Know These 5 First-Aid Tips For Treating Your Pet

It’s no secret that knowing a couple of handy first-aid tips can help you save lives. In fact, most schools have now started teaching children the correct way to read symptoms and give first-aid if necessary. Your pet is also an important part of your family and knowing which first-aid treatment measures to follow during emergency can make a lot of difference. Here are 5 tips that every pet owner should know the next time they give first-aid.

1. Take precautionsInjured animals will be in a lot of pain and sometimes they tend to bite that want to help them. This is a natural phenomenon and animals want to protect themselves from further pain. If your pet is in great physical pain, then approach him after wearing protective gloves. Don’t leave your skin exposed and cover up as much as possible.
2. Call a vetWhether you know how to handle a pet or not is irrelevant during an emergency. The first thing that you should do is call up the vet. Then proceed with the first-aid techniques which you have learned.
3. Keep a kit readyDon’t keep bandages and medicines lying around at different corners of the house. Make a first-aid kit and keep all the essential things in that kit. The kit should include bandages, surgical sticky tape, cotton, non-adhesive absorbent dressing, blunt scissors and some antiseptics.
4. Understand the type of injuryEvery injury may not be physical injury and you should look for signs and symptoms which will tell you more about the disease. For ex., if your pet is restless and moaning but you don’t find any injury on the body, then the problem is internal and should be attended by a vet. Similarly, if you find your pet nauseating, then it means he has swallowed something poisonous.
5. Know what you’re dealing withDifferent first-aids are given to pets with different injuries. For ex., burns should be treated first with cold water and then a saline soaked dressing should be applied. In case of cuts and bruises, put a bandage and if the bleeding is too heavy, then put another layer of bandage over the first one. Call the vet immediately.

Every pet owner should know how to apply first-aid during an emergency because accidents can happen any time and it’s best to stay prepared. Keep a first-aid kit in hand and follow the tips.