3 Important First-Aid Tips for Pet Owners

What would you do if you saw your pet swallow something poisonous? If your pet was injured, would you know how to comfort your pet and stabilize the injury without agitating them or aggravating the injury? What would you do if your pet got sick while you were traveling away from home? One of the hardest parts of pet ownership is knowing what to do when your pet is ill or injured. Take a look at a few important first-aid tips that every pet owner needs to know.

Poisoning

You know that it can be dangerous for your dog to swallow your baking chocolate or for your cat to eat your Easter lilies. But sometimes pets get into things that are dangerous for them, even if you think you've put them carefully out of reach. What should you do if you see your pet polishing off a poisonous household item?

First, remove your pet from the area and move the poisonous item out of reach. If you're going to throw the poisonous item away, make sure to collect a sample first; the vet may need it. Don't induce vomiting unless a veterinarian or pet-poisoning expert tells you to. Instead, call your vet or the Pet Poison helpline for instructions. Certain poisons, such as those that contain caustic materials, like bleach, are even more harmful if they're vomited up. Also, animals with a history of seizures, heart problems, or recent surgeries should not be induced to vomit at home. If you are asked to induce vomiting, you can use hydrogen peroxide or table salt to bring the toxic material back up. However, this will not completely clear the poison from your pet's stomach, so you'll still need to bring your pet to the animal hospital or veterinarian's office for emergency care.

Injuries

Handling an injured pet takes a special level of care, as it can be dangerous for both you and the animal. If you handle your pet incorrectly, you could aggravate the injury, or you could provoke your pet to bite or scratch you. You should never assume that an injured animal—even if they're normally the most loyal of pets—is safe to approach. Approach with caution, handle the animal gently, and try to stabilize the injury with a splint or dressing before moving your pet.

It can help to wrap your pet in a towel or blanket to prevent them from moving too much and also to gently restrain them from clawing you. However, make sure that the blanket isn't too tight and isn't covering their nose. You may want to muzzle your dog to prevent biting, but you should only do so if the dog is not vomiting. A dog that is vomiting could choke or aspirate if muzzled.

If possible, use a pet carrier to transport your pet to the vet. If a pet carrier is not available, choose a box or other container, as long as your pet has enough air. It's a common mistake for pet owners to worry that it's cruel to put an injured pet in a cage, but the truth is that a carrier or box that restricts your pet's movement can prevent them from making the injury worse, either through their own movement or the movement of the vehicle during transport.

Vacation

When you're at home, you should have a trusted vet or local animal hospital that's familiar with your pet that you can call or visit when you have questions or concerns about your pet's health. But what about when you go on vacation? Traveling with your pet can be fun, but it's important to know how to deal with a pet that gets sick or is injured on vacation.

Do some research before you go. Hospitals for humans are easy to find—there are signs on the highway that can direct you to the nearest hospital, or you could call an ambulance to take you to the nearest hospital if you were ill or injured. Animal hospitals are not so clearly pointed out in most cases, so it can pay off to know where to find one in the area you're traveling to. Ask your veterinarian if they have a colleague in the area, such as one at Lamb's Gap Animal Hospital, that they'd recommend for an emergency, or you can just look up emergency veterinarians in the area. Put the address and contact information in your phone or address book just in case you need it. You should also bring your pet's medical records with you when you travel. That way, even though a veterinarian that you see on vacation may not know your pet, they can familiarize themselves with your pet's medical history.

As a pet owner, you have to be prepared for the occasional medical emergency. Being informed about pet emergencies and planning for them in advance could mean the difference between life and death for your pet.