Elizabeth Animal Hospital


First Aid for Your Pet*
Know what to do when your pet becomes hurt. Some general guidelines are:
1.	Be the First to Aid Your Pet—When your cat or dog suddenly falls ill or becomes injured, follow some simple first aid measures to stabilize your pet before getting him to Elizabeth Animal Hospital.
2.	Stay Calm—Your pet will be calm if you're calm. You will also be able to better describe the incident and your pet's symptoms if you don't panic. This will help us better assess his condition when you get to Elizabeth Animal Hospital.
3.	Focus on Your Pet—If possible, have someone else call us so you can focus on administering first aid and/or assessing the best way to move your pet without causing further pain or injury.
4.	Hot or Cold?—The normal body temperature for dogs and cats is 100–102.5 degrees. When you call us we might ask you to take your pet's temperature and report it.
5.	Handle With Care—No matter how friendly your pet can be under normal circumstances, it is extremely important to understand you must carefully restrain an injured pet. This is for your safety and for your pet's as well. Muzzle a dog unless he is unconscious, has difficulty breathing or has a mouth injury. Use an E-collar or carrier for cats; muzzles can inhibit their breathing and create additional distress.
6.	Survey, Secure, Stat!—While it is important not to self-diagnose your pet's symptoms, you must first determine the situation, then stabilize your pet, then bring him to Elizabeth Animal Hospital.


Survey	Secure	Stat!

Broken Bones—your pet is limping or favoring a limb.	Muzzle your dog or use an E-collar for your cat and manipulate his head away from you while placing him in a padded carrier.	Go to Elizabeth Animal Hospital immediately. Pelvic fractures may not be readily apparent.

Burns—Your pets skin has obvious signs of burns, or he has ingested a toxin and is drooling, pawing at his mouth or swallowing excessively.	Restrain your pet. Flush burns with cold water or apply a wash cloth cooled with ice water.	Go the Elizabeth Animal Hospital within the hour, or immediately if electrocution was the source of injury. Bring the chemical agent with you, if possible.

External Bleeding	Restrain your pet for his protection and yours. Then, firmly press thick gauze on the wound until clotting occurs. Apply a tourniquet between the wound and the heart only if bleeding is severe or a limb is hemorrhaging. Every 15 seconds, loosen the tourniquet for 20 seconds.	Go to Elizabeth Animal Hospital immediately.

Internal Bleeding—Your pet is bleeding from the nose, mouth, ears or rectum, is coughing blood, has blood in his urine, pale gums, collapses or has a weak or rapid pulse.	Keep him warm and as quiet as possible. See if he responds when you call his name.	Go to Elizabeth Animal Hospital immediately.


7.	First Aid Kit Checklist—Use a waterproof container and put together a well-stocked pet first aid kit using this checklist recommended by Veterinary Pet Insurance:
	Elizabeth Animal Hospital contact information
	Animal Emergency & Specialty Center contact information
	Alcohol prep pads	Gauze rolls	Rags or rubber tubing
	Blanket or towel	Gauze pads	Scissors
	Cold pack	Gloves	Soft muzzle
	Digital thermometer	Hydrogen peroxide	Tweezers

8.	Rabies Recommendation—It is critical that you can provide evidence of your pet's rabies vaccination at all times. You were provided a rabies certificate when your pet received his rabies vaccination at Elizabeth Animal Hospital. It has an expiration date. A pet without proof of current vaccination may be quarantined if he bites you or anyone else. A rabies tag is not considered proof of current vaccination.
	*From the Veterinary Pet Insurance Pet WellCare Education Series

never use a muzzle on a dog with porcupine quills in their face

Some injured dogs need to be muzzled when brought in to see the vet, but when your dog has porcupine quills in their face, you definitely should NOT apply a muzzle. Shelby would have been in even worse pain if her owners had tied her mouth shut.


Your veterinarian at Elizabeth Animal Hospital knows best! If you suspect your pet has ingested a poison or foreign object, DON'T WAIT, bring him in to us immediately.

