How to Perform First Aid on Your Pet

Being a parent pet means you should be ready at all times when they need you. More often, your pet will hurt himself in one way or another. Instead of waiting for such moments, you need to be ready. Prepare all tools and practices of How to Handle a Pet Emergency. 

The best approach for any hurtful situation is keeping a first aid kit within your reach at all times. If the pet is always at home, have a first aid kit at home within easy reach for adults. If you travel with your pet, have a first aid kit in your car and their travelling bag as well. 

Have your first aid kit fully packed. You can buy one that is packed, or you can fill your first aid kit. 

Basic First Aid Procedures 

Muzzle your pet gently and be careful not to hurt them even more. Keep in mind that even the gentlest pet can harshly react by biting or scratching you when they are in pain. Remember to keep them as warm as ever. 

• In case of a bleeding wound, use clean and thick gauze to press over. 
• Maintain gentle pressure on the wound until the blood stops oozing and starts to clot. 
• Check after a minute or two for the blood clotting. 
• In case your pet fell, and you fear there may be a broken bone, gently carry the pet to a flat surface. 
• Place a blanket or towel over the flat surface before placing your pet. It will help if you transport your pet on a flat surface as well. 

Remember that first aid is not the solution or cure. Take your pet to get immediate vet services. There are vet services that offer transport to sick pets from their homes. If it’s in the night hours, emergency vet services like nightwatchanimalemergency.com are a life-saver. They have affiliate transport programs partnered with your nearest vet hospitals to transport your pet to their care. 

How to Perform A CPR on Dogs and Cats 

Performing CPR in dogs and cats is no different from a human. In this case, the pet is unconscious and is in no way of biting or scratching you. 

• Open the mouth of the pet and check for any obstruction blocking the air passage. If there’s any, make sure you remove it.
• Lift the head to perform several artificial breaths. In case of a large dog, close the mouth tightly and breathe through its nose. Give about 2-3 full lives. The chest should rise immediately. Conversely, if it’s a cat or a small dog, cover its nose and mouth with your mouth and give 2-3 full breaths. Again, the chest should rise instantly. 
• Compress the chest. Compress the chest of large dogs like that of a human. Please make sure the dog is lying on its back on a flat surface as you compress. For the small dogs, cats and animals with a funnel chest lay the animal on its side and compress the rib cage. You can as well place the animal on its back and compress the sides of the rib cage. 
• Please alternate compressions with breaths at a ratio of 30:2. Do not stop until the animal responds and starts to breathe. Take the animal to the vet immediately. 

Learning the first aid basics will save the life of your pet. Make sure you have the tools and skills to perform correct first aid to the particular pet. Remember that first aid should not substitute the immediate vet’s attention.