It can be very stressful when someone in our family gets sick. In Ontario, many of us think of our pets as important parts of the family, so being ready for medical situations can help.
By learning about first aid and making a plan, we can save time and still give our pets the care they need. If we know what to do in an emergency medical situation, we can stay cool and help our loved ones in the best way possible.
If you think your pet is hurt or having a medical emergency, it is better to be safe than sorry and take them to a Guelph animal hospital right away.
The basics – what you need to know.
You should make sure you have a pet first-aid kit before something goes wrong. These are important things to have on hand to treat many small cuts and scrapes that your pet may get at home. Here are some things that you might want to keep in your pet’s first-aid kit:
- Gauze and bandages
- Stretchy tape or wrap
- Ice packs
- A tweezer
- Pet antiseptic spray or antibacterial cream
- Bandage shears
- A syringe or eye dropper
- Splints
- Styptic powder for toes
- Small flashlight
- Depressor for the tongue
- Basket muzzle that fits your dog
- Genteal Eye Cream
- Shears for nails
Make sure you have the phone numbers for Animal Poison Control, your vet’s office, and any 24-hour emergency centers in the area.
How to know when your pet needs emergency care.
Sometimes, it is harder to understand when there is a health issue with our pets. Most of us know that something is seriously wrong when there are clear injuries or stab wounds when a pet is not breathing, or when there is a steady flow of blood. We should take our sick or hurt pet to the vet right away for emergency care.
It can be harder to tell when an animal has certain kinds of life-threatening accidents or illnesses that need medical care. There are professionals at veterinary centers who can help identify injuries and other health emergencies in dogs and cats.
You know your pet better than anyone else, so you will be able to tell the difference between normal behavior and signs that they need emergency care.
Please get your pet emergency medical care as soon as possible if you think they are having a medical emergency.
A lot of places give lessons on pet first aid and other preparedness for emergencies. You can greatly improve your pet’s chances of survival in a life-threatening situation by learning what to do in an emergency. You can also speak to your vet to learn more.
