FIRST AID FOR ANIMALS
Emergency Procedure
When you come across an accident or an animal in severe distress,
immediately proceed with the basic emergency drill, as outlined below:
- If breathing appears to have stopped completely, check for a heartbeat
- Normal heartbeat can be felt by placing the fingertips on the lower
part of the chest wall on the left side, just behind the front leg
The ABC Drill
- Airway – Ensure that there is nothing blocking the animal's nasal
passage. Squeeze the nasal passage with a flat palm. Blow into the nose, it
helps clean the nasal passage.
- Bleeding – To control bleeding, tightly press a cold compress or cloth
against the wound. Repeat and bandage. If blood is bright red and pumping,
it is from an artery. Apply a tourniquet above the wound. If the blood is
dark red and flowing regularly, apply the tourniquet below the wound.
- Collapse, Convulsions and Lack of Consciousness – Ensure the animal in
place where it will not receive any further injury. Start artificial
respiration. If it does not respond, try mouth to mouth respiration.
Convulsions occur in cases of heat stroke, severe exhaustion and poisoning.
Do not restrain an animal when it is having a spasm. Administer glucose and
a warm drink orally, once the animal recovers from the fit. Give Diazepam
(to calm down the animal) orally after consulting a vet.
Useful Techniques
- Pulse Taking : The normal pulse rate of cats is 110-140 beats/minute,
and of dogs, 80-120 beats/minute. The smaller the breed, the higher the
pulse. Put your index and middle finger over the artery at the point where
it crosses the thigh bone on the inside of the thigh. Count the pulse rate
for 10 seconds and multiply by 6.
- Artificial Respiration : If possible, lay the animal on its right side,
open its mouth and take out anything blocking the air passage. Pull the
tongue forward. Press down firmly with both hands below the shoulder and
over the ribs. Release immediately and briskly.
- Mouth-to-mouth respiration : Clear the animal's mouth of any foreign
obstacles, hold it closed and blow into nostrils.
Common Problems and How to Administer First Aid
- *Blood in Vomit – *Don't feed the animal, take it to the vet. The
bleeding could be due to:
- A foreign body like a sharp edged nail, glass etc.
- Internal injuries
- Nasal bleeding
- *Burns *– Wash with plenty of cold water. Give a painkiller tablet.
Cover the burnt area with a clean soft cloth, either dry or soaked in tea
decoction. Keep the animal clean and warm to avoid shock. The animal must be
given either plain water or water diluted with glucose. Call the vet.
- *Choking *– If something is stuck in the throat, try to get it out with
your fingers or a long spoon. Hold the tongue down with a hanky if
necessary. If the animal loses consciousness, clear the throat by massaging
it downwards. Open the mouth and examine for any foreign body which is
causing choking. If visible and not sharp, then slowly pull out with forceps
and give artificial respiration. NEVER give your dog or cat small chicken or
fish bones. These are the most common causes of choking.
- *Heat Stroke *– Increase in body temperature beyond the point of normal
physiological temperature is called a heat stroke. It is due to hot weather,
high humidity, inadequate ventilation, exposure to direct sunlight and
overcrowding. Never leave your pet parked in a locked car in the sun or
muzzle it for long durations in summer. The symptoms of a heat stroke are:
- High rise in temperature
- Oral mucosa inside mouth and tongue
- Inner lips turn bright red in colour
- Red eyes
- Weakness
- Convulsions
- Panting
- Heavy breathing
- High pulse rate
- High pulse rate
- Collapse/shock
- Extreme cases will have glassy eyes and grey lips
First Aid:
• Place animal in a cool, well ventilated place or a shaded area
• Give small amounts of cold water containing glucose or sugar frequently
• Ice packs should be applied on the head, forehead and all over the body.
If you cant get ice, apply water all over the body and cold towel compresses
on the head and chest
• Give cold milk to drink
Once first aid has been administered, and the animal is stable, consult a
vet.
Skin Disorders
Usually, skin disorders are manifested by itching, hair loss (alopecia) or
thickened skin masses and bee sting kind of eruptions on the affected part.
Wash the affected area with a mild antiseptic lotion, like savlon. Keep the
animal in a dry and clean place. Identify what kind of skin infection the
animal is suffering from.
SYMPTOMS –
*Bacterial Infections – *there will be oozing of pus and blood.
*Fungal –* there will be
- Crust formation and blackening of skin with loss of hair
- Localized and generalized lesions
- Foul smell
- The appearance of ringworm in the shape of circular patches of
infection
- Reddening of skin with severe inflammation and lesions
- The first site of infection will be around the ears, eyes and forelimbs
- Continuous scratching and oozing of fresh blood
*Allergies and Eczema *– there will be
- Only reddening of area without much loss of hair
- Bee sting eruptions on the affected part
FIRST AID –
- If there is loss of hair then –
- Apply Gentian Violet (Blue Medicine) and Gamma Benzene Hexachloride
mixed in equal quantities on the affected area
- Bathe the dog with Petmosol soap **
- Mange – There are two kinds of Mange, Demodectic and Sarcoptic. Most
vets say that there is no medicine for Mange, and that the dog has to be
killed. This is not true. Even dogs that have lost all their hair can be
cured easily, with a combination of medication and dedication.
Clinical Signs – The mites live in hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Loss
of hair and thickening of skin is found.
Squamous Form – Scaly wrinkled, often resembling ringworm infection,
sebarrhoea (pus filled crusty lesions on the face of the animal)
Pustules Type – Formation of pustules, hyper and secondary bacterial
infections may develop.
First Aid –
• Bathe the dog once a week with Petmosol soap manufactured by ICI.
• Apply Ecktodex, one teaspoon in one litre solution for 5-7 weeks.
• You can alternatively apply Gamma Benzene Hexachloride solution, sold as
Escabiol.
Consult the vet for further medication.
[Courtesy : Peope For Animals]
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