Dealing with common animal emergency conditions.
At our Vancouver Emergency Clinic - Killarney Animal Hospital there is an emergency vet on duty 7 days a week.
The following emergency conditions require immediate first aid:- Poisoning
- Stopped heart
- Large, open wounds with much loss of blood
- Deep bites
- Broken limbs
- Unconsciousness
- Shock
Here, in a nutshell, is what to do for each of the above:
Animal wounds and excessive bleedingWhen wounded, even the most docile animal will bite, especially if you touch its wound or attempt to apply bandaging. Muzzling an animal is always appropriate when applying any type of first aid. If a muzzle is not available, gauze rolls or even panty hose will create a makeshift muzzle and keep the jaws tightly closed.
For smaller wounds, cut away all hairs around the wound if a pair of scissors is handy. Then flush with water and/or hydrogen peroxide.
Next, place a sterile gauze pad on the wound. Apply pressure until the bleeding stops or slows measurably. If the pad gets soaked through, place another on top. Do not remove the bottom pad, removing the pad may disturb the clotting process.
Wrap a roll of gauze around the pad over the wound several times, making sure not to pull the wrappings too tight. Secure the end of the wrapped gauze with tape, being careful not to let the tape stick to the animal’s fur.
In case of animal emergency condition seek medical attention immediately from Killarney Emergency Vet Clinic.
Read more about animal emergency on our Vancouver Emergency Pet Clinic blog.
