Essential Pet First Aid

April is First Aid Awareness Month, so here are the essentials - and how to use them - for your first aid kit.

The essential pet first aid kit:

• Important Paperwork - keep the name and phone number of your veterinarian and local emergency hospitals handy. Also include the ASPCA Pet Poison Control Line - 1-888-426-4435. Keep a list of all of your pet's medications, vaccine records, microchip number, and a photograph in case he or she gets lost. 
• Hydrogen peroxide 3% - if your pet eats something poisonous, you may need to induce vomiting. Always check with poison control or your veterinarian first, as some substances can burn the esophagus and cause more damage if vomited back up. In general, use 0.5-1mL of hydrogen peroxide per pound of dog, up to 3 tablespoons max. So a 10lb dog needs 1-2 tsp (5-10mL), a 30lb dog needs 1-2 tablespoons (15-30mL), but a 75lb dog would only get 3 tablespoons (45ml). If vomiting does not occur within 15 minutes, you can repeat the hydrogen peroxide dose one time. Hydrogen peroxide should NOT be given to cats since it can irritate the esophagus. It is safe to give to ferrets and pot-bellied pigs, but please check with your veterinarian about dosing for those special pets. Only induce vomiting in pets who are awake, alert, and able to stand easily on their own. Comatose or seizuring pets could be seriously harmed by trying to induce vomiting.
• Spare leash, collar or harness, and a muzzle to prevent bites - injured pets are painful, and can bite when you try to help them. It is always safest to gently muzzle your pet before you administer first aid, but do not muzzle a vomiting pet. 
• Clean towel - to wrap an injured cat, apply pressure to a bleeding wound, or dry a wet pet.
• Pillowcase - makes a great temporary carrier for a cat, or can be cut into strips to bind a wound or injured limb.
• Saline solution - to clean wounds or flush irritated eyes (the kind sold for contact lenses works well).
• Bandage material - nonstick wound dressing, gauze or strips of clean cloth, self-adhering bandage material, and white adhesive tape can be used to stop bleeding and keep a wound clean until you make it to the vet's office.
• Tweezers - to remove foreign material or ticks.
• Blunt scissors - to cut bandage material or free a trapped pet.
• Rectal thermometer and lubricant (like KY jelly) - to check for fever or hypothermia. Normal temperature for most dogs and cats can range from 100-103F, so don't be alarmed when the temperature is higher than what's expected for humans.

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What to do if your pet is choking:
A choking pet will have difficulty breathing, may paw or rub at his or her face or mouth, may cough or retch, and may have blue-tinged lips or tongue.

• If your pet is pink and can still breathe, keep him or her calm and seek emergency veterinary care.
• If your pet is having trouble moving air or is turning blue, look into the back of your pet's mouth. Do this by using one hand on the upper jaw and one hand on the lower jaw and rolling the lips over the teeth. Remember, any dog or cat can bite, so proceed cautiously. If you see an object, try to remove it with tweezers or pliers, or hook it out with a finger. Be careful not to force it farther back into your pet's throat.
• If your pet has collapsed and is blue-tinged, and you can't clear anything from the mouth, you may need to perform the Pet Heimlich maneuver.
  • Small dogs: gently place a small dog on his or her back. Use one hand to apply pressure to the abdomen just below the ribcage, then check the mouth for any dislodged pieces. You can also place one hand on either side of the rib cage in a standing small dog and press inwards sharply 3-4 times, but this maneuver has the potential to fracture ribs so should be used last.
  • Large dogs: if standing, reach around your dog and place a fist on the belly just below the ribcage. Place your other hand flat on top of the fist, then move both hands in a sharp thrust up towards the ribcage.  For large dogs on their sides, stabilized the spine with one arm and use the other to push the belly up towards the ribs. Then check the mouth for any dislodged pieces. If you are not successful, you can strike the ribcage firmly with the palm of your hand 3-4 times to try to force the air out of the lungs and dislodge the object, but this is a more risky maneuver that can cause rib fractures.
• Head to the veterinarian immediately - but please drive safely. Getting in a car accident will only slow down your pet's access to care!