Living in Colorado, there is so much to do outdoors. However, being prepared for injuries and other unexpected encounters, can potentially be life saving. This blog will be divided into two sections, evacuation preparedness and common emergencies.
Evacuation Preparedness: If you live in the mountains, forest fires are always a concern during the summer months. Keeping a list ready for a sudden evacuation is very helpful when a quick response may be needed. Things to consider are some of the following:
Emergency contact in case you are not at home (neighbor or friend that lives close by) Emergency living accommodation (friend, relative, etc) Food/ dishes/ medications for pets in a central location or listed for your emergency contact
Current medical files for pets (in case of boarding/ medical issues) in an easy to access location
Carriers/ collars/ leashes for pets in a easy to access location
List number and kind of pets in the household
First Aid and other Common Emergencies
Just like kids, your pets are naturally inquisitive and may at times get themselves into trouble. Problems can range from trauma, allergic reactions from insect or spider bites, rattlesnake bites, ingestion of toxic substances (chemical, plant, food, etc), to animal bites.
I like to keep bandage material handy with a pet approved rinse or antiseptic for wound cleaning. If the wound is deep or if the pet will not allow you to treat the wound, then seeking medical attention at an emergency veterinary clinic is warranted. Waiting to have a wound checked out can create complications if it is serious.
Allergic reactions if mild can be controlled with diphenhydramine. Antihistamines are generally well tolerated, but should be used after contacting a veterinarian. This medication should not be used with certain health conditions or be mixed with certain other medications. Topical hydrocortisone cream or a cold compress may also help for a local skin irritation. If generalized hives, severe facial swelling of respiratory difficulties are noticed, then help from a veterinarian is needed immediately.
Rattlesnake bites are always considered a medical emergency. While not every bite from a snake results in venom being released, by the time you will know you will have already lost valuable time. Even dogs vaccinated with the rattlesnake vaccine should head to the ER vet or regular vet for an examination and monitoring. Not all clinics carry the antivenom, so call ahead before just assuming and heading to a clinic. Try to the keep the pet calm and as quiet as possible until veterinary attention can be obtained.
Ingestion of medications, mushrooms, other plants if observed potentially can be remedied with inducing vomiting. 3% hydrogen peroxide is often successful in inducing vomiting, but check with a veterinarian before attempting this at home. Sharp objects, caustic or alkali substances can be dangerous to induce vomiting. It may be safer to bring the pet to your local vet so they can induce vomiting and monitor for any complications. For questions on toxicity, you can also contact ASPCA (Animal Poison Control Center) at www.aspca.org/apcc or 888-426-4435.
Animal bites can be minor to life threatening. If the pet is very painful, be very cautious as your pet may bite you just because they are so uncomfortable. I see more people that have to go to the hospital because they were bitten by their own pet. Muzzle the dog or have someone else restrain while you check out the wound. Some wounds may appear minor, but have gone into the chest. Any signs of difficulty breathing such as increased respiratory effort, bluish color to tongue warrants an immediate trip to the veterinarian. If you can hear air sounds coming from a wound on the chest, try to cover the hole with a bandage while you head to the closest emergency clinic. Blunt force from a bite can cause internal damage to organs such as intestines even though there are no external puncture wounds. This is especially true when a larger dog bites a smaller sized dog or cat. Any pet acting unusually lethargic or painful despite no visible wounds, should be checked out immediately. Scrapes or superficial wounds should be cleaned with pet friendly antiseptic and covered if possible to keep the pet from licking at the wound. The wound should be checked daily for drainage, redness or odor that could be a sign of infection. If this is noticed , then it is time to go see your veterinarian. With bite wounds from wildlife or unfamiliar pets, make sure your pet is current on rabies vaccination. If you are not sure, contact your regular veterinarian as soon as possible. Rabies is becoming a greater concern in this area. Rabies is preventable, but the vaccine will not help once an animal is showing symptoms of the disease. Do not get saliva from a wild animal bite on your skin just in case it might have rabies. People can get rabies too from exposure to fresh saliva that contains the virus. For more information on rabies go to cpw.state.co.us/learn/pages/wildlifehealthrabies.aspx or jeffco.us/public-health/animal-borne-disease/rabies.