It's crucial that, as a pet owner, you know
exactly what to do and how to do it when it comes to providing care if your pet
is sick or gets injured.
Following
is a checklist of the basic first aid supplies you need to have at home:
Bandages
and towels -
Aside from controlling bleeding, bandages can also protect wounds from the
onset of infection. When choosing bandages, go for the non-stick
types as wounds can be more painful when those used for wrapping wounds stick
to a cut, an abrasion, or other forms of superficial injuries.
Gauze - This has to be one of the most
basic things you can have in your medicine cabinet. It is commonly used
for dressing wounds. Gauze can be used not only to wrap wounds, but also
for muzzling your injured pet.
Hydrogen
peroxide -
This compound is used for various applications, and one of them is helping to
induce vomiting from your pet in case it is poisoned. However, you
should still err on the side of safety by consulting your vet before attempting
to induce vomiting.
Muzzle - You can actually make use of
several items as a muzzle, from ropes to neckties to soft cloths, especially
during emergency situations where a muzzle is not available. Muzzling an
animal is important during situations where it needs to be restrained to
prevent it from biting or barking. It is important to keep in mind,
however, that you must not muzzle the animal if it's vomiting.
Thermometer - If we need a
thermometer to determine the temperature of our child when he or she has fever,
we also need it to check our pet's temperature. However, unlike
with people, don't insert the thermometer in your pet's mouth. Get
its temperature rectally instead. You should also get a 'fever'
thermometer, as the regular kinds don't go high enough for pets.
These
are just some of the supplies you need to have at home that will come in handy
during pet emergencies. It is very important that you immediately
get the help of a professional in case you have no knowledge of how to
administer proper first aid.
