Quick Pet First Aid Sheet

First Aid Procedures

•   Immediately consult your Veterinarian for advice and let him know you are on your way for treatment.
•   Pets do not understand pain and may try to bite or scratch you.
•   Muzzle dogs and wrap cats in a blanket, leaving their head exposed.
•   Apply pressure pads to wounds to stop or control bleeding.
•   Injuries may cause pets to go into shock.
•   Keep warm with a blanket. If the pet is unconscious, place their head lower than their body during transportation.
•   Avoid unnecessary movement during treatment.
•   Transport pet in a box or on a hard, flat object such as a board to minimize movement of injured body parts.

Dogs - 100 to 103 degrees Fahrenheit
Cats: 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit

Heimlich Maneuver

Place pet on its side, press quickly down on chest, release immediately. Direct force of hands slightly forward. Repeat several times. Open mouth and remove object. Apply artificial respirations if needed.

Artificial Respiration

Mouth, nose and throat airways should be cleared. Clamp your hands around pet's face and blow into nose until chest expands. Remove your mouth until chest deflates. Repeat procedure every five seconds until pet breathes on his own.

Allergic Reaction

Symptoms - Minor itching and swelling of eyes, ears, and face. Skin lesions. Animal paws at affected area. Caused by food, sting, or vaccine.
Treatment - Wash affected area with a mild soap. If poisoning is suspected, give milk of magnesia and enema. Use child's glycerin suppository. If the allergic reaction is acute, rush your pet to your Veterinarian. He may need a shot of adrenaline.

Choking

Symptoms - Gagging, drooling, making choking sounds. Difficult to breathe and swallow. Paws at mouth. Possibly unconscious.
Treatment - Examine nasal and throat passages for foreign object. Remove if possible. If unable to dislodge, apply Heimlich Maneuver. Consult your Veterinarian immediately.

Heat Stroke

Symptoms - Slobbering, panting, rapid heartbeat, high temperature, vomiting. Possible coma.
Treatment - Possibly life threatening. Consult your Veterinarian. Lower temperature by moving out of sun and bathe in cold water. Apply ice to chest. Massage limbs gently. If conscious, feed small amounts of cool water. Rush to Veterinarian.

Respiratory Problems

Symptoms - Slow or stopped breathing. Pupils dilated. Discolored lips and tongue. Gasps. Possibly unconscious.
Treatment - Remove pet's collar. If there is fluid in the throat, hold pet upside down. If pet chokes, begin Heimlich Maneuver. If breathing stops, begin artificial respiration.

Cardiac Arrest

Symptoms - Unconsciousness, from stupor to unresponsiveness dilation of pupils or unequal size. Weak pulse. Varied respiratory rate. Animal will not feel pain if feet pinched hard.
Treatment - Treat as for shock. Do not give anything by mouth. Obtain Veterinary assistance immediately. This action is critical to save the pet.

Bleeding

Symptoms - Small cut or open wound. Minor pain or deep laceration or puncture. Arterial wound is more painful.
Treatment - Gently and cautiously muzzle dogs. Wrap cats in a blanket with head exposed. Clean wound with hydrogen peroxide or antiseptic cream. Apply pressure pad. If bleeding continues, apply more pressure pads and elevate wound. Rush to your Veterinarian.

Fractures

Symptoms - Limping, swollen joints, protruding bones. Severe pain. Possible shock.
Treatment - Gently and cautiously muzzle dogs. Wrap cats in blanket with head exposed. Treat for possible shock. Cover wound with gauze. Do not move fractured body part or attempt to treat injury. Rush to Veterinarian for treatment.

Ear Injuries

Symptoms - Bleeding and swelling from fights, lacerations or scratching. Rubbing ear on floor or ground. Head shaking.
Treatment - Apply pressure to wound with sterile pads. Bandage by laying ear over top of head and cover both sides with gauze pads and bandage in place. If severe, consult your Veterinarian.

Internal Injuries

Symptoms - Difficult to breathe. Sensitive to touch in wound area or abdomen. Signs of blood in eyes, mouth or urine. Possibly in shock.
Treatment - Cover and treat for shock. Rush to Veterinarian carefully in flat, secure position. Apply cold compress to bruised areas.

Eye Injuries

Symptoms - Red eyeballs, excessive tearing. Eyelids closed. Pet paws at eye or rubs face on floor or on ground. Pain.
Treatment - Do not rub. Flush with water. If foreign object, remove with moistened cotton pad. If bleeding, apply pressure with gauze pads. Hold cold compress over pads. For scratched eye, apply drops of methylene blue.

