It is hard to plan for the unexpected, but it is wise to think ahead about what you would do in an emergency situation involving your pet. Emergencies, unfortunately, happen in life and it is good to know who you can turn to in those times. Anasazi Animal Clinic, located in Gilbert Arizona, is a place you can trust for regular health and sick visits, as well as emergency veterinary services.
Signs to Be Aware Of
Making good decisions when the unexpected happens can be very difficult. Having a plan for an emergency can help you to not lose your head and act irrationally in the midst of a frightening and stressful moment. The best preparation is being aware of what signs to pay attention to and know what to do when you see them. Signs that indicate your pet may need emergency care are:
- Change in Body Temperature
- Excessive Bleeding
- Loss of Consciousness
- Rapid Breathing
- Seizures
- Weak or Rapid Pulse
Recognizing these signs quickly will help you get immediate treatment that could save your pet’s life.
At Home Treatment
When you recognize the signs of an emergency situation, there are a few things you can do at home before you are able to get to our emergency clinic. Ways to help stabilize your pet are:
- Apply Pressure: If there is external bleeding happening due to a trauma, apply pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding and elevate if possible.
- CPR: If your pet is not breathing, CPR may be possible. Put your pet on its side, extend the head and neck, and blow once every three seconds into your pet’s nostrils. Three quick firm chest compressions can be done between respirations if there is no heart beat. It is ideal to get specific training by your veterinarian for your pet.
- Remove Blockage: If your pet is choking, sweep your fingers in their mouth to attempt to remove whatever is blocking their throat but be careful as they can bite down on your hand.
- Heimlich: If you are unable to remove the blockage in their throat, you can modify the Heimlich Maneuver modified for your pet. Applying a sharp rap to the chest of your pet should dislodge the object blocking the throat.
Be prepared for a pet emergency. It is better to know how to address the unexpected and never use that knowledge than to have the unexpected happen without knowing what to do. Anasazi Animal Clinic is passionate about pet care in the best of times, and when emergency situations occur. Contact us today to schedule an appointment or learn more about emergency pet response.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (10/3/2017) KNOW MALTA by Peter Grima (Flickr)