Pet Illness
How to Save Your Pet’s Life
Accidents happen all the time. Often, humans will scream at the top of their lungs if they’re injured, but pets cannot always project signs of distress. Owners may not recognize when their animal needs emergency pet care until several hours later, which could be the difference between life and death. In situations of this nature, it’s important to be prepared, stay calm and make sound decisions. This means being ready to give immediate treatment to your pet and with that in mind, here are some tips from the veterinarians at the Brentwood Animal Hospital of Pensacola. Let’s get a better understanding of how to save your pet’s life.
Excessive Bleeding From Puncture Wound
If your pet has a puncture wound, then immediately apply direct pressure on the area with a clean, dry cloth. If their blood soaks through the cloth, add more bandages but don’t disrupt the clot that might be forming inside the wound. If the bleeding is excessive enough that a tourniquet is required to reduce the severity of the wound, you must remove it after 20 minutes to avoid a life-threatening infection developing in the area. As soon as it is possible, take your pet to the urgent care animal unit for further treatment.
Dislodging an Object From Your Pet’s Throat
Often, when your pet is choking, they may begin breathing heavily, excessive drooling or put their paw near their mouth. The majority of them become anxious and suddenly faint from their predicament. If this occurs, open your pet’s mouth and try to dislodge the object from their throat yourself. If the obstruction is blocking your pet’s ability to breath, then you may have to perform the Heimlich maneuver to save their life. Place the pet’s face away from your body and grasp them around their waist and lightly squeeze their abdomen with an upward push. Repeat if necessary, once you have removed the obstruction, head over to the emergency pet care for further evaluation.
Sudden Loss of Consciousness
If your pet suddenly collapses and loses consciousness, check their pulse and look for a heartbeat. If there are no vital signs, then you must begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). It’s a similar technique that is performed on human beings, except your approach will be modified due to the animal’s size. Ideally, you’ll want to perform CPR while en route to an animal hospital, so the veterinarians can continue the procedure and examine your pet once they have regained consciousness.
The Threat of Your Pet Being Poisoned
Some signs that your pet may have been poisoned are they begin vomiting, diarrhea, poor coordination or sudden disorientation inside the home. The common sources for poisoning could include them ingesting your personal medication, household cleaners, car antifreeze and insecticides. Not all poisons are treated in the same manner, it’s wise to contact urgent care with your concerns as a veterinarian will offer immediate treatment options.
The Brentwood Animal Hospital in Pensacola is dedicated to providing excellent pet care both urgent and otherwise. Call today, for more information or to schedule an appointment for your furry friend.
