Read all the information you need to know to be ready in case your pet will be injured.
For sure, these items listed are just scratching the surface of common injuries for dogs and cats. What is important, though, is to make sure that you are ready to react when an injury happens.
First aid kits, be they for pets or humans, are only as good as the user’s knowledge of how to use the items in them. (Editor’s Note: If you missed our basic first aid kit feature, don’t worry, we’ll be running an in-depth feature on it in our November issue!) That being said, the following are other things you should do, once you have a first aid kit for your furry friends:
1. BUY A FIRST AID BOOK FOR PETS
If you’re not sure what book applies to your pet, consult with your veterinarian. And, just as important, you should read the book to the point where you are at least familiar about the chapters.
2. ALWAYS HAVE A LIST OF EMERGENCY NUMBERS WITH YOU
The first phone number you should have on hand is your veterinarian’s. The second should be services such as PAWS’ Clinics (Tel. 475-1688, Mondays to Saturdays, 10 am – 5 pm). Finally, you should also have contact info for relatives and friends who have experience dealing with the same kind of fur baby as you do. You never know when you need a few more hands to help with first aid. Always keep this list with you, in your wallet, bag, or backpack. Don’t keep it as an electronic list in your phone.
3. IF YOU CAN, GO OVER FIRST AID PROCEDURES WITH YOUR VET
This is important if you know that your pet is accident-prone, of if he or she has health or medical issues that require some specific procedures. For example, if your dog is diabetic, then you may need to be observant for signs of lowered blood sugar levels, and keep some glucose paste available.
As you can see, our love for our pets should also extend to our concern for their well-being. Just as we should have first aid kits when we go out for extended trips, and have kits around the house just in case we have something more than a scratch, so, too, should we have pet first aid kits for our furry loved ones.
Who knows, maybe these first aid kits can even save their lives someday, and we all should be thankful for that.
This story appeared in Animal Scene’s October 2017 issue.
