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