Emergencies

Evergreen Empire Manchester Terrier Fanciers

Emergencies

How to Avoid Summertime Emergencies! By Andrew J. Rosenfeld, DVM

Mother Nature invites us to play during the long days and warm nights of summer! Our pets, however, may experience the dark side of summer unless we are prepared. Heat, insecticides, fertilizers, bees, ticks, venomous snakes, spiders and even frogs can be life threatening to our companion animals.

If you find yourself faced with a pet emergency, remain calm, make your pet as comfortable as possible and seek veterinary help immediately.

It may help to see things from your pet's point of view:

HEAT: Compared to humans, fur-bearing pets experience air temperature 15 degrees warmer! Walk around on a warm afternoon wearing your winter coat and see if you still enjoy the weather. Do not put your pet anywhere you would not want to be. Inside a hot car, even with the window cracked, it may only take two to three minutes for a pet to overheat and suffer life-threatening heatstroke.

PERSPIRATION: Dogs and cats can only release heat through panting. Panting is much less effective than our ability to sweat, so animals can overheat much quicker. Provide a constant supply of fresh water, shade and good air circulation. When playing or hiking, give your buddy a chance to cool down with frequent water breaks. Too much water can promote vomiting and bloat, so frequent breaks and moderate amounts of water is key.

ACTIVITY: Most pets spend the winter inside and inactive. Sunshine ignites the desire to get outdoors and play! But, go easy, your friend may be seriously out of shape. Start slow. Exercise is great physically and emotionally for you and your pet, but it must be done in stride. Condition your pet for exercise and hiking by starting slowly.

CREEPY CRAWLERS: Venomous insects, spiders and snakes enjoy the summer weather, too. Your dog will see these interesting creatures as toys for chasing or chewing, or may accidentally encounter one with hazardous results. Know the indigenous animals in your area or the region you are visiting. Poisonous insects and potentially dangerous animals are not hazardous if we are prepared to avoid them or know how to handle a contact if one occurs. Call your veterinarian and ask for advice.

TOXINS: Toxic chemicals and poisons are still being used in gardens to protect flowers and vegetables from insects. Pets may find them tasty! Use non-toxic alternatives to prevent life-threatening emergencies. Know your toxin. If your pet gets into snail bait, insecticide or fertilizer, get the name of the product, its active ingredients, and determine how much your pet ingested or was exposed to. If your pet is already sick, proceed to your veterinarian or nearest emergency veterinary hospital immediately. If the exposure has just occurred and your pet is not showing symptoms, you can call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 1-888-426-4435. This non-profit telephone service has the most accurate database available for animal poisonings. The cost of this service is $45.00, and is limited to animal emergencies.

Ideas for a First Aid kit:

Prepare for Emergencies -
A good first aid kit contains all the essentials:

1. Emergency numbers (veterinarian, back-up veterinarian, nearest
24 hour animal hospital, animal poison control hotline, police and fire
departments).

2. Rectal thermometer (soft, flexible, digital that will beep when you take
a temperature).

3. Water-based lubrication jelly (helps lubricate the thermometer, can be
put on wounds and serves as a good cover for your dog's eyeball if the
eyelid can't close. Don't use oil-based Vaseline).

4. Sterile gloves (protect against infection).

5. Cold compress (to place on an injury or help keep a dog cool if
overheated).

6. Gauze pads (sterile 4 inch to cover and protect wounds).

7. Stretch gauze or ace bandage (to apply pressure to a wound being careful
not to wrap too tightly).

8. Scissors (blunt-tipped to cut tape, gauze pads and cut dog hair away
from a wound).

9. Styptic pencil (to stop bleeding if a toenail has been cut too short).

10. Muzzle (in case dog becomes aggressive or agitated when in pain).

11. Alcohol swabs (to clean skin and tools).

12. Antibiotic ointment (for cuts, scraps, and wounds).

13. Hydrocortisone cream (insect bites).

14. Cotton balls and swabs (clean wounds).

15. Hydrogen peroxide (in case dog has swallowed something poisonous and
needs to vomit. A veterinarian can tell you exact dosage and dilution
according to the dog's weight).

16. Sterile eyewash (to flush out the eyes in case of skunk spray or contact
with debris).

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