| Do you have a 24 hour emergency veterinary | | | | grapes, raisins and even coffee grounds can |
| clinic in your neighborhood? Do you know | | | | be toxic. Always have these items stored away |
| where its located? Many communities don't | | | | safely. |
| have access to 24 hour pet health care, so | | | | |
| what do you do if your cat starts choking? | | | | Do you know how to give CPR to your dog or |
| You can be trained in pet first aid by the | | | | cat? The process is similar to that for |
| Red Cross. Here are some basic first aid tips | | | | humans but with a few differences. For medium |
| for pets. | | | | to large dogs you lay the dog on its right |
| | | | side. Look for signs of breathing by the |
| So lets say Fido cuts his leg. Put direct | | | | chest moving. Check for a pulse on the |
| pressure on the wound with clean gauze. Then, | | | | femoral artery of the rear legs. If there's |
| wrap a roll of gauze firmly around the leg. | | | | no breathing, blow into the nostrils and then |
| Make sure its not so tight it's cutting off | | | | give three compressions pushing in two to |
| circulation. Use the end of the gauze roll to | | | | three inches, then another breath. Repeat if |
| make a knot. Have the knot over the wound so | | | | necessary. For cats and small dogs you blow |
| it can provide more pressure. | | | | one breath into the nostrils and compress |
| | | | both sides of the chest in about one-half |
| What about poisoning? If your pet has gotten | | | | inch five times. Then repeat, if necessary. |
| into something toxic, the best thing to do is | | | | |
| induce vomiting. When we use the word toxic, | | | | Knowing these basic first aid steps for your |
| we typically think of chemicals or medicines. | | | | pet might one day save their life. For |
| But when we're talking about animals, | | | | further information on first aid for your |
| there's much more to consider as toxic. | | | | pet, call your local Red Cross. |
| Things like garlic, chocolate, onions, | | | | |