Fundamentals of First Aid
Always remember ABC - Airway, Breathing, Circulation
Airway - can your pet get air in through his/her mouth, or is there an obstruction (blood clot/ broken teeth/ tongue etc.) blocking the back of the mouth?
Check the mouth carefully (without getting bitten!) if in doubt.
Breathing - is the chest moving up and down in a relaxed manner, or is your pet labouring to breathe? If there is no breathing - check the airway. If clear, you can give artificial respiration - 'the kiss of life'; clamp your hands around the lips, make a seal with your lips around the animal's muzzle and blow hard down the nose (it sounds disgusting - but you won't catch anything, and it may save your pet's life).
Circulation - is there obvious excessive blood loss (see below)? What colour are the gums? - This can give an indication of whether the circulation is failing or not. Learn how to check for a pulse - any of our nurses or vets will show you how to do this.
Getting Emergency Treatment
All emergencies are best dealt with at the hospital where there is the staff and facilities to treat your pet's condition. The quickest way of getting your pet to the hospital is for you to take him/her there yourself, rather than waiting for a vet or nurse to find you. It is best to contact us immediately in the first instance, when we can give you specific advice on how to move your pet and prepare for your arrival.
Road Traffic Accidents
If your pet is lying in a busy road; try to move it out of further harms way without putting yourself in danger. Once in a safe spot, cover with a coat or blanket to keep warm and arrange immediate transportation to the hospital.
Bleeding Cuts and Wounds
The majority of animals that die from blood loss are bleeding internally - so it is important to get any animal examined by a vet after any serious accident. External bleeding wounds often look alarming, but are not actually life-threatening: a little blood goes a long way! Treat any open wound by placing a clean (preferably sterile) dressing onto the wound and protect with further layers of bandage. Should blood soak through then continue to dress over the existing layers with more bandaging, using more pressure. Under the exceptional circumstances of uncontrolled bleeding, it is possible to help limit the flow with a tourniquet above the injury - use a tight bandage, rope or belt etc. However, this must be removed quickly by the vet or permanent damage can result.
If you are unsure as to whether a wound needs attention, then it is better to contact us for advice - the majority of wounds will benefit from veterinary attention as soon as possible.
Burns/Scalds
Treatment for both is copious amounts of clean, cold water. If scalding is from hot oil or fat then a detergent to remove the substance should first be used. Continue to drench the area for 10-20 minutes, and then wrap in a sterile dressing or clean towel and take your pet to the vet. Shock can rapidly set in after burning, so this will need to be addressed at the hospital.
Foreign Bodies
Eye - suspect that something has become lodged in the eye if your pet suddenly holds one eye closed and appears in discomfort. If they will let you, try to open to lids to see if there is an obvious grass lawn etc., lodged under the lids. This may be carefully removed or flushed out with a small amount of warm, salty water (one teaspoon to a pint of water). It is important in all cases of eye injury to have the eye checked by a vet as permanent damage can result if incorrectly treated.
Ear - again sudden onset discomfort showing as head shaking or scratching/ holding the affected ear down. Try to see if anything can be grasped at the top of the ear canal. However, it is easy to damage the delicate lining of the ear, and the majority of foreign bodies require removal under sedation or anaesthesia.
Mouth/Throat - usually the animal will be in severe distress - panicking to remove the object by pawing at the mouth/ retching and drooling. If breathing is affected then try to clear the object but avoid getting bitten. It may be necessary to again anaesthetise your pet to safely remove the article.
Swallowed - if significant, the first sign is usually persistent vomiting. If your pet is generally unwell, then this might indicate a perforation of the bowl, and immediate attention should be sought
Bloat
Usually seen in large breeds of dog, often a few hours after feeding. The stomach swells rapidly, and the dog will often make repeated, unsuccessful attempts to vomit. The condition will progress rapidly and is fatal in most cases where emergency treatment is not given straight away. If you are suspicious that your dog is suffering from this condition, then you should get him/her to the hospital as soon as possible.
Poisoning
Correct treatment is highly dependent on the exact composition of the poison. Make every attempt to identify the product - bring in a sample of the product itself with the packaging along with your pet. DO NOT attempt to induce vomiting unless specifically instructed to do so by a vet.
Fits
The majority of fits are self-limiting. First aid consists of removing anything your pet might injure itself on, and loosening any tight-fitting collars etc. Should fits last more than five minutes then emergency treatment at the hospital will be required. In every case, unless your animal is known epileptic, contact us for further advice.
Collapse
This may be due to a number of different causes such as heart problems, blood sugar/ salt disorders and diseases of the nervous system. Try to calm your pet and keep it warm. The majority of cases will require assessment by a veterinary surgeon to determine the cause of the problem and therefore the best course of treatment.
Hyperthermia (heatstroke)
Most commonly due to being kept in a hot environment, e.g. a car in sunny weather, or overexertion on a hot day. This can be rapidly fatal, so wrap the dog in cold water soaked towels, place in front of a fan or in a draft and take to the hospital as soon as possible.
Swelling from Insect / Snake bites
The majority of stings and bites are transiently painful with some local swelling, which subsides in a matter of hours. Should your pet's breathing be affected, or he/she appears unwell, then contact us without delay.
Safety Tips
- Ensure that your pets are microchipped - should they be brought in to us by injured, then will be able to access their records and contact you without delay.
- Consider the use of fluorescent collars, leads and harnesses, especially during long winter evenings.
- Never leave animals in cars on a warm day or in sunny weather.
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