| Do you have a 24 hour emergency veterinary | | | | onions, grapes, raisins and even coffee |
| clinic in your vicinity? Do you know where | | | | grounds can be toxic. Be sure to properly |
| its located? Many communities don't have | | | | store these items out of harms way. |
| access to 24 hour pet health care, so what do | | | | |
| you do if your dog cuts his paw? You can be | | | | Do you know how to give CPR to your dog or |
| trained in pet first aid by the Red Cross. | | | | cat? There are a few differences based on |
| Knowing some pet first aid helps. | | | | the size of the dog as well as for cats. For |
| | | | medium to large dogs you lay the dog on its |
| Let's start with a simple cut on your pet's | | | | right side. Look for signs of breathing by |
| leg. Put direct pressure on the wound with | | | | the chest moving. Check for a pulse on the |
| clean gauze. Then, wrap a roll of gauze | | | | femoral artery of the rear legs. If there's |
| firmly around the leg. Be sure it's secure | | | | no breathing, blow into the nostrils and then |
| but circulation is still good. Tie the end of | | | | give three compressions pushing in two to |
| the gauze in a knot with the knot on top of | | | | three inches, then another breath. Repeat if |
| the wound area for additional pressure. | | | | necessary. For cats and small dogs you blow |
| | | | one breath into the nostrils and compress |
| What about poisoning? If your pet has gotten | | | | both sides of the chest in about one-half |
| into something toxic, the best thing to do is | | | | inch five times. Then repeat, if necessary. |
| make them vomit. When we use the word toxic, | | | | |
| we typically think of chemicals or medicines. | | | | Just these few basic first aid procedures are |
| But when we're talking about animals, | | | | important for all pet owners to know. For |
| there's several more things to consider as | | | | further information on first aid for your |
| toxic. Things like garlic, chocolate, | | | | pet, contact your local Red Cross. |