Our pets, like our children are subject to many dangers in and around the house. If we become aware of these dangers we can often times prevent them from harming our pets. As a pet owner you should try to prepare yourself for medical emergencies.  There are books available at most booksellers that address the questions of first aid.  All family members should be familiar with the information in the book.  If you have children, you should teach them what to do in an emergency.  It always helps to have the right tools and information handy when there is an emergency.

In a convenient location, make a list of important phone numbers, which includes the phone numbers of the following:

q    Your veterinarian's phone number: 980-3575

q    Your nearest 24-hour veterinary emergency facility: Inland Valley Emergency Pet Hospital  (909)931-7871   fax(909)931-10 West Seventh St Upland CA 91737 .  Located at the corner of  7^th St. and Euclid  (just north of the 10 freewayt)

q    Your local poison control center: University of Illinois: 1-(900)-680-0000 (There is a charge for this call.)
Oklahoma City Poison Control Center: 1-(405)-217-5454 (especially good for snakebite and antivenin information.)

The following is a list of equipment and supplies that you should have ready in your “pet emergency kit”:

What to do if your pet is injured:

First and foremost, try to stay calm.  Move slowly towards the pet and speak to them softly. Try to see if they are responding to you.  Never approach their face directly as you may get bitten. Many dogs, even the family pet, may bite when hurt or frightened. Apply a muzzle to protect yourself from the pet before doing anything else. If a muzzle is not available, the first aid provider must improvise. To make a muzzle:

¤           Get a rope (from your emergency kit), cord or other similar strong material (such as a necktie or a belt)

¤           Wrap the cord or rope two or three times around the muzzle, being careful not to wrap the material too close to the soft, fleshy part of the nose. The muzzle must be applied to the bony part of the nose to avoid interfering with breathing.

¤           Bring the ends up past the ears and tie the securely behind the head

These muzzles should not  be used on dogs who are having difficulty breathing, are unconscious, or have an injury to the mouth or are actively vomiting. They're also not indicated for short nose breeds (e.g., Chinese Pug, Pekinese, Bulldog). Some injured dogs may vomit

For cats, wrap a towel over their head and “scoop them up” in the towel.

Check the basics:

•  Is the pet breathing? Is the pet bleeding? Can the pet stand and walk? Does the pet appear to be in pain? Take the Temperature.

•  Try to call the veterinarian for assistance.  If you can’t get to a phone, prepare the pet for transport to the nearest veterinary facility.

• If the pet can’t walk, place them on a flat board and use duct tape to tape them down. This will protect them from further injury. 

•  If there is bleeding, control the bleeding with pressure and bandaging as best you can and then transport the pet to the veterinarian.

•  If a limb appears to be broken, attempt to make a splint with bandage materials and a piece of PCV pipe or wood prior to transporting.

•   Place cats or small dogs in a carrier or box for transport on a soft towel.

Once you get to the veterinarian, be prepared to give as much information about your pet as you can.  Think about possible exposure to possible toxins, drugs, plants, garbage etc.  If your pet is taking prescription drugs bring them with you to help the veterinarian make the diagnosis.

Emergencies are always stressful. Hopefully this handout will help make the next emergency you face a little easier to bear.

"A"irway

"B"reathing & "B"leeding

"C"ardiovascular (which includes heart function, pulse, and capillary refill time)

In most cases, the pet owner will administer a minimal amount of first aid and then transport the animal to a veterinary facility. Occasionally it is necessary to continue the care with some additional procedures, particularly if veterinary help will not be available for some period of time.

Please read the following sections carefully:

"A"irway, "B"reathing, and "C"ardiovascular are covered in the sections on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Shock.

The sections on Bleeding and Bandaging will cover information on controlling "B"leeding.

First aid for fractures is covered in the section on Splints

First aid treatment for poisoning and choking cases is described in Poisoning and Choking

SAFE RESCUE

In order to administer first aid to an animal, it may be necessary to remove him (and yourself) from a road or a highway. Remove your pet from the highway only after making sure it is safe to retrieve him. Direct traffic if necessary. If the pet appears likely to bite because of pain or excitement, cover the pet (including the head) with a blanket and/or muzzle the pet before handling.

If there is any evidence of head, neck, or spinal injury (such as inability to move the rear legs), you should move the animal onto a flat surface for transport rather than picking him up.

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Last modified: November 15, 2007