First Aid
Here's how to treat some of the most common pet injuries.
- First Rule
- Bite injuries:
- snake Bites:
- Cuts and grazes:
- deep Cuts / bleeding:
- Broken bones/dislocations
- Burns and scalds
- Choking
- Contaminated coat
- Drowning
- Electric shock
- Eye injuries
- Fits
- Fainting
- Heat stroke
- Poisoning
- Shock
- Stings
- Traffic Accident
- Emergency techniques
First Rule
The FIRST rule of First Aid for pets is CALL THE VET for advice. If the vet advises you to, take the animal to the vet surgery. Don't just turn up at the vet's surgery, call first. Make sure you keep the vet's telephone number to hand, and the number of a 24-hour veterinary hospital or surgery service, in case an accident happens out of hours.
REMEMBER - THE BEST THING TO DO IS CALL YOUR VET FOR ADVICE, OR TAKE THE ANIMAL STRAIGHT TO THE VET'S SURGERY.
Bite injuries:
Bathe the wound with a saline solution. Do not allow your pet to lick the wound excessively. Keep the wound clean and dry. Seek attention from your vet if the bite appears infected or your pet shows signs of discomfort.
snake Bites:
The only poisonous snake native to Britain is the adder, which can be quite common on heathland in the summer. Usually, fang marks can be seen which indicate that your pet has been bitten. Swelling occurs very rapidly around the area of the bite.
Carry your pet, or walk slowly, to your nearest means of transport.
Immediate attention is required. Telephone your vet and take your pet to the surgery immediately.
Cuts and grazes:
Bathe the wound with a saline solution. Do not allow your pet to lick the wound excessively. Keep the wound clean and dry.
deep Cuts / bleeding:
Do not interfere with the wound. Apply a dressing/bandage - see emergency techniques. If the wound is bleeding excessively or spurting blood, apply a heavy dressing and apply pressure.
Immediate attention is required. Telephone your vet and take your pet to the surgery immediately.
Broken bones/dislocations
If your pet has broken a bone or dislocated a joint, he will show sudden, acute lameness, and the limb position may appear abnormal. Swelling may or may not be present. The animal will show distress on movement and unwillingness to use limb.
It is important to keep your pet still and restrain as necessary to limit further damage. Do not attempt to reposition the limb.
Immediate attention is required. Telephone your vet and take your pet to the surgery immediately. (see emergency techniques on how to move the animal).
Burns and scalds
Immediately saturate the affected area with cold water for at least five minutes. Do not apply any ointments/creams/butter. Do not clip hair. Do not burst any blisters.
Immediate attention is required. Telephone your vet and take your pet to the surgery immediately.
Choking
It will take two people to deal with this.
Unknown foreign object stuck in the animal's throat:
Person 1:
Check airway by using one hand, hold the animal's mouth open. Using the other hand, pull the tongue out as far as possible. Look in mouth to see if you can see an obstruction.
Person 2:
Remove the object carefully, preferably using pliers or a similar instrument.
Ball stuck at back of throat:
Do not try and remove using pliers as this may push the ball further down your pet's throat. Instead place your finger at the base of the jaw, apply pressure inwards and upwards to expel the ball.
If the above should prove unsuccessful after a few minutes trying, telephone and take at once to the veterinary surgery.
Contaminated coat
The animal appears to have oil/tar or unknown substances on its coat or feet. Due to the nature and sensitivity of cats and dogs this can be extremely harmful and toxic if ingested.
Prevent your pet from licking the area.
Wash the area with water containing a mild detergent, rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Vegetable oil or butter can be helpful to remove tar. Swarfega can be helpful to remove oil.
Contact your vet if there is heavy contamination or if you are worried.
Drowning
Do not endanger yourself. If possible, remove the animal from the water. Suspend him by his hindquarters to allow water to drain from the lungs. A swinging motion can be used to encourage breathing. If your pet does not start to breath naturally resuscitation should be implemented (see emergency techniques).
Dry pet and wrap in blanket to keep warm.
Immediate attention is required. Telephone your vet and take your pet to the surgery immediately.
Electric shock
Low voltage shocks (eg in the home):
Do not touch your pet until you have turned off the electrical source.
If your pet is unconscious, check for signs of breathing. If there are no signs of breathing, implement resuscitation (see emergency techniques).
Apply first aid to any areas of bleeding or burns.
