking

Gently pull tongue forward and inspect mouth and throat.
If a foreign object is spotted, hold the mouth open and attempt to remove it by hand or with tweezers or a pair of small pliers. Take care not to push the object farther down the animal’s throat.

Heat Stroke

Place in a cool or shaded area
Immediately bathe animal with tepid water (do not leave pet unattended while soaking even if conscious). Never use cold water.
Monitor rectal temperature. When temperature drops to 103ºF, dry pet.
Continue monitoring temperature and transport to veterinary clinic immediately.

Note: Do not allow animal to become excessively chilled as this will also cause life-threatening complications

Limping

Attempt to localize injury through gentle inspection.
Once localized, examine affected area to check for pain, heat, injury, and swelling.
If a fracture is suspected, gently stabilize limb for transport. See “Handling and Transporting Tips.”
Cover any wounds with a clean cloth. See “Bleeding.”

Bee or Wasp Sting

Bee stings are acidic; neutralize with baking soda.
Wasp stings are alkaline; neutralize with vinegar or lemon juice.
Apply cold pack.
Apply calamine or antihistamine cream.
In case of severe swelling or difficulty breathing, transport to veterinary clinic immediately.

Tips for Handling / Transporting

Don’t assume a pet won’t bite or scratch.
Don’t try to comfort an injured pet by hugging it. Don’t put your face near its head.
Muzzle dogs if necessary with gauze, soft towel strips, or stockings. Wrap cats or other small animals in a towel.
Perform any examinations slowly and gently. Stop if the pet becomes agitated.
Don’t attempt to lift or drag a large injured dog. Improvise a stretcher out of a board, throw rug, child’s plastic toboggan, etc.
Before transport, try to stabilize injuries. Rolled magazines or newspapers can serve as impromptu splints. Pad limb and splint generously with rolled cotton and gauze if on hand, or improvise with suitable pillows, pieces of blanket, towels, etc. Make sure splint immobilizes joints above and below injury.

Source: Rivera, Angel M. and Gaveras, Peter. First Aid - A Summary of First Aid Tips For Pet Owners. USA: Waltham

Basic Health Check

Every day, monitor your pet’s health by checking their eating habits, eliminations, and general attitude. Signs of a problem in any pet include not eating, not drinking, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing or difficulty breathing, lethargy, etc. The most important thing you can do is monitor your pet’s normal condition and check for signs that there is something wrong. If, for example, you have a dog who usually loves to play and he suddenly has no energy, this could be a sign of a problem.

You can also check your pet’s TPR, which stands for temperature, pulse, and respiration. The normal TPR depends on the size and age of your pet.

Normal TPR for Dogs:
The normal temperature for a dog is between 100.5°F – 102.8°F, and the normal breathing rate is 10 – 30 breaths per minute. The normal heart rate is 100 – 160 beats per minute (bpm) in small dogs (< 30 lbs), 60 – 100 bpm in medium to large dogs (> 30 lbs), and 120 – 160 bpm in puppies up to 1 year.

Normal TPR for Cats:
The normal temperature for a cat is between 100.5°F – 102.5°F, and the normal breathing rate is 20 – 30 breaths per minute. The normal heart rate is 160 – 220 beats per minute.

Vital Signs – How to check them?

Use rectal, not oral, thermometers for pets. Newer human digital thermometers are best.
Heart rate can be checked by placing a hand over the animal’s chest.
Respiration can be measured by observing the flanks or by holding a wet finger in front of the nostrils.
Measure both rates for 15 seconds, and then multiply by four to get the rate per minute. Make sure your pet is calm and resting in order to get normal rates.)

Source: Rivera, Angel M. and Gaveras, Peter. First Aid - A Summary of First Aid Tips For Pet Owners. USA: Waltham.

First Aid & Health Check