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Three Times You May be Able to Do First Aid at Home

Does My Pet Really Need to See the Vet?


            All pets sometimes experience minor injuries or illnesses.  While Patton Veterinary Hospital is always happy to see your pets for any reason, there are some instances where you may be able to take care of a minor problem at home.  Here are a few scenarios that might not require an immediate visit to our office. 

            Toenail cut too short:  This is a fairly common issue, and, while there can be a lot of blood, your dog may not need to visit the vet if you are able to do the following--Apply pressure with a cloth or paper towel for 2-3 minutes then apply a styptic or clotting powder (available online or at many pet stores) or cornstarch to the end of the toenail to help it clot.  Please use caution—many dogs do not like having their feet handled or nails trimmed and may bite especially if painful—attempt this only if you are certain you can do it safely.  If your dog will not allow you to cut or handle the broken nail, or, if bleeding does not stop after five minutes, a visit to the vet is warranted.

            Limping:  If he or she is putting weight on the leg, still eating and drinking normally and has a normal attitude (i.e. is happy to see you, still trying to do normal activities despite limping) you can try limiting activity and applying a hot or cold pack to the sore area for 24-48 hours if your dog or cat will tolerate it.  If you pet is not putting any weight on the injured leg, the leg appears swollen or in an abnormal position or your dog or cat is hiding, whining, not eating or not acting himself see your vet.  DO NOT give any prescription or over-the-counter medications to your pet without consulting a vet first.  Many drugs are not safe for pets.  A minor situation could be made worse by administering medications that are not meant for dogs and cats.

            Tick Bite:  Ticks can be removed at home using tweezers and grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible and pulling back firmly or by covering your fingers with a tissue, gauze pad or paper towel and grasping the tick close to the skin to pull it out.  Do not use your bare fingers, attempt to burn the tick or apply any kind of solvent or chemical to it.  This could injure you or your pet and will not make the tick release.  If the head is left behind, don’t panic!  It will be expelled by the body like a splinter and will not cause harm to your pet.  Monitor the tick bite for signs of infection (swollen, red, painful or any odor/discharge around the bite).  If any of these signs are present or if your pet is lethargic, has a fever or is limping within days to weeks of a tick bite, have your pet checked by your vet to rule out diseases like Lyme or to treat skin infection if present.     

Times you should ABSOLUTELY ALWAYS have your pet seen are:

  •  Any time your pet has been hit by a car even if he or she seems unhurt-internal injuries may not be apparent at first and could be life-threatening.
  • Any time your cat or dog appears to be straining to urinate (especially males) or has not urinated for 12-24 hours.  This could indicate a urinary blockage which is a life-threatening condition.
  • Any large amount of blood loss, collapse or seizure.
  • Any time your pet has ingested a medication, a foreign object or a toxin.
  • Any kind of problem with your pet’s eyes
  • Bite wounds--these can get infected quickly and almost always require antibiotics
  • Any time vomiting or diarrhea persist for more than 48 hours, inability to hold down any food or water, lethargy or visible blood in the stool or vomit, or vomiting more than four times in a 24 hour period

Again, any time there is any question that your pet is not acting right, do not hesitate to call or take your pet to the veterinarian, but, for some minor injuries as described above, you may be able to try some first aid at home. 

This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.

Source:  http://www.health.com/pets/pet-first-aid

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