Immediate attention is required. Telephone your vet and take your pet to the surgery immediately.
High voltage shocks (eg power lines etc):
Do not approach or try to rescue your pet if it is still within 18 metres (20 yards) of the power source.
Call 999 and ask for the police.
Keep bystanders away.
When you are told it is safe to do so, approach your pet and implement resuscitation.
Apply first aid to any areas of bleeding or burns.
Immediate attention is required. Telephone your vet and take your pet to the surgery immediately, once it is safe to do so.
Eye injuries
Eye is bulging or has come out of its socket:
Do not try to replace or apply pressure to the eye. Gently apply a cold wet compress to protect the eye and keep it moist.
Immediate attention is required. Telephone your vet and take your pet to the surgery immediately.
Foreign object in the eye:
Do not touch if the object is protruding from the eye. Do not try to remove. Prevent your pet from rubbing the eye.
Immediate attention is required. Telephone your vet and take your pet to the surgery immediately.
Irritants in the eye or foreign object on the surface of the eye:
Prevent your pet from rubbing the eye. Bathe copiously with lukewarm water as soon as possible. Do not attempt to rub the surface of the eye. Note carefully the nature of the irritant if known.
Immediate attention is required. Telephone your vet and take your pet to the surgery immediately. Take a sample or the container of the irritant if possible.
Fits
The pet may show signs of disorientation or may be collapsed with thrashing limbs or may be showing jerky movements.
Do not panic. Do not touch your pet.
Ensure that it cannot injure itself by closing doors and removing objects that may cause it harm.
Minimise noise and light; external factors such as a TV or a bright light can affect your pet's state.
Do not attempt to take to surgery whilst pet is fitting as this may cause harm to your pet and/or yourself.
Contact vet for advice.
Fainting
If the animal suddenly collapses and appears to lose consciousness but shows no previous signs of distress, he has probably fainted. Pets with short noses, ie Pugs or Pekinese dogs, can be more prone to this.
Ensure airway is clear and pet is breathing.
Contact vet for advice.
Heat stroke
This typically occurs when the animal is in a confined space, exposed to excessive sunlight or excessive exercise during hot weather. Your pet will show signs of distress and heavy panting.
Firstly, to eliminate the possibility that your pet may be choking rather than suffering from heat stroke, you must make sure that your pet's airway is not blocked.
Move him to a cool place.
It is important to reduce body temperature quickly by dousing in cold water using a hose or bucket for at least five minutes.
Contact your vet for advice even if the animal appears to return to normal.
Poisoning
If you think that your pet has eaten something that may be poisonous, make it vomit as soon as possible.
A crystal of washing soda or strong salt solution can be used to induce vomiting.
If you know or suspect the cause, note carefully the nature of the substance and amount eaten.
Immediate attention is required. Telephone your vet and take your pet to the surgery immediately.Take a sample or the container of the irritant if possible.
Shock
If your pet returns home and appears to be listless, or possibly collapses, he is probably suffering from shock. If there are no other external signs:
Check the pet's gums: they should be a pink colour and when they are gently pressed, turn white at the point of touch and then return to a pink colour.
If the pet is suffering from shock the gums will appear very pale or white.
It is important to keep the pet warm and avoid any sudden movement.
Immediate attention is required. Telephone your vet and take your pet to the surgery immediately.
Stings
Pull out the sting if possible. Bathe the area with saline solution. Bicarbonate of soda can be applied to bee stings or vinegar to wasp stings to reduce the effects of the sting.
Ring vet for advice.
Traffic Accident
Do not panic.
Let the animal see you approach. Avoid making any sudden movements or loud noises. Speak gently to the animal.
Ensure there is no danger of further damage to yourself or pet.
Give first aid to any external injuries, minimise movement and keep the animal warm.
Immediate attention is required. Telephone your vet and take your pet to the surgery immediately, or telephone an animal ambulance for assistance. (see emergency techniques).
Emergency techniques
Resuscitation
A. Breathing:
Transporting an injured pet
The aim is to transport the injured animal with minimum discomfort and avoiding making any injuries worse.
If the dog can walk:
Allow it to walk slowly to the vehicle and gently assist it to get in.
Cats, or dogs that cannot walk comfortably, can be carefully lifted.
Small dogs and cats may be lifted gently as shown. Be careful not to obstruct the airway.
Medium sized dogs may be lifted as shown.
Large dogs should always be lifted in a blanket or similar.