Every pet owner knows that keeping one comes with a myriad of responsibilities. No matter how smart or old your pet is, it is still an animal and requires human care. One of the most important responsibilities taken on by pet owners is to ensure the health and wellness of their best friend. You have to make sure that your pet is vaccinated, regularly cleaned, dewormed and regularly visits the vet.
Often left out is your need to have some working knowledge on how to administer first aid to your loved ones. Pets often get physically injured when playing or when in a fight. They ingest harmful items or expose themselves to a harmful environment and would require your help to relieve pain or treat the condition.
To help you be a more responsible pet owner, here are some important first aid tips for your pet
First aid kits should contain an extra leash, gauze, cloth strips, milk of magnesia, a disinfectant solution such as hydrogen peroxide, a muzzle, a blanket and a piece of board. In addition to this, you should display important contacts such as telephone numbers of your vet in a conspicuous position within the first aid box.
Your pets could have ingested poisonous substances by accident or sometimes maliciously poisoned by a person. If you are suspicious that your pet has ingested a poisonous substance quick action could determine whether your pet lives or passes away.
You must move fast to remove the intoxicating substance from their system. To do this you may use hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting and expel the poisonous substance. Give your pet as much water as possible, then contact a professional vet and explain the situation and wait for advice.
Quite frequently, our furry friends bite more than what they can swallow and often they choke on the food they are so eager to eat. If your pet is choking, first try to locate the item in the throat and try to remove the object gently by squeezing it out from the throat. Then place the animal on its’ side and hit the animal 4-5 times using your palm. If the item is still not out of the throat, seek professional help. Watch this video and learn how to perform first aid on a choking dog.
This is perhaps the most common of injuries that need first aid. Since the animal is in pain and probably losing a lot of blood. Quick action to muzzle the animal, disinfect the injured part and dress the wound is of the essence. After the initial care, call a professional to assess if there is a need for further treatment and handle it from there.
Learn these tips and internalise them, they may make the difference between life and death of your animal companion.
