First Aid For Animals


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This material produced by the Palo Alto Humane Society in conjunction with the American Red Cross Northern California Disaster Preparedness Network


FIRST AID FOR ANIMALS

BASIC SUPPLIES

VITAL STATISTICS

Pulse and Heart Rate

Normal resting rates: Pulse should be strong, regular and easy to locate.
Checking the pulse:
The easiest place to locate a pulse is the femoral artery in the groin area. Place your fingers on the inside of the hind leg and slide your hand upward until the back of your fingers touches the abdomen. Gently move your fingers back and forth on the inside of the hind leg until you feel the pulsing blood. Count the number of pulses in 15 seconds and multiply that number by 4. This will give you the beats per minute (bpm).

Temperature

Normal temp. for dogs and cats: 100-102.5 degrees
Thermometer should be almost clean when removed.
Abnormalities are indicated by blood, diarrhea, or black, tarry stool.

BASIC FIRST AID PROCEDURES

DOGS AND CATS
All of the following situations require immediate veterinary care.

  1. FRACTURES
  2. BLEEDING (external)
  3. BLEEDING (internal)
  4. BURNS
  5. SHOCK

BIRDS
All of the following situations require immediate veterinary care

  1. FRACTURES
  2. BLEEDING
  3. PUNCTURE WOUNDS

HANDLING AN INJURED ANIMAL

Any animal injured or in pain can bite or scratch you. Even the friendliest of pets must be handled with care for the safety, of all involved. If you are accidentally bitten or scratched, seek medical attention. Both dog and cat bites can become infected quickly!

RESTRAINT METHODS

If your animal is injured, you must restrain him/her for your safety as well as your pet's. Muzzle your pet to restrain it unless it is unconscious, has difficulty breathing or has a mouth injury.

DOGS

-Muzzles
  1. Speak and move calmly and quietly.
  2. Have someone restrain the dog with a leash.
  3. Approach dog from the side and behind its head; do not attempt to put muzzle on from the front.
  4. Quickly slip a nylon or wire cage muzzle over nose, secure snugly behind ears.
  5. If a muzzle is not available, you can make one from a strip of gauze, rag, necktie, belt or rope about 3 feet long.

CATS

- Muzzles
  1. Speak and move calmly and quietly.
  2. Have someone restrain the cat by holding the scruff of its neck firmly. This does not hurt the cat; it just prevents him/her from moving.
  3. Working from behind the cat, quickly slip a nylon muzzle over the cat's face. The muzzle will cover most of his/her face, including the eyes. Secure snugly behind head.
  4. If you are alone, scruff the cat with one hand and put the muzzle over the cat's face with the other. Slide both hands along muzzle straps and secure behind the head.
  5. If a muzzle is not available, one can be made with a rag or a strip of gauze. Make sure that it is carefully placed around the cat's mouth and securely fastened, as cats can escape from these temporary muzzles.
- Body Restraint
  1. Most cats can be restrained by holding the scruff of the neck.
  2. The "Cat Sack" can be used for fractious or very frightened cats. Slip sack over cat from tall to head, zip up appropriate zippers.
  3. Wrap cat in a towel, making, sure his/her front legs are covered and against the body.
  4. Gloves are not recommended for handling cats. They reduce the handler's dexterity and can easily be penetrated by a cat's teeth.

BIRDS

-Restraint
  1. Carefully wrap bird in towel, gently folding his/her wings against the body. Keep your hands out of the way of the beak.
  2. Gloves are not recommended for bigger birds. They reduce the handler's dexterity and strong beaks can easily penetrate them.

SMALL MAMMALS AND REPTILES

- Restraint
  1. Wrap the animal in a towel or rag, gently folding his/her legs against the body.

Palo Alto Humane Society
415 Cambridge Ave. Call 327-0631.
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
This organization is devoted to the protection and welfare of animals in the Midpeninsula area. Provides a large resource list, humane education for school children and adults, and community programs, such as Saturday dog walks and animal visitation to nursing homes and hospitals. Call for more information on adoption days for kittens and cats. The Humane Society is not a shelter and does not have animal control officers.