Is There First Aid for Pets?
What Are Some First Aid Tips for Pets?
When your dog or cat is injured or in danger, it can be terrifying – for both you and your pet! Just like when a person gets hurt, the first thing you need to remember is to stay calm, then grab your pet’s first aid kit. Before you pick up the phone to call a York veterinarian in Fort Mill, Lake Wylie, or Rock Hill, SC, you should assess the injury and take action. Here are some first aid tips from the staff at Clover Vet that could help save your pet’s life:
- CPR – If your pet isn’t breathing, you can perform CPR. After turning your pet on his or her side, turn the head up, hold the jaws shut, and blow a puff of air into the nose every three seconds. You can also perform chest compressions if your pet’s heart isn’t beating. You should do three compressions for every breath you administer. Then call a York veterinarian immediately for assistance.
- Choking – Dogs and cats can choke on food or on other objects. If you see your pet choking, don’t panic! Take a deep breath, then place your fingers in your pet’s mouth to see if you can remove the object. If that doesn’t work, try the Heimlich maneuver. Give a sharp thrust on the chest of your animal. This should free up the object or food particle that was blocking the airway.
- Bleeding – Minor cuts just need to be kept clean and bandaged, but profuse bleeding can put your pet’s life in danger. Grab your emergency kit and pull out the bandages and gauze. Elevate the area that’s injured and apply pressure to the wound. Then apply the bandages and wrap the wound in gauze.
If your pet’s suffered any type of trauma call Clover Vet immediately. We’ll give you advice on whether to bring your pet so we can check them out. Our Lake Wylie vet will check for other external and internal injuries and will give you advice for reducing the risk of infection. You can rely on our York veterinary services for attentive care for your furry pals
