April is the American Red Cross’ Pet First Aid Awareness Month and it’s good to know that emergency situations can happen. If you find yourself in a scary scenario, please call our standard phone line 908-766-4211 to be patched to the doctor on call for the evening/Sunday. The veterinarian on call can meet you at the hospital to examine your pet.
During any animal emergency, your best bet is to bring your pet to your veterinarian as soon as possible. But, some situations may require you to provide support until you reach professional help. Here are a few common scenarios.
A vomiting pet
Just like humans, pets can experience occasional stomach upset. If your dog or cat isn’t showing any other signs of illness:
- Fast him for 24 hours (water only)
- Slowly introduce small portions of bland foods—like boiled chicken and rice—up to four times daily
- Monitor your pet closely
- If the vomiting continues, call our office
A seizing pet
Seizures can be terrifying to witness. If you see your pet having a seizure:
- Keep him from injuring himself or others by moving objects and other pets away
- Do not move the seizing pet unless he is too close to a harmful object that can’t be moved
- Keep hands and fingers away from your pet’s face—a seizing pet is likely to involuntarily bite and clamp down hard
- Record a description of the seizure
- How long did it last?
- What was happening when it began?
- How did your pet act after it ended?
- Once your pet has recovered, keep him warm and calm and contact us right away
A bleeding pet
Don’t let the red stuff freak you out too much. If your pet is bleeding:
- Clean the wound with a mild antibacterial soap, rinse, and dry well
- Allow a clot to form by applying pressure to the wound with a clean towel for at least 3 minutes
- If your pet’s nail is bleeding, you can use cornstarch to slow or stop the bleeding (this only works on nails, not skin wounds)
- Contact us immediately if the bleeding persists
There are many other health emergencies your pet could face. Keep our phone number in your contacts so you can get the help you need quickly.