Household Hazards for Pets
Every home contains items and substances that can be dangerous or even fatal if ingested by dogs and cats. Do you know where to look for these pet toxins and poisons?
Hazards in the Kitchen
Common Foods That Are Hazardous to Your Pet—PLEASE keep the following food items out of your pet’s menu:
	Chocolate	Coffee grounds	Salt
	Yeast dough	Grapes/raisins	Garlic
	Macadamia nuts	Onions	Nutmeg
	Fatty foods	Tea	Raw salmon
	Avocado	Alcohol	Sugar-free chewing gum, candy and breath fresheners containing Xylitol


Cleaning Products
	We don’t suggest you stop cleaning your house. We simply advise you to use caution with cleaners. Many household cleaners can be used safely around animals. It is important to use them safely, store them safely and dispose of them safely, always keeping them away from your pets. Safe use and storage procedures can be found by very carefully reading the label and following the directions for proper use and storage. In particular, bathroom cleaners containing bleach and Lysol® can cause very serious injury in high enough concentrations.
	Symptoms of possible cleaning product poisoning: stomach upset, drooling, vomiting or diarrhea, severe burns if swallowed, respiratory tract irritation if inhaled in high concentrations, chemical burns on the skin.


Insecticides/Rodenticides
	PLEASE follow label instructions before using any type of pesticide in your pet's environment. Some flea products are more harmful than the fleas themselves! Over-the-counter treatments often contain pyrethrin and permethrin to kill fleas on dogs. ASK US AT ELIZABETH ANIMAL HOSPITAL which products we recommend for safe use on your pets.
	Rat or mouse poison should never be placed in areas accessible to pets. This poison causes serious or even life-threatening illness when ingested.
	Insecticide poisoning is generally dose related (for example, too much flea powder). Symptoms of possible insecticide poisoning: drooling, upset stomach, dilated pupils, anxiety, hyperactivity, and, rarely, seizures or coma. The symptoms of rat and mouse poison are often delayed from the time of ingestion. Symptoms of possible rodenticide poisoning: green-tinged vomit or stool near the time of ingestion; later, bloody nose or blood in urine or coughing up blood and/or pale gums. Rodenticides cause internal bleeding. MAKE SURE THAT YOU KEEP PETS AWAY FROM ANY RODENTICIDES.


Hazards in the Bathroom
Medications
Never give your pet any medication unless directed by your Elizabeth Animal Hospital veterinarian. Medications that treat human medical conditions can make pets very sick. Your medications should be tightly closed and stored in a secure cabinet away from pets. Following is a list of medications potentially dangerous to pets:
	Aspirin	Acetaminophen	Diet pills/vitamins
	Ibuprofen	Cold medicines	Antihistamines
	Naproxen	Prescription drugs	Antidepressants
Acetaminophen is found in more than 200 formulations such as Tylenol®, Hydrocodone (Vicodin®) and Lorcet®. It only takes one pill to kill a cat and ingesting it can cause kidney and liver damage in dogs.
Ibuprofen is the most commonly reported poison in dogs. It typically has a sweet coating and this entices dogs. It is found in Advil®, Midol® and Motrin® and many generic formulations.
Soaps and Sundries
To avoid stomach upset, vomiting or diarrhea in your pet, please keep bath and hand soaps, toothpaste and sun blocks away from your pets. Also keep toilet lids closed when you have treated toilet water that could irritate their digestive tract.


Hazards in the Bedroom and Living Room
Miscellaneous
Small items that fall on the floor can be easily swallowed by a curious cat or dog. The result may be damage to your pet's digestive tract and the need for surgical removal of the object.
	Liquid potpourri products	Pennies minted after 1982	Childrens' toys
	Mothballs	Alkaline batteries	Jewelry
	Tobacco products	Buttons	Electrical cords


Hazards in the Garage and Yard
Antifreeze, Herbicides, and Chemicals
Pets are exposed to antifreeze in your garage, driveway, on the street and in parking lots. Even in small quantities, antifreeze poisoning can be fatal to both dogs and cats. Cat litter or sand absorbs the sweet-smelling fluid and will prevent pets from licking it. Most antifreeze contains ethylene-glycol. Some contain propylene glycol which is less toxic, but still dangerous.
Other substances routinely stored in the garage that are toxic include insecticides, plant/lawn fertilizers, weed killