| ACCIDENT |
TREATMENT |
CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN |
| ANIMAL
NOT BREATHING |
Apply Artificial Respiration and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
(CPR). Clear animals mouth of foreign matter. Close
animal's muzzle with hands, cover nose with clean, thin cloth and exhale directly
into animal's nostrils at 12-15 breathes per minute.
Concurrently Begin CPR. Lay animal on its right
side on flat surface. With mouth closed and artificial respiration in progress,
locate the heart by reaching deep into the socket of the pet's left leg and
counting 3-4 ribs back towards the tail along the pet's chest. Place heel
of hand in that spot and compress chest rhythmically 60-80 times per minute.
Compress 1-2 inches for large dogs, less than 1 inch for small dogs.
|
NOW!
|
BITE WOUNDS
Characterized by swelling, puncture, hair loss, hair matted with saliva, pus
or blood. |
Muzzle animal (see Restraint). Clip hair around
wound. Clean by liberally applying hydrogen peroxide. Apply bandage to control
bleeding. |
As soon as possible as such wounds often
become infected and require professional treatment. |
| BLEEDING - External |
Muzzle animal (see Restraint). Place thick gauze
or cotton pad over wound and hold firmly. Use hands to apply firm, continuous
pressure directly over bleeding area until clotting occurs. If there will
be a delay in reaching the veterinarian, a large, clean bath towel can be
used as a tourniquet. Apply tourniquet between the cute and the heart.
Loosening every 3 - 5 minutes. |
NOW!
|
BLEEDING - Internal
Indicated by very pale gums, coughing blood, bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum,
blood in urine, collapse, rapid or weak pulse. |
Keep animal as warm and quiet as possible. Do Not Attempt
First Aid. |
NOW!
|
| BURNS - Chemical |
Muzzle animal (see Restraint). Flush immediately
with large quantities of cold water. |
NOW!
|
| BURNS - Severe |
Muzzle animal (see Restraint). Quickly apply
ice-water compresses. Treat for shock |
NOW!
|
CHOKING
Characterized by pawing at mouth, gagging, drooling, coughing, collapse |
Quickly look into mouth to see if foreign object in throat is visible.
If possible, grasp with tweezers or pliers and remove.
If Object Remains Lodged in Throat: Try a sharp
blow on back of neck or between shoulders.
If This Fails, Attempt a Heimlich Maneuver: Place
hands on either side of animal's rib cage and apply firm, quick pressure.
Repeat 2 - 3 time.
|
NOW!
If choking continues
|
| DROWNING |
Hold animal up by hind legs to expel water from lungs. Remove any foreign
matter from mouth and throat. Begin artificial respiration and CPR if animal
has stopped breathing. (See Animal Not Breathing
section) |
NOW!
|
EYE CONDITIONS
Foreign object in eyeEyeball out of socket
|
If you can see it and it is not imbedded in the eye, muzzle animal and
remove it. Put socks on animal's front paws to prevent scratching.
Muzzle animal and gently attempt to push back in socket. Keep moist with saline
solution (1 tsp. salt/1 pint water).
|
NOW!
|
| FRACTURES |
Muzzle animal (see Restraint). Control bleeding,
treat for shock if necessary. Do Not Attempt to Set Fracture.
Transport to the veterinarian on plywood or wooden door padded with blankets.
If veterinary care is not readily available, splint fracture by padding limb
with gauze or cotton, place two flat sticks or rolled newspaper on either
side of leg and tape.
|
NOW!
|
POISONING
Characterized by retching, convulsions, labored breathing, diarrhea, dilated
pupils, salivation, weakness, collapse. |
If you can quickly determine what the animal ingested and how much, call
veterinarian immediately and provide animal's weight, age and other medical
problems. TIME IS CRITICAL! Take further instructions over phone as antidotes
vary. |
NOW!
|
SNAKEBITE
Non-poisonousPoisonous
|
Treat as for animal bite wound. Muzzle animal (see
Restraint). Keep animal quite to slow flow of venom.
If leg bound, apply flat tourniquet above wound.
|
NOW!
|
| SYMPTOM |
TREATMENT |
CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN |
CONVULSIONS
Characterized by shaking, falling, legs thrashing, salivating, urinating. |
Move pet away from sharp cornered tables (pull pet carefully by one leg),
if possible to a soft rug. Attempt to put blanket or soft cloth under pet's
head.
Do Not Handle Animal in Any Other Way During Seizure
as it could be dangerous to you. Convulsions usually last only 2-3 minutes.
Keep animal quiet after seizure.
|
NOW!
|
| DIARRHEA |
Do not feed dog for 12 hours. Do provide animal with water, however, as
diarrhea can cause dehydration. |
If symptoms persist for more than 12 hours.
Be sure to take fresh stool sample with you. |
HEATSTROKE
Characterized by rapid or difficult breathing, vomiting, collapse |
Immediately place animal in tube of cold water
or hose down if more accessible. Use rectal thermometer to monitor temperature.
(Normal range is 100.5 F - 102.5 F). Encourage animal to drink cool water.
Apply ice-pack to animal's head. |
NOW!
|
SHOCK
Characterized by weak pulse, shallow breathing, nervousness, dazed appearance. |
Often accompanies sever injury or extreme fright. Keep animal restrained,
quiet, and water. If unconscious, keep head level with rest of body. |
NOW!
|
VOMITING
(without other symptoms) |
Remove food and do not feed animal for 12 hours. Also remove water for
12 hours, then provide to animal in limited quantities. |
If symptoms persist for more than 12 hours. |
RESTRAINT: In many injuries to animals,
it is necessary to employ restraint. An animal who is injured and in pain
cannot be held responsible for its behavior.
Follow these directions carefully:
1. Use strip of gauze, necktie, rope or cloth about 3 feet long.
2. Make large loop in center, slip quickly over animal's nose.
3. Bring ends under chin and behind ears, fasten securely. |
