Who handles 911 for our Pets?

Chances are we all know what to do in case of a human emergency, right? Of course we do, call 911 and the ambulance and or police come to the rescue. Unfortunately, there are no ambulances or 911 for the family pet just yet. While our pets are generally happy and healthy with just their yearly check up, accidents do happen. In case of accidents or emergencies a good first aid kit is an essential item in any household with pets. While there are dozens useful items to include you should be in good shape with these 10 items:

1. Information card with the name, address and phone number of your veterinarian, Veterinarian Emergency Clinic and the National Animal Poison Control telephone number (888) 426-4435. Having all of this information conveniently located on one index card will save you time in case of an emergency.

2. Commercial muzzle adjusted to fit your pet or a length of fabric to make one if needed. Your dog may be sweet and gentle, but even the sweetest dogs can bite when injured. When pets are hurt they may bite to keep you away from their injury when you are trying to treat it. It is best to protect yourself by muzzling your dog when treating more serious injuries.

3. Bandaging materials to cover wounds are an essential item in any first aid kit; however you might need different materials for your pet’s first aid kit. Rather than a band aid, which doesn’t stick to fur, try wrapping a wound with saran wrap and tape, 2” rolls of stretchable gauze or an ace bandage.

4. Duct tape is an item renowned for its ability to fix anything and everything and is no exception in pet first aid. If your pet has been seriously injured, i.e. being hit by a car then you can use duct tape to immobilize your pet to transport him to the nearest emergency clinic. If you have a large pet then an ironing board makes an excellent stretcher. A small pet would be fine on a cutting board or similar surface. Use the duct tape to immobilize them to prevent them from injuring themselves further by allowing them to move about.

5. Blunt tipped tweezers known as hemostats are essential items used to remove foreign items from small places such as ears and nostrils. Tweezers are also handy to have around for removing splinters, insect stingers or ticks.

6. Needle-nosed pliers are one of the most important items to keep on hand because they can mean life or death for your pet if he gets something lodged in his throat. Needle-nosed pliers allow you to firmly grip objects further in the throat than you would be able to reach on your own.

7. Hot and cold packs. Hot compresses are helpful in treating jellyfish stings, leg swelling, puncture wounds or abscesses. Cold compresses are used for treating bee/wasp stings, nosebleeds and hives.

8. Rectal thermometer to determine your pet’s temperature. Normal temperatures for dogs and cats range from 99 to 102.5 degrees. If your pet’s temperature is 106 degrees or higher than you should take them to the emergency room or begin cooling at home until you can seek medical treatment. Try getting your pet into a cold shower, applying a cold pack and get him to drink some cold water.

9. A clean blanket or towel to wrap around your pet should they go into shock. A blanket can also serve as a makeshift stretcher to transport your pet with.

10. Karo Syrup or honey in case of shock is a must for any first aid kit. Shock occurs when the body is unable to get enough oxygen and can kill a pet in a matter of minutes. If your pet is woozy and unaware of his surroundings combined with pale gums then he may be in shock. Rub Karo Syrup onto the gums to raise blood sugar almost instantly and that should buy you enough time to get him to the nearest emergency room.

There are many human medicines that make appropriate additions to your pet’s first aid kit; however, many can be deadly so make sure to check with your Vet concerning proper dosage before administering any type of medication.

This article was submitted a pet supplies site carrying invisible fence, dog training collars and petsafe radio fence.