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Friday, March 29, 2024

First aid for pets

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By Mitch Canlas-Cordova

These first aid tips are recommended actions for owners.  They are not a substitute for  real treatment. These are not the ONLY THINGS  you  can and must do.

BRINGING YOUR PET  TO YOUR TRUSTED VET is still the PRIORITY.

Here are first aid  tips for your pet:

1. FOR INJESTED POISON OR TOXIC FOOD

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>give egg whites to make your furbaby vomit or expel the unwanted substance

>or give Activated Charcoal

>bring to the vet

2. IF NO APPETITE/ WEAK/ LOOSE BOWEL MOVEMENT:

>Mix one (1) spoon sugar  to  half a glass of water. Give the mixture to your pet gradually. Press the syringe in a slow and controlled manner.  Even if it takes 30 minutes to give the said amount ,please be patient and  give the mixture in small amounts so that your pet will not throw up.  

>You can also give a dextrose powder solution in the same manner.

How to give the sugar and water solution  using a syringe:

·       >3-5ml per hour if less than 5kilos

·       >5-10ml per hour if more than 5kilos

·       >10-15ml per hour if more than 10kilos

3. FOR ORDINARY VOMITING

>Make your furbaby lick honey from the spoon or put a pea-size amount on his tongue

4. FOR CONTINUOUS VOMITING

>Bring to a trusted vet for IV Dextrose (swero). The vet will give your pet the needed medicine.

5. FOR NO APPETITE

·       Do not wait for your furbaby to miss 1-2 meals. She will get weak and will have a harder time to recover

·       You may use a syringe to feed soft food like Cerelac (not the milk variety). Do not give  too much. Only 3- 5ml per hour  is given to small breed. More than 5 ml for a medium and large dog/cat

5. FOR CONSTIPATION OR THE PET  CAN NOT POOP

>Buy PEDIATRIC SUPPOSITORY (or Glycerin Laxative)  for small breed or small dogs/cats. Gradually and carefully insert in the anus. Wait for the poop to come out with the melted suppository

>For large dogs, get a regular suppository (same procedure).

6. FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE (Fever)

Normal temperature for dogs is 38.3 to 39.2 degrees Celsius.

Normal temperature for cats is 38 to 39.2 degrees Celsius.

To check the temperature:

>Use a digital thermometer. 

>Clean the tip of the thermometer with alcohol and coat the tip of the thermometer with lubricant (baby oil or petroleum jelly)

>Insert the thermometer gently until the  metal tip is inside the anus. 

High fever is just a symptom (not an illness) so we can only lower it  to return to the normal temperature.

The underlying cause has to be identified.

Thus, you need to bring. Your pet to the vet.

(To be continued next week)

First aid:

>Dilute apple cider vinegar or regular vinegar in water. Use a face towel dipped in the vinegar solution on the abdomen, paws, armpit, and ears. Make sure to towel dry per part before proceeding to the next. 

Check the temperature to see if it is back to normal. If it is, then you can stop. (Editors’s note: For heat stroke, there are other ways to lower the temperature. Please read previous articles on preventing and addressing heat stroke.)

Never give your dog human medicine intended to lower fever, like paracetamol  ibuprofen,and acetaminophen (ex.Tempra,Bioflu,Biogesic) as  these are toxic to animals and can cause liver damage,poisoning or  even death.

Please ask your vet for the best medicine.

7.  FOR HYPOTHERMIA OR LOW TEMPERATURE

Note: kittens are most likely to suffer from hypothermia

>place a hot water bottle (wrapped in socks so as not to burn the skin) beside the dog or cat (change water to maintain the temperature)

>A heating pad is very useful

>Wrap the pet in a blanket

>Keep the pet away from open windows or cold air

>Check the temperature of your pet to see if it is back to normal. If it is, stop the first aid.

About the author: Mitch Canlas-Cordova is the founder of Furbabies TLC, a facebook group on animal welfare. She is  a  mother to  four  humans who are animal rescuers and 26 rescued animals. She has a degree in management from the College of the Holy Spirit.

Editor’s note: When you see blood in your dog or cat, please bring  your pet to the vet immediately.  When your  dog collapses or  is panting heavily, please bring to the vet immediately. These first aid tips are not the treatment for your pets. Even if your pet appears to look well after giving the first aid, please bring to the vet immediately for proper diagnosis and treatment. Some symptoms are  common to  many illnesses. Thus, you do not know what really caused the  vomiting or the high temperature. Only  a vet who has had a blood  test and other tests  done on  your pet can say what the illness is and  what the  complete treatment  should be.  These first aid tips have been provided here to  help your pet while you are looking for  a vet. These have been tried by the author, Mitch Canlas-Cordova, who strongly recommends bringing your pet to the vet immediately after giving the first aid.  We strongly recommend that you have your  vet’s  number on hand so you may call him or her immediately, or  have addresses of   24-hour clinics on hand to be able to bring your pet when you see  alarming symptoms  like severe weakness, blood in poop, urine or nose, heavy panting, among others. 

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