Pet First Aid Guide: How to Give Pets First Aid

We can take extra precautions to protect our pets as best we can, but sometimes accidents happen. In this post, our vets in North Providence and Rhode Island discuss what you should keep in a basic companion animal's first aid kit and how to perform pet first aid on your dog or cat.

Preparing Your Dog or Cat's First Aid Kit

To help you prepare in case your cat or dog is injured, our team at Ferguson Animal Hospital has compiled a list of essential items for your pet's first aid kit. Keep these items in a toolbox or another case, and make sure they are easily accessible. In a pet emergency, you'll want these items handy to use at all times until you can get your pet in to see a veterinarian.

Applying Basic Animal First Aid

Below are some essential first-aid tips for pets like dogs and cats that you may need to use before bringing your pet to an emergency vet clinic.

• To be safe, muzzle your pet. Even the most excellent pets can bite when hurt, so it's best to be careful. If you don't have a muzzle handy, ask your vet in advance how to use gauze to tie a muzzle.
• Press a clean, thick gauze pad over any cuts or scrapes, and keep your hand on the wound until the blood starts to clot. Keep the pressure on for at least three minutes before checking to see if the blood is clotting.
• Keep the pet as quiet and warm as you can.
• If you think the pet has broken bones, find a flat surface, like a board or stretcher, on which you can move the pet from place to place. Using a blanket or towel to tie the pet to the surface may also be a good idea.
• Remember that any first aid you give your pet should be followed by veterinary care immediately. First aid care is not the same as veterinary care, but it could save your pet's life until it can see a vet.
• Ferguson Animal Hospital offers emergency care to existing patients during our regular clinic hours. You may want to use your favorite search engine to look for emergency veterinary care in or near North Providence and Rhode Island.

How To Perform CPR On Cats & Dogs

It's important to be prepared to perform CPR on your pet in an emergency. The CPR technique for dogs and cats is similar to that for humans. These instructions are meant to assist you in helping an unconscious pet while minimizing the risk of getting bitten in case it regains consciousness.

1. Remove any obstacles. Open the animal's mouth and make sure its air passage is clear. If not, remove the object blocking the airway.
2. Extend the head and give the dog or cat a few fake breaths.
   • For large dogs, close the dog's mouth tightly and breathe into the nose. The dog's chest should raise. Give two breaths at a time.
   • You may be able to cover the nose and mouth of small dogs and cats with your mouth while breathing. The chest of the animal should rise. Take two deep breaths.
3. Do chest compressions
   • Large dogs may be able to be positioned on their backs and their chest compressed in the same way that humans do.
   • For small dogs and cats, as well as large dogs with funnel chests, you may need to lay the animal on its side and compress the side of the rib cage. You can also turn the animal on its back and press on both sides of the rib cage.
   • The rate of chest compressions varies depending on the cat or dog's size.
     • Dogs over 60 pounds: 60 compressions per minute.
     • Animals between 11 and 60 pounds: 80 - 100 compressions per minute
     • Animals 10 pounds or less: 120 compressions per minute.
4. Alter your breaths with compressions. The compression-to-breath ratio should be similar to that of humans - 30:2. Repeat until the animal responds or begins to breathe independently.

If your pet starts breathing independently, you should still contact your vet or the nearest emergency vet and take it in. Any period without oxygen can potentially cause harm. If your pet is choking on a foreign object or food, you should bring it in, as there may be unseen damage to its airway.

Do you have more questions about pet first aid and what to do in an emergency? Don't hesitate to contact our vets at Ferguson Animal Hospital for advice.