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What You Need to Know About Pet First Aid
Your pet is your best friend, and it makes you feel ecstatic when you can provide any comfort to them. Nevertheless, accidents do happen, right? You are not an expert at first aid and need to know how to react in case of unfortunate events. Here’s what you need and should do in this situation.
Keep a Pet First Aid Kit Handy in Case of Emergencies
You should keep a pet first aid kit handy at all times. Having one on hand can help you provide the best possible care for your pet and allow you to react quickly when an emergency occurs. Here’s what you’ll want to include:
Bandage Scissors
The best tool for cutting bandages is a pair of scissors. A sharp point on these scissors could cause severe injury if it accidentally pokes through the skin while trying to cut through something else. Its tip should be blunt.
Gauze Pads
Gauze pads are a must-have in your pet’s first aid kit. They have many uses:
· Stop bleeding by absorbing blood from a wound.
· Protect wounds from further contamination
· Cleanse minor cuts and abrasions by soaking gauze in water, hydrogen peroxide (3%), or saline solution,
A Bottle of Sterile Saline Solution
You can use sterile saline solution, to clean wounds, flush out eyes and ears, flush out the nose and mouth, and even put in an IV. It’s also great for giving your pet much-needed hydration when they have diarrhea or vomiting.
Vet Wrap
Vetwrap is a self-adhesive bandage used to wrap up wounds and hold splints in place. It’s also great for holding ice packs in place, something you should have on hand.
Canola Oil
Canola oil is an excellent lubricant and can be used to help treat wounds. Canola oil is also helpful in treating dry skin on your pet’s paws or around their eyes. Applying a small amount of canola oil on an itchy skin patch will help soothe it.
Tweezers and Hemostats
Tweezers and hemostats are great for removing splinters, ticks, and foreign objects. If you have a tick on your pet, use tweezers to grab it. For splinters or other small objects embedded in the skin, use hemostats to grab onto the object and pull it out as close to the skin as possible. Finally, you can use tweezers or hemostats when applying ointment on wounds; they’re accommodating if you have a small dog who doesn’t like having its paws handled.
A Thermometer (preferably a digital one)
You need to be able to quickly and easily check your pet’s temperature if they are uncoordinated or behave strangely, which could indicate a fever, heat stroke, or other illnesses. A digital thermometer is best because they are fast and accurate.
Take their temperature if you suspect hypothermia in your pet due to cold temperatures or water exposure. If it reads below 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius), you should warm them up immediately by wrapping them in blankets or putting them next to a heater until their body warms up again.
Disposable Gloves and Iodine Wipes
A first aid kit is not complete without iodine wipes—they clean wounds, hands before and after treating the wound, and even disinfect surfaces. Iodine is a good antiseptic because it kills bacteria on contact.
Be Prepared for Emergencies
When it comes to your pet’s health, you can never be too prepared.
If there’s ever an emergency, it will be good to know where the nearest hospital is located and their operating hours. If possible, have their cell phone number on file in emergencies.
It is a good idea to take first aid procedures so that you know how to administer CPR or other life-saving techniques in case of an accident.
Visit a Veterinarian if Unsure about Your Pet's Health
If you are unsure about your pet’s health, take them to a veterinarian or the nearest 24-hour emergency animal hospital. If your pet suddenly gets sick or if they start acting differently than usual, it’s essential to visit a vet right away. If you delay, it can be harder for them to recover from whatever’s wrong.
Ruffger is Your Pet's Best Aid
When you’re a pet owner, you’ve got a lot on your plate that you may wonder, “is there a dog boarding near me?”
You’re responsible for ensuring your dog gets the best care possible and that they’re happy in their environment. That’s why it’s crucial to have a reputable dog boarding facility and doggy daycare that can provide all the essentials while you’re away while helping with training.
At Ruffgers, we don’t just provide quality dog daycare for your pets but also excellent dog training for better pets. We offer puppy training classes specifically designed for owners who have recently adopted a puppy or have an older dog who needs some extra guidance.
Contact our locations in Bonita Springs, Naples, and Stuart, for a clean and spacious room for your pet to play and socialize with their dog trainer.