Animals are inquisitive by nature and can often land themselves in a lot of trouble, so it is very important to know how to deal with a pet emergency. Even if you do not know what the problem is, deal with the immediate aftermath and then take him as quickly as possible down to the vet for further treatment. It also makes sense to have a pet insurance policy that covers these potential accidents if you can afford it.
Common Emergencies
According to research, there are some pet emergencies that occur more often than others. One of them would be the swallowing of foreign objects. Our pets can sometimes put themselves in danger by swallowing all sorts of scary materials, such as bones, plastic, pieces, strings, etc. If you suspect that something is stuck in your pet's digestive system, and he is vomiting persistently, take him to the vet immediately.
Vehicles are the Number One killer of pets. If your dog ha been hit by a car, take him to a vet as soon as possible. While there may be no signs of trauma like cuts or scrapes at all, there can still be very serious internal injuries such as internal bleeding, broken bones and organ trauma.
There are also some emergencies that happen all of a sudden without any warning and catch you unawares. Unlike seeing your pet actually get hurt, all you see are symptoms that your pet may exhibit while something is wreaking havoc inside its body. For example, asthma can happen to animal just like it does to humans. The cause is unknown, and it can be life-threatening to your pet, so it requires immediate medical attention. Fortunately, the symptoms are ways to recognize. If your pet is breathing with its mouth open, listless, much less active than usual, and seem to be contracting its stomach muscles to assist in its breathing, your pet is most like having an asthma attack.
For dogs, Gastric Torsion (also called Blear) is another common emergency. This is seen almost exclusively in large breed dogs, but can occur in smaller breeds as well. Gastric torsion happens when the stomach twists upon itself, causing the esophagus and the small intestines to close. As the stomach gets filled with air, the dog will go into shock. Death can occur within several hours, so it you notice that your dog is drooling excessively, vomiting small amounts of mucus, or has a painful bloated abdomen, take it to the vet immediately.
Even though all emergencies require veterinary attention, every owner should learn how to stabilize their pet and relieve some pain before transporting it to the animal hospital. Often, pet owners do more harm than good. You should also have a well-stocked Pet First Aid Kit at home that is easily accessible. There will be times when you are not able to bring your pet to the vet immediately, or when first aid has to be administered immediately to save your pets' life.
Your Pet's First Aid Kit should contain:
1. Clean bandages and surgical tape
2. Sterile gauze
3. Iodine
4. Rectal thermometer and lubricant
5. Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
6. Charcoal pills
7. Scissors and tweezers
8. Disposable gloves
9. An Elizabethan collar
10. A list of emergency numbers for your vet and animal hospital
Being a
puppy lover, I had been training puppies from young. I had learnt/ watched cute puppies come into this world and experienced holding their delicate body. Two of my pets had become celebrities. See them on Japan TV and Famous Rocky at the Zoo. To watch some well groomed puppies, go to
dog grooming .
