Would you know what to do if your pet had an emergency? Knowing pet first aid is just as important as learning first aid for humans. Here’s some advice on what to do in the event of two common pet emergencies:
Dear Davi,
I get a little crazy with my raw hides and eat them until they are in super small pieces. My human tries to take them away before they get too small, but I bury them under my blanket to chew before bedtime. One day I was gnawing on a piece and started choking. It got lodged in my throat and I couldn’t breathe, so I panicked. I paced back and forth, gasping for breath and gagging. Somehow I was able to cough it up before my human ran to my rescue. What could she have done for me if I had been unable to help myself?
Brody the Boxer
Brody,
It is only natural for you to panic in a stressful situation. You are pacing because you realize you are in danger, and you are trying to dodge the danger — except that danger is stuck inside you. If you are able to dislodge the item yourself — terrific! If not, you’ll need your human to step in and take control of the situation. First, she must open your mouth and look inside — stay calm. If she spots the object — bingo — a gentle finger sweep should remove it. If the object is stuck in your throat, then chest thrusts should be performed to force it out. If the object is not removed after a few attempts, get to the vet immediately. After the obstruction is cleared, your airway should be checked for damage.
Dear Davi,
I was having a blast with my friend Pacey at the beach. We were jumping around and playing in the Florida heat. Everything was cool until I started panting excessively. Pacey kept trying to play with me, but I felt dizzy and needed water. I staggered over to my mom and collapsed on a towel next to her. What could she do for me?
Henry the Husky
Henry,
Florida heat can easily cause a heatstroke when you’re playing. It is critical that you move out of the heat and away from the sun. Your human can cool down your body temperature by wetting your body with cool, not cold, water, wrap you in a cool cloth, and increase air flow around you. If she offers a bowl of water, lap it up. Next stop? The vet. Many of the complications from heatstroke do not appear until several days after the incident — prompt veterinary care can prevent or treat some of these. To avoid this situation in the future, drink often and restrict play to shorter periods of time and during morning or evening hours when the temperatures are not as extreme.
Learn to save the life of your pet. The local Pet Life Savers program teaches pet first aid and pet CPR. Visit petlifesaverjax.com or contact Michelle Patel at petlifesaverjax@gmail.com for information.
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