The Dog Bowl Pet Supply and BARF Raw Food Blog
The Dog Bowl is an online storefront that offers quality pet products including: raw dog food, B.A.R.F., pet beds, dog dental care, pet first aid kits for travel, and every other luxury pet gift imaginable.Thursday, February 08, 2007
While we are on the topic of Pet First Aid... What would you do?
The Dog Bowl has come up with just a few incidents where Pet First Aid could be very handy:
Traffic Accidents that involve a pet: Serious injuries to pets (dogs and cats) are commonly caused by car/traffic accidents. We want to be very aware if you approach an injured dog or cat, even if he/she is yours, the pet may react aggressively because of pain. If you have to move the animal, use a blanket - slide it underneath the pet if possible and try to wrap them up so they are limited in movement (plus this helps warm the animal and help with shock). Try to be as gentle as possible when sliding the blanket - try to seek help from anyone around if possible. Gently lift and wrap and check for heartbeat and any blood loss or hemorrhaging (knots or lumps on the body). If you do find excessive bleeding, try to stop it by holding a clean pad (from the first aid kit for pets) or clean scarf or handkerchief only over the wound and then bind it firmly with a bandage (from the pet first aid kit). Call your vet! (Hopefully you have that phone number already saved in your cell phone. If you don't - do it now!)
Burns that involves a pet: If you find a pet who has been involved in a house fire or burned please be aware, the injured pet may react aggressively. The animal is in pain and we ask you to be cautious and aware it is in pain. Try to clean off the burned area with cool running water if possible. Try to continue to keep the wound cool with running water until you can seek your vet's assistance immediately. Call your vet!
Heat stroke that involves a pet: Especially in Texas, this is a common occurrence... A dog or cat is left alone on a warm/hot day without the power of ventilation oar air circulation. (This can happen in a yard, inside a home, and ceraintly a car.) Signs of heat stoke in a dog may involve panting, vomiting, or frothing at the mouth. Try to cool the dog by placing him/her in cold water or poring water all over the body. This will help lower the body temperature. Call your vet! And wet the dog again with cold water.
Poisoning that involves a pet: Did you see the pet ingest something that is toxic? (Grapes, raisins, mushrooms,.. click here to see more listed toxins) You may or may not know what your dog ingested, but time is of the essence. Call your vet immediately! Signs of poisoning might include the following: collapse, brawny twitching, vomiting, bleeding or convulsion. If you know your dog has recently swallowed the poison, your vet may suggest to try to make him vomit. (Ask your vet first - but Salt and mustard could work).
Drowning that involves a pet: Did you know that not all dogs can swim? True. If you find a dog has submerged and has taken in water to a point of not breathing attempt to empty the dog’s lungs of water as soon as possible. Place the dog’s tail portion higher than it's head (head lower than its body), open it's mouth and check for any obstruction in the mouth (stick, leaves, etc). Next start to pump the chest by pressing firmly and briefly down on the ribs - make sure to keep pressing and releasing the pressure. Repeat at 10-second intervals. Call your vet!
Choking that involves a pet: A piece of rubber ball, stick, or anything for that matter really could get stuck in a dog's throat. This could obstruct the pet's breathing. If a dog is unable to breathe swift action is necessary. First, open the dog's mouth very carefully and see if you see anything. You may have to reach in and try to grab the item. Don't be afraid, this will open the windpipe and save the dog, so if you see it try to get it! If you don't see anything, it may be lodged too far down. Pumping the chest, as mentioned in the above "drowning" topic could possibly get the item to move closer up the windpipe. This could also push it further which could give the pet the ability to swallow it. We advise you to get your dog to your vet immediately! If the item is digestible and swallowed you are going to be ok... if the item is swallowed and NOT digestible (i.e. plastic or metal,.. etc) your vet will need to advise you of the next necessary action required.
Traffic Accidents that involve a pet: Serious injuries to pets (dogs and cats) are commonly caused by car/traffic accidents. We want to be very aware if you approach an injured dog or cat, even if he/she is yours, the pet may react aggressively because of pain. If you have to move the animal, use a blanket - slide it underneath the pet if possible and try to wrap them up so they are limited in movement (plus this helps warm the animal and help with shock). Try to be as gentle as possible when sliding the blanket - try to seek help from anyone around if possible. Gently lift and wrap and check for heartbeat and any blood loss or hemorrhaging (knots or lumps on the body). If you do find excessive bleeding, try to stop it by holding a clean pad (from the first aid kit for pets) or clean scarf or handkerchief only over the wound and then bind it firmly with a bandage (from the pet first aid kit). Call your vet! (Hopefully you have that phone number already saved in your cell phone. If you don't - do it now!)
Burns that involves a pet: If you find a pet who has been involved in a house fire or burned please be aware, the injured pet may react aggressively. The animal is in pain and we ask you to be cautious and aware it is in pain. Try to clean off the burned area with cool running water if possible. Try to continue to keep the wound cool with running water until you can seek your vet's assistance immediately. Call your vet!
Heat stroke that involves a pet: Especially in Texas, this is a common occurrence... A dog or cat is left alone on a warm/hot day without the power of ventilation oar air circulation. (This can happen in a yard, inside a home, and ceraintly a car.) Signs of heat stoke in a dog may involve panting, vomiting, or frothing at the mouth. Try to cool the dog by placing him/her in cold water or poring water all over the body. This will help lower the body temperature. Call your vet! And wet the dog again with cold water.
Poisoning that involves a pet: Did you see the pet ingest something that is toxic? (Grapes, raisins, mushrooms,.. click here to see more listed toxins) You may or may not know what your dog ingested, but time is of the essence. Call your vet immediately! Signs of poisoning might include the following: collapse, brawny twitching, vomiting, bleeding or convulsion. If you know your dog has recently swallowed the poison, your vet may suggest to try to make him vomit. (Ask your vet first - but Salt and mustard could work).
Drowning that involves a pet: Did you know that not all dogs can swim? True. If you find a dog has submerged and has taken in water to a point of not breathing attempt to empty the dog’s lungs of water as soon as possible. Place the dog’s tail portion higher than it's head (head lower than its body), open it's mouth and check for any obstruction in the mouth (stick, leaves, etc). Next start to pump the chest by pressing firmly and briefly down on the ribs - make sure to keep pressing and releasing the pressure. Repeat at 10-second intervals. Call your vet!
Choking that involves a pet: A piece of rubber ball, stick, or anything for that matter really could get stuck in a dog's throat. This could obstruct the pet's breathing. If a dog is unable to breathe swift action is necessary. First, open the dog's mouth very carefully and see if you see anything. You may have to reach in and try to grab the item. Don't be afraid, this will open the windpipe and save the dog, so if you see it try to get it! If you don't see anything, it may be lodged too far down. Pumping the chest, as mentioned in the above "drowning" topic could possibly get the item to move closer up the windpipe. This could also push it further which could give the pet the ability to swallow it. We advise you to get your dog to your vet immediately! If the item is digestible and swallowed you are going to be ok... if the item is swallowed and NOT digestible (i.e. plastic or metal,.. etc) your vet will need to advise you of the next necessary action required.
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