SRMT Kawennì:ios Newsletter - Onerahtókha / April 2011

Does Fluffy Have a Boo-Boo?April is Pet First Aid Awareness MonthBy Jennifer Herne, Animal Control OfficerDo you know what to do in the event your pet needsfirst aid? Preparing for a medical emergencyinvolving your pet is always best accomplished before theevent takes place. Before an emergency strikes, be sureyou know how your veterinarian handles emergencies orwhere you should go if you have a pet emergency. Someveterinarians do not handle emergencies during regularbusiness hours and some do not handle emergenciesat all. Some veterinarians have someone on call. Youshould have the phone number handy once you findout how your veterinarian handles emergencies. Youcan also stay safely prepared for emergencies by puttingtogether a pet first aid kit. The following are guidelines,the basics you need for giving first aid care to your pet.First aid supplies. Veterinarian’s phone number,animal poison control center (888-4ANI-HELP).Put together a pet first aid kit using the following:gauze, nonstick bandages or towels. (do not use humanadhesive bandages on pets), digital thermometer(“fever” thermometer, normal thermometers do not gohigh enough for pets), eye dropper, muzzle (if your petis vomiting DO NOT muzzle it), a leash (if your petis capable of walking). If not, you can use a stretcher,board, floor mat or blanket.How to handle an injured pet. Knowing how tocomfort an injured pet can help minimize your pet’sanxiety and also protect you and your family frominjury.Basic pet first aid procedures. There are many coursesavailable online to help you learn pet first aid. Try aGoogle search for “pet first aid courses.”“Animals are suchagreeable friends - theyask no questions, theypass no criticisms5PETFIRST AID KITAlways remember that any first aidadministered to your pet should be followedby immediate veterinary care. First aid careis NOT a substitute for veterinary care, butit may save your pet’s life until it receivesveterinary treatment.First aid when traveling with your pet. A few simplesteps can better prepare you to help your pet. Remember,emergencies don’t just happen at home.Pets and disaster. Whether it’s a hurricane or housefire, you need to be prepared to take care of your animals.Knowing if your local emergency shelter will acceptpets in the event of an emergency will help you planaccordingly. Think of developing a pre-determineddisaster plan, this will help you remain calm and thinkclearly.This information was gathered to get you thinking.It is up to you, the responsible pet owner, to prepareyour own emergency plan and pet first aid kit. You canpurchase a pet first aid kit from the ASPCA websitefor about $50.00. It is also a good idea to keep all ofyour pet’s paperwork, vaccination records or record ofany surgeries and pet medication in one place so in theevent of an emergency you can grab the informationand go quickly. Plan ahead, you will be glad you did.Some information provided by AVMA andHealthyPet.com.