First Aid For Your Cat

APRIL IS PET FIRST AID AWARENESS MONTH

TOP TIPS TO HELP YOUR PET IN AN EMERGENCY- from the AVMA

AND PET FIRST AID KITS FROM SUNNY-DOG INK

Accidents happen – sometimes pets get injured, eat the wrong foods, get bitten, cut, or even have seizures.  But, there are ways you can help on the way to the vet. As Dr. Doug Aspros, Former President of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) says, “You can't be over-prepared. Do your thinking and planning when you're calm - you'll make better decisions when the emergency happens."

So here are a few life-saving tips from the AVMA to help stabilize your pet:

• If you think your pet has a broken bone, gently lay him or her on a flat surface, or use a blanket as a sling to gently transport your pet on the way to the veterinarian.
• With cuts, press a clean, thick gauze pad over the wound and press on it until the bleeding stops. If bleeding is severe and on the legs, apply a tourniquet (using a rubber band and gauze) between the wound and the body to slow down the blood flow and get your animal to the vet ASAP.
• For burns, flush immediately with lots of water. If the burn is more severe quickly apply an ice compress.
• If your pet has been exposed to a toxin, check the label for immediate instructions such as washing its skin with soap and water, or flushing eyes with water.
• If your pet is having seizures, keep them away from any objects, blanket your pet to keep them warm and call your vet or an emergency vet clinic.
• For choking, if your pet can still breathe, get them to the vet immediately. Look in their mouth with a flashlight and quickly try to get the object out with atweezer. If that doesn’t work, place both hands on the side of his or her ribcage and strike the rib cage firmly with the palm of your hand 3 to 4 times while getting to the vet.

  
  

What your Pet First Aid Kit should include for home or travel:

VetWrap (or a similar bandaging product that clings to itself and molds nicely)
A nylon leash, muzzle, pet carrier (depending on animal size) and a pillow case for a cat that might need to be restrained; a small flashlight can also be quite useful.

Click to purchase!

THE CAT FIRST AID KIT FEATURED ABOVE HAS ITEMS LISTED BELOW AND MAY BE PURCHASED ON SUNNY-DOG INK. The book featured below may also be purchased by clicking here.

"No Place Like Home" Ultimate Cat First-Aid Kit Includes:

Cat First Aid & CPR Pocket Guide* by Denise Fleck/Quickfind Books	Quick Tips Laminated Pull-out Card
Hibiclens/Chlorhexidine Antibacterial Skin Cleanser	Rescue Remedy to ease panic/distress
CPR Germ Barrier Shield	Cat Muzzle
Flat Leash with "D" Ring with photo instructions for Figure 8 Cat Harness	Re-sealable Bag for Treats of Bio Sample
Cold Pack	Latex-Free Powder-free Gloves
3% Hydrogen Peroxide (8 fl oz)	Eye & Wound Wash (4 fl oz)
Kwik-Stop Styptic Powder including Cotton Swabs & Instructions	Digital Thermometer/Lubricating Gel
Stethoscope with photo instructions	Tweezers
Ticked-Off Tick Remover	12cc Curved Tip Syringe
Blunt-nosed Scissors	Dehydrated Pumpkin Apple Fiber
1" White Adhesive Tape	.
Bandaging Materials	4" X 4" Gauze Squares (10)
.	3" White Conforming Gauze Roll (2)
.	2" Flexible Self-Adhering Bandage
.	2" X 3" Non-Stick Pad for Burns (2)
Triangular Bandage for splinting	.
Topical Medications	Triple Antibiotic Ointment (2)
.	1% Hydrocortisone Cream (2)
.	Povidone/Iodine Swabs (2)
.	Antiseptic Towelettes (2)
Oral Medications	Diphenhydramine/Antihistamine Tablets (4)
.	Diotame/Antacid Tablets (4

We thank the American Veterinary Medical Association for sharing their tips with us to share with all of YOU!  Cody and I  were happy to feature the first aid kit and book  from an earlier post that Dakota and I had done  for SUNNY -DOG INK: that was  on Dakota's blog last year. We were not compensated for this post, but received the first aid kit last year from Sunny -Dog Ink.