Did you know that April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month? This month, the veterinary community aims to raise awareness about first aid for pets and teach pet parents what to do in emergency situations. We asked Freshpet vet, Dr Aziza, to share her top pet first aid tips she wishes all pet parents knew – read on to find out what’s in her list!
Tip #1: Know who to contact in case of an emergency
If your pet has ingested or been exposed to toxic/poisonous substances (e.g. dark chocolate), call your primary care veterinarian, emergency veterinarian, or hotline. pet poison for immediate assistance. During this call, you will be asked a number of questions about your pets and what they have consumed, so make sure you know the answers to the following:
- What is your pet’s weight?
- Name and description of the substance
- Amount entered
- Time of exposure (how long ago they ate it)
For example, your pet weighs 10 lbs and ate 5 ounces of dark chocolate, 30 minutes ago. Providing this information will help them determine the next steps you should take.
Tip #2: A muzzle can be a safety tool
If your pet has experienced a painful injury, such as a burn, broken bone, or serious injury, you should muzzle it for everyone’s safety. When in pain, even the most docile and docile pets can become protective of their wounds and bite out of fear. Placing a muzzle before examining their wound allows veterinary staff to do their job safely and quickly so your pet can receive the care it needs without delay.
Tip #3: Try and time the seizures
Seizures can be quite scary, especially if this is your pet’s first time experiencing a seizure. Try to stay calm and try to keep track of time. Most seizures last two to three minutes, but if you can, track exactly how long the seizures last. Write down the time and any other details you can remember, then call your vet – they’ll tell you how to proceed from there.
Tip #4: Know the signs of heatstroke
Spring is in full swing, which means one thing: warmer weather is coming! Due to the severity of heatstroke, it is important for all pet parents to recognize the signs. They may include:
- Red gums
- Vomiting
- Uncoordinated movement
- Heavy panting
- Drooling
- Comatose
If your pet is outside and begins to show signs of heatstroke, immediately take your pet to a shaded area and use cool water to help lower their temperature. A running faucet or a soaked towel will help a lot until you can take your pet to the vet for further evaluation.
Tip #5: Prepare a pet-specific first aid kit at home
While there’s a lot of overlap between animal first aid kit essentials and human supplies, it’s a good idea to have one specifically for your pet. These kits should be stocked with everything you need for basic first aid to resolve a problem or stabilize your pet long enough to get to the vet.
Some essentials include a muzzle, clean gauze, hydrogen peroxide, sterile KY agar, clean towels, saline, and emergency veterinarian contact information and the nearest hotline. It can also help if you have a pet first aid book handy, so you can refer to it in case of an emergency.
Did Dr. Aziza’s advice make you want to learn more about pet first aid? You can always talk to your veterinary team about specific questions or take pet first aid courses in your local area!
