Did you know that April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month? If there’s one thing we know about our animal companions, it’s that they certainly have a knack for getting into trouble. We certainly hope that none of you ever have to deal with an accident or injury. However, if your pet is ever hurt, you may need to perform some first aid before you can safely transport them to the vet or emergency clinic. A London, ON vet offers some tips on preparation below.
First-Aid Kit
If you don’t have a pet first-aid kit, we recommend getting one ASAP. You can start with a regular kit, and then customize it by adding some pet-specific items. Some of the things you may want to include are tweezers, blunt-end scissors, splints, thermal blankets, styptic powder, nonstick gauze, rubbing alcohol, cotton swabs, and activated charcoal. If you have a dog, add a muzzle as well. Even the sweetest pup may bite if they are hurt! Keep these things near your pet’s carrier, so you have everything in one place. (Tip: if you add food, treats, and dishes, this can also double as an emergency kit.)
Instructions
Having a kit ready won’t be very helpful if you aren’t sure what to do. In an emergency, you don’t want to waste precious time looking up instructions. Buy or download a good pet first-aid brochure, and keep it in the kit. You may also want to download a pet first-aid app. The Red Cross one is available on the App Store here or on Google Play here. You can also get it by texting “GETPET” to 90999. Smart home devices may be helpful as well. However, you’ll need to call your vet, so they can prepare for you. It may be confusing talking to Alexa and the animal clinic at the same time. Last but not least, consider taking a course. It never hurts to learn something new!
Preparing
Store your vet’s contact information to your phone. Ours is 548-484-5115. We also recommend saving the number for the Pet Poison Helpline, which is 800-213-6680, as well as the nearest 24/7 emergency clinic. Keep printed copies in the first-aid kit as well. These may come in handy if someone else needs to call while you’re performing first-aid.
Please reach out to us, your London, ON vet clinic, anytime. We’re here to help!
