Car accidents:
You may have witnessed a car accident or found your cat or dog visibly injured or limping, at this time, if possible, you should bandage his wounds to prevent aggravation of the injury. Where bleeding is evident, apply ice and pressure to stop the bleeding, but overall keep your dog’s body temperature warm and make them as comfortable as possible. Do not move the injured pet recklessly and contact your veterinarian immediately for more detailed instructions. Owners should not leave their pets unattended on the floor, and should stay at the scene with their injured pets as much as possible.
If it is necessary to remove the injured pet from the scene of the accident, the owner should get two extra helpers to spread a cloth or blanket under the injured pet, and be careful to move it slowly and gently onto the blanket. Move the injured pet to the center of the blanket, with two people pulling on each side of the blanket, and one person holding the pet’s back to parallel the pet’s weight.
Eye injuries:
If you find that your pet’s eyes are suddenly in great pain or cannot be opened, you should look carefully for obvious foreign objects, especially glass shards, and remove them carefully. You can also wash your pet’s eyes with cotton dampened with clean, hot water or pet-specific eye drops to wash out the foreign objects. Do not leave your pet in a bright environment. After the initial cleaning and care, you should take your pet to a doctor. If immediate medical attention is not possible, a few drops of medicinal olive oil can be put in the eyes as a first aid. After an accident, it is important to prevent your pet from rubbing the eye or scratching it with anything!
Bleeding:
If your pet bleeds profusely from a cut with a sharp object, the owner should apply cotton pressure to the bleeding wound for about a minute. If the bleeding doesn’t improve after a minute of pressure, a bandage should be applied about 5 centimeters above the bleeding area to stop some of the blood from flowing into the wound. However, this should not be done for too long as the area below the wound may not receive enough blood supply and may become necrotic. If the area below the wound is purplish-blue in color or is too swollen, the bandage has been in place for too long and should be removed immediately. If your pet is bleeding profusely, wrap the wound in cotton and tie it tightly with a bandage, making sure not to use elastic cords or other structural materials, and then take the pet to a doctor as soon as possible after treating the wound.
Broken limbs and bones:
If your pet has a broken limb, i.e., if they are limping or wobbling when walking, this is a sign of a broken limb. Owners should try not to let their pets move, and should prevent touching the affected area so that the broken bones do not easily cut the blood vessels or nerves, etc. If the injured dog is a small breed, then it is important to keep it in a safe place. If the injured dog is a small dog, the owner should place it in a wooden crate or an airplane cage to minimize its range of motion. If the owner has been trained in pet first aid, he or she may be able to immobilize the fracture with a splint. However, if the owner has not been trained, he or she can use the following methods or seek veterinary help.
- Cotton is rolled around the fracture and tied with a bandage to minimize the shock of movement.
- Place two suitable, sturdy boards on either side of the fracture and wrap securely with bandages.
Scalds and burns:
If your pet is accidentally burned by spilled hot water or soup or by fire, you should immediately flush the injury with water. If possible, it is best to keep the water running for about 10 minutes. This is because the pet’s fur is so thick that it takes a while for the water to penetrate the skin at the base of the fur, and because hot water is not easy to cool off, a constant stream of water over the wound will help to moderate the high temperature on the skin surface and minimize the damage to the skin tissue. Sometimes the owner will apply ice to the affected area, but do not leave it on for too long or the skin will die quickly. Don’t let them lick too much of the burned wound as this will increase the chance of bacterial infection.
Don’t leave the wound bandaged for too long as this can cause the wound to become inflamed. Also, don’t apply any antiseptic such as alcohol or Dew Drops to the wound, as these medications can kill the skin more quickly and can cause poisoning if licked by the pet. So don’t use anything other than water or light salt water to clean burns or scalds. Although some people recommend applying an ointment containing oil to the wound, this is intended to lower the temperature of the skin, and if the wound has already been cleaned with water, no further medication should be applied. Once the initial first aid has been given, it is important to get them to a veterinary hospital as soon as possible.
Heatstroke:
When the sun is beating down in the summer, your pet may suffer from heatstroke if it is left in an area with poor air circulation or exposed to the sun. If your pet suffers from heatstroke, move him immediately to a cool, shaded area out of direct sunlight. When you get him to a cooler place, run cold water over his body, especially his head, which needs to be cooled down. Pets with heatstroke do not need to be doused with large amounts of water, just cover them with a soaked towel and do not give them large amounts of water, just small amounts. If your pet is unconscious, take them to a veterinarian immediately. Pneumonia can occur after a heat stroke, so it is important to keep an eye on your pet’s breathing.
Poisoning:
Pets may become very ill, faint or have muscle spasms. If you see your pet swallowing a known poison, try to induce him to spit it out by pouring salt water down his throat {a teaspoonful of salt in a glass of water for an average sized pet}, or if the substance swallowed is corrosive, pour milk down his throat. If your pet is already unconscious, these methods should never be used, but rather, you should go to a veterinarian as soon as possible and bring along the rest of the poisonous substance and its packaging, which will help the veterinarian in treating the poisoned pet.
In addition, poisoning is sometimes caused by toxic substances such as detergents getting on the pet’s fur and entering the body through licking. If this is the case, owners can clean their pets thoroughly with a pet cleaner to prevent them from licking the toxic substance again.
