First Aid Tips
Animals suffering from heat stroke or hyperthermia
- Spray down with cool water such as from a garden hose
- Seek immediate veterinary care and drive to the hospital with your car or truck windows down (not the air conditioner on)
- Never place the animal in an a cold bath tub or cover with ice
- Try to stop bleeding with styptic powder, flour, or cold candle wax (not hot or from burning candle)
- If the bleeding does not stop please seek medical attention
- Animals just hit by car may be extremely painful from internal injuries, which may cause them to bite, so be very cautious.
- Learn how to place a muzzle before moving an injured animal for your safety. You can use a long piece of fabric or leash.
- Make a loop in the leash and place over muzzle
- Tighten the loop around the animal’s muzzle
- Cross the ends underneath the animal’s muzzle and bring behind their ears tying tightly.
- Cats and small dogs can be transported in a carrier, box, or wrapped in a blanket.
- When lifting the animal up to transport place one arm under the stomach just in front of the hind legs and the other arm can be placed around the chest just in front of the front legs.
- Larger dogs can be slid onto a large piece of wood or cardboard which can act as a gurney.
- They can be secured to the gurney with duct tape or rope.
- Place the tape or rope around them at the level of their shoulders and hips.
- Do not secure them around their chest
Bite Wounds
- All bite wounds should be evaluated by a veterinarian. You may not see any punctures in the skin but there can be extensive tissue damage underneath
- Do not flush bite wounds with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, use only warm water and a mild hand soap
- Have all seizuring animals evaluated by a veterinarian During the animals seizure avoid the animals muzzle, there is potential that you can get bit during the episode
- Keep seizuring animals away from stairs, or furniture where they may harm themselves
- You can wrap a seizuring patient in a blanket
- If your pet has ingested a potentially toxic substance: Do not induce vomiting immediately. Several poisons can potentially cause more harm coming back up.
- Contact the National Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435.
- Seek veterinary attention.