Animal Corner - Animal emergencies - 24 June
General
- Always get your pet checked by a veterinarian when
any situations requiring first aid arise such as accidents,
poisonings etc especially if the animal is in pain, depressed ,
bleeding, vomiting uncontrollably, severely lame, breathing with
difficulty, or is unable to urinate.
- Sometimes there can be problems such as shock or internal
bleeding that may not be obvious to the owner but a vet can detect
on examination.
Bleeding
- Remember a little bit of blood can go a long way!
BUT if the bleeding is spurting and profuse, then an artery has
probably been severed or punctured and the animal can bleed out
very quickly. Apply direct firm pressure to the wound and get to a
vet ASAP.
- Blood that is seeping may be from a skin capillary which
bleeds slowly or it may be a deeper vein or arteriole. Apply direct
pressure and if the bleeding stops then keep the animal quiet and
don't let them lick the area. Still get them checked by a vet to
make sure its ok.
- Surgical wounds that bleed may just be from the skin, but if
the surgery has been a major one e.g. into the abdomen and there is
blood seeping from the wound, then always contact your vet as a
ligature may have slipped and an artery or vein that was tied off
may be leaking internally.
Accidents (such as road traffic accidents)
- Ensure there is a patent airway and the heart is
beating (feel just behind the elbow on the chest, watch for
breathing by the rise and fall of the chest).
- Resuscitation acupressure points (use a fingernail or point
of a biro).
- Middle of the nasal plate.
- Middle of the main foot pad (hind paws).
- For any bruising or knocks try arnica 30c, a homeopathic
remedy. This is also very useful for shock situations. Use orally,
a few drops every 20 minutes as necessary.
- Rescue remedy (a Bach flower remedy) is very useful for the
emotional shock due to an accident. Use every 5-10 minutes for as
long as necessary. Will help to calm and relax the animal.
- Apply direct pressure to any bleeding wounds, bandage firmly
and get to a vet for stitching if necessary.
- Check the animals gum colour, normal colour is a healthy
bight pink, shock or blood loss can show greying, white or muddy
coloured gums. NB Some dogs gums are normally coloured black so the
pink colour isn't visible, try checking the conjunctiva of the eye
instead.
- Always get the animal checked by a vet to rule out
concussion or delayed shock.
Wounds
- Clean with Hypercal lotion - a 10% mix of
Hypericum and calendula, which speeds healing and
disinfects.
- Manuka oil can be used on small cuts and abrasions, is
highly antiseptic.
- Active Manuka honey can be useful on ulcers and slow healing
wounds.
Poisonings
- Always contact your vet for immediate over the phone
instructions.
- Treatment depends on the poison, most require immediate
attention.
Acute limping
- The cause may range from a broken bone to a mild
strain of the muscle or tendons.
- Keep the animal confined so it cant move the limb and get to
a vet to determine the cause of the limping.
- Generally if the animal is not putting any weight on the
limb then it may be a broken bone.
- If is dotting the foot down or mostly weight bearing on the
leg then it may be just a strain of some kind.
- Only your vet is qualified to determine what is going on!
ALWAYS get any limps checked out as surgery may be required to
prevent permanent damage to the joints or limbs, and may cause
unnecessary suffering to the animal.
Blocked bladders
- Reasonably common in male cats, the urethra (tube
from the bladder to the outside) can become blocked due to
inflammation or crystal formation.
- Is an emergency situation as the cat will die unless the
urethra is unblocked ASAP. GET TO A VET!
- Symptoms are the cat is scratching in its litter tray and
trying to pee but nothing is coming out. As time goes on and its
not treated, it will collapse and die.
Fitting
- Always get a vet check if your animal starts having a fit or
convulsions the causes are many and the animal may die unless they
are controlled and investigated.
