4 pet first aid tips for pet parents

Liudmyla / stock.adobe.com

Content submitted by Heart + Paw, a dvm360® Strategic Alliance Partner

It's crucial for pet parents to be able to perform first aid, Emergency situations can happen anytime: sudden injuries, accidents, and ingesting toxins. Knowing how to administer basic first aid can help owners stabilize their pet's condition before taking them to a veterinarian and help save their pet's life. Here are a few quick tips for client education:

1. Create a pet first aid kit

The first step to being prepared for pet emergencies is creating a pet first aid kit. Some items to include are gauze pads, bandage wraps, antibacterial cleanser, isopropyl alcohol, disposable gloves, and antibiotic ointment. Pet owners should keep the kit in a handy location and take it with them when they bring their dog on an adventure.

2. Contact your veterinarian

The veterinarian is the best resource when it comes to pet emergencies. Owners should be sure to keep your veterinarian’s contact information and their pet’s medical records in a convenient place so they have quick access if needed. As the veterinarian, you may be able to walk the pet owner through what to do in an emergency situation or ask them to bring the pet in for further care.

3. Take a first aid course

An excellent way to prepare oneself for any pet emergency is to take a pet first aid course. These courses can teach pet parents what to do if their pet is choking, bleeding, having a heat stroke, and more. Most first aid courses will also teach them how to perform CPR on a pet.

4. Get pet insurance

The best time to get insurance is as early as possible. This should be prior to any accidents or emergencies occurring. With so many pet insurance options out there, veterinarians should be able to give recommendations and answer any questions pet owners may have.

In the event that a pet comes in contact with any poisonous items, having their veterinarian’s phone number handy, as well as the phone number of a nearby emergency clinic, can be critically important. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center can also be reached for a fee at 888-426-4435, and pet owners should provide details of when their pet started to display symptoms and anything they may have eaten that day.