Howdy Circle B Family! We are so happy that Spring is here and the weather is warming up! We hope you all had a wonderful Easter and everyone stayed safe. With our crazy weather last year we wanted to give you all some insight on how to keep you and your pets safe in an emergency. Since April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month we felt that this was a good time to go over this important life saving information. Our beautiful city is known for it’s extreme heat and natural disasters, therefore, please take the time to prepare yourself and your pets for the year ahead!
Keep the following numbers on your cell phone and in your Pet Emergency Kit:
• Animal Poison Control Center hotline (888.426.4435 – available 365 days/year, 24 hours/day) immediately. There is a fee for the consultation.
• Local Family Veterinarian Number and address
Circle B Veterinary Hospital
(281) 769-3369
1443 FM 1463 #200
Katy, TX 77494
• Local Emergency Veterinarian Number and address
NHVS animal emergency
(281) 675-6000
19450 Katy Fwy #200
Houston, TX 77094
• Closest relative that can help you if you have an injury also.
How to Create a First Aid Kit for your Pet, as recommended by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Your Kit Should Contain:
• Absorbent gauze pads
• Adhesive tape
• Cotton balls or swabs
• Fresh 3% hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting (always check with veterinarian or animal poison control expert before giving to your pet)
• Ice pack
• Disposable gloves
• Scissors with blunt end
• Tweezers
• OTC antibiotic ointment
• Oral syringe or turkey baster
• Liquid dishwashing detergent (for bathing)
• Towels
• Small flashlight
• Alcohol wipes or Antiseptic wipes, lotion, powder or spray
• Styptic powder
• Saline eye solution
• Artificial tear gel
Make sure to check your pack every few months to make sure nothing has expired or needs to be replaced. And of course keep your kit out of the reach of children. Pre-assembled first-aid kits can be found on amazon.com.
For additional information on how to administer first aid to your pet please see https://www.avma.org/public/EmergencyCare/Pages/Basic-Pet-First-Aid-Procedures.aspx
Three Important things to remember in a Pet Emergency:
• Do not give any over the counter medications unless advised by your Veterinarian. Many human medications can cause severe organ damage or failure and can be life threatening to animals.
• Do not apply any topicals to an open wound unless advised by your Veterinarian.
• Do not give hydrogen peroxide orally unless you were advised to do so by a Veterinarian or Poison Control.
How to move your Pet in an Emergency:
• Try to call your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic before you move your pet so they can be ready for you when you arrive. If you can not call this is ok just be safe in handling and driving to the clinic.
• Take extreme caution when approaching or handling an animal during an emergency situation as even the gentlest animals may bite due to pain or being disoriented. Move slowly and keep your face away from their face.
• If necessary and if your pet is NOT vomiting, place a muzzle on the pet to reduce the chances you’ll be bitten.
• Dogs may be muzzled with towels, stockings or gauze rolls.
• Cats and other small animals may be wrapped in a towel to restrain them, but make sure your pet is not wrapped in the towel too tightly and its nose is uncovered so it can breathe.
• ****NEVER muzzle your pet if it is vomiting.
• We highly recommend confining your injured pet to a small area during transportation to reduce the risk of further injury. If you do not have a pet carrier available you can use a box or container that allows for proper air flow or for a larger animal a throw rug or a blanket may work well to act as a stretcher.
• You should always keep your pet’s medical records in a safe, easily accessible place. Bring these with you when you take your dog for emergency treatment.
• If your pet has been exposed to a toxin PLEASE bring the product label information with you to the Veterinarian clinic.
Never hesitate to call your us or the emergency clinic if you are concerned about your pet. We are always here to help you and do what is right your fur baby.
A happy Bernese mountain dog lying on grass during a sunny, fall day
• Not breathing or you can not feel a heartbeat
• Unconsciousness/ Limp/ Non-repsonsive
• Seizures
• Trouble breathing and/ or something stuck in their throat
• Bleeding from the eyes, nose, or mouth, or there is blood in her urine or feces.
• Toxic Exposure- such as antifreeze, rat poison, any kind of medication that wasn’t prescribed to her, or household cleansers.
• Hit by Car
• Fallen from a high location
• Wildlife exposure – for example bit by a raccoon or bat
• Vomiting or diarrhea for more then 24 hours or vomiting blood
• Suspect Broken bones
• Inability to urinate or straining to urinate particularly in male cat
• Signs of extreme pain, such as whining, shaking, and refusing to socialize.
• Collapses or suddenly can’t stand up.
• Disorientation/ bumping into things
• Sudden eye irritation or injury or seems blind all of a sudden
• Swollen and hard to the touch abdomen, and/or she’s gagging and trying to vomit.
• Signs of a heatstroke or has been left in a car or outside too long during the heat especially our short nosed breeds such as bull dogs, pugs, etc.
• If your pregnant dog or cat has gone more than three to four hours between delivering puppies or kittens.
We hope this has helped you feel more prepared in the event of an emergency. Stay safe and we will be there if you need us!
Take care,
Your Circle B Team
Resources used in this article:
https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/saving-lives-shelter-health-poison-control/how-make-pet-first-aid-kit
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/pet_first_aid_kit.html
https://www.avma.org/public/EmergencyCare/Pages/First-Aid-Tips-for-Pet-Owners.aspx
https://www.aaha.org/pet_owner/pet_health_library/general_health_care/when_is_it_an_emergency.aspx
