Do you have a 24 hour emergency veterinary clinic in your vicinity? Do you know where it is? Many places don’t have access to 24 hour pet health care, so what do you do in the event of an emergency? You can be trained in pet first aid by the Red Cross. Here are some basic first aid tips for pets.

Let’s start with a simple cut on your pet’s leg. Put direct pressure on the wound with clean gauze. Next, take a roll of gauze and wrap it tightly around the leg. Be sure it’s secure but circulation is still good. Tie the end of the gauze in a knot with the knot on top of the wound area for additional pressure.

What about poisoning? If your pet has gotten into something toxic, the best thing to do is induce vomiting. When we use the word toxic, we typically think of chemicals or medicines. But when we’re talking about animals, there’s several more things to consider as toxic. Things like garlic, chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins and even coffee grounds can be toxic. Be sure to properly store these items out of harms way.

Would you be able to give CPR to a choking pet? The process is similar to that for humans but with a few differences. For medium to large dogs you lay the dog on its right side. Look for signs of breathing by the chest moving. Check for a pulse on the femoral artery of the rear legs. If there’s no breathing, blow into the nostrils and then give three compressions pushing in two to three inches, then another breath. Repeat if necessary. For cats and small dogs you blow one breath into the nostrils and compress both sides of the chest in about one-half inch five times. Then repeat, if necessary.

Being aware of these first aid tips could be the difference in your pet’s life. For further information on first aid for your pet, contact your local Red Cross.

About the Author

An animal advocate, Debbie Foster owns http://petbedsunlimited.com where you’ll find a wide selection of quality pet beds, dog crates, dog carriers, dog pens, cat beds, cat carriers, large dog beds, pet strollers and more.