Caring for injured pets

One of the most distressing events a pet owner can encounter is witnessing his pet being injured in a road traffic accident. If your pet does becomes injured, here are some tips from HomeoPet to increase your pet’s chance of a speedy recovery, and remember even the most friendly pet may bite when in pain.

1. Call a veterinarian. Add your veterinarian’s telephone number to your cell phone speed dial in case of an emergency, or if you are traveling, the number of a local veterinarian. Do not administer fluids or food to the animal in case an anesthetic is needed, unless instructed by the veterinarian as in the case of a diabetic with low blood sugar.

2. Stop any bleeding. To stop heavy bleeding, apply firm pressure with a clean towel or cloth. This is usually better than a tourniquet, which can lead to tissue death from lack of oxygen.

3. Clean wounds can be washed with tepid water. Infected wounds can be safely cleaned with tepid salt water. Use as much salt as will dissolve in water.

4. If an injured animal feels icy cold due to shock, wrap a plastic bottle filled with warmed water in a towel to avoid burning or overheating the animal. Never put a hot water bottle directly against the animal. The animal can also be wrapped in insulating material such as a rug, a thermal blanket or even bubble wrap. If an animal is in shock, a quiet, dimly lit space can be helpful.