April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month, and as summer approaches and we start searching for times to spend outdoors, it is important to be prepared in case anything should happen on your outdoor adventures.
One of the most important ways you can prevent accidents and emergencies is by being aware. Keep your eye out for any potential dangers, such as brambly undergrowth, fast-flowing rivers or plants that could be poisonous. In addition to this, make sure your pet is constantly supervised, if not leashed.
If an emergency does occur, make sure your pet is safe and breathing, stop any profuse bleeding and then call for help. It is always a good idea to keep some sort of pet first aid kit in your car. These can be bought online or at pet supply stores, but you can also configure your own. Here is a list of some of the supplies that should be kept on-hand:
- Paperwork – medical records, emergency phone numbers, a picture of your pet
- Bandaging – gauze, non-stick bandages, adhesive tape
- Reactive medicine – Antibiotic ointment, eye wash, milk of magnesia/activated charcoal to absorb poison, hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting (only use the last two if advised)
- Rectal “fever” thermometer – regular thermometers may not reach high enough temperatures to gauge fever in pets
- General supplies – tweezers, leash, scissors, hot and cold packs, syringe
If you would like to know more about emergency preparedness and pet first aid, go ahead and give us a call at 205-486-4500. You can also download this free app created by the American Red Cross to help you prepare for those emergency situations