pet care & health
… and keep a well-stocked pet first-aid kit on hand for emergencies.
By Dr Anthea Michaletos, Emergency & Critical Care Resident at Valley Farm Animal Hospital
A well-stocked pet first-aid kit can make all the difference in the first few minutes of an emergency. While it is never a substitute for professional veterinary care, having the right supplies close at hand can help you respond calmly, protect your pet from further injury and buy valuable time while you contact your vet. Veterinary guidance commonly recommends keeping emergency numbers, bandaging materials, woundcleaning supplies and your pet’ s medical information together in one easy-to-carry kit.
Start with essential information
Start with the basics: information. Every kit should include your regular vet’ s number, the contact details of the nearest after-hours animal hospital, and the African Snake Institute. Adding your pet’ s medical history is also a vital part of the kit. Include chronic medication, a list of allergies, vaccination history and any medical conditions. In a stressful situation it is easy to forget vital information that can slow down medical treatment. If you travel with your pet, having a recent picture of them in the kit can help if they get separated from you at any stage.
Build the core treatment section
Next, build the core treatment section of the kit. Gauze pads, roll gauze, self-adhesive bandage wrap, medical tape, blunt-ended scissors and disposable gloves are among the most widely recommended essentials. These items can help you cover a wound, apply pressure to minor bleeding and protect an injury until your pet can be examined properly. Add tweezers for splinters or ticks, a digital thermometer for checking temperature and a towel or blanket that can be used for warmth, restraint or transport. An easy-to-give poison binding agent is also recommended in the first-aid kit to help buy precious time while you get to the vet.
Choose wound-cleaning products carefully
Wound-cleaning products are also important, but they should be chosen carefully. Sterile saline is useful for flushing debris from a wound or the eye area, and pet-safe antiseptic products may help clean minor injuries. Do not use human products unless given direction from your vet, as some human products are not suitable for use on animals. That is why it helps to ask your vet which antiseptic sprays, ointments or medications are appropriate for your own dog or cat. The goal is not to doctor your pet but to stabilise them enough to get them safely to professional veterinary treatment.
Finally, store and maintain your kit
Your kit should be stored somewhere easily accessible and checked at least twice a year if not used to ensure that all products are still in good condition and that the information is still up to date.
It helps to ask your vet which antiseptic sprays, ointments or medications are appropriate for your own dog or cat.
24 www. petpals. co. za