Burns

Symptoms - Singed hair, inflamed skin, blisters, hair pulls out easily. Possibly in shock. Pain.
Treatment - Flush area with cold water, apply cold, wet compresses. Apply antibiotic burn ointment. For minor burns, clean daily with sterile pad and antiseptic soap. More serious burns, treat for shock and rush to Veterinarian. Do not give pet any type of drugs without advice from your Veterinarian.

Shock

Symptoms - Paleness in mouth, eyelids and lips. Weak and shallow breathing. Cool body. Semi-conscious or no response.
Treatment - Cover pet. If unconscious, head should be slightly lower than the rest of the body. Massage paws and body gently and rush to your Veterinarian.

Insect Bites

Symptoms - Scratching at affected area. Panting or drooling caused by allergic reaction. Possible vomiting and collapse.
Treatment - Use paste of baking soda and water or meat tenderizer dissolved in water and apply to wound. If outdoors, apply mud pack. If swelling occurs or breathing becomes difficult, rush to Veterinarian for venom antidote.

Snake Bites

Symptoms - If poisonous, painful swelling and discoloration in area of bite will occur within minutes. Difficulty breathing. Possible convulsion and bleeding from punctures.
Treatment - Immediately apply tourniquet between bite and heart. Rush to Veterinarian for venom antidote. Remove venom from wound if possible. Clean affected area well and apply cold compresses.

Poisoning

Symptoms - Extremely variable, but may include: staggering blindly, looks aimless, groans in agony, trembling, writhing, near stage of collapse. Possible convulsions, coma or uncoordinated movements. Vomiting, salivation and diarrhea possible.
Treatment - To induce vomiting, give 1 to 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide every 5 to 10 minutes until vomiting occurs. No more than 4 doses. Or give 1 teaspoon of mustard in warm water.

Vomiting

Symptoms - Symptoms difficult to diagnose. Frothy yellow fluid expelled. Pain, weakness, fever and dehydration. Vomiting can be caused by over-eating, motion sickness, ear problems or diet change.
Treatment - Do not feed or water for 24 hours. If pet is thirsty, give 2 tablespoons of water at regular intervals. Give Pepto-Bismol. For dogs: 1 teaspoon per 20 pounds of body weight every four hours. For cats: 1/2 teaspoon every 4 hours. After 24 hours, boiled egg and rice.

Skunk Spray

Symptoms - Offensive smell of skunk.
Treatment - Flush the pet's eyes with lukewarm water and then apply warm olive oil or over-the-counter artificial tears. Neutralize the smell by bathing the pet's body thoroughly. War rubber gloves while bathing pet.

Motion Sickness

Symptoms - Restlessness, panting, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling or swallowing.
Treatment - Stop the car and provide the pet some fresh air. (Veterinarians can offer medication to administer before travelling)

Over-Exposure to Cold

Symptoms - Very cold skin, ruffled fur, shivers, weakness, bloody stool, unconsciousness, gums and tongue pale pink-gray in color.  Treatment - If the condition is sever, immediately take the pet to a Veterinarian, making sure to keep him warm on the way. If the condition is not severe, wrap the pet in a towel and apply a hot water bottle to him. Also try using a blow dryer on him. If the pet is conscious, offer him some warm broth.

Ticks and Lyme Disease

Symptoms - Cats usually show no signs of ticks, but many kinds of ticks are visible on dogs, especially between their toes and behind their ears and front legs. Deer ticks, which transmit Lyme Disease, often go undetected.
Treatment - Soak ticks in alcohol or small amounts of tick spray. Wait thirty minutes, and then carefully grasp the ticks with tweezers. Be sure to pull them straight out. After removal, apply antiseptic to the bites, burn or flush the ticks, and thoroughly wash your hands.

Fleas

Symptoms - Small, red dots on skin, biting and/or scratching of self.
Treatment - Use only natural flea preparations. Vacuum your home thoroughly, and then discard the vacuum bag. Use natural insecticides in your home and regularly wash and dry the pet's bedding on the hottest settings. Consult a Veterinarian.

Ear Mites

Symptoms - Shaking or rubbing head on ground, carrying head to one side, scratching ears, dark red wax in ears. (Cats are more likely to get ear mites than dogs)
Treatment - Call a Veterinarian. Pets ears are fragile, and therefore should be treated only with directions from a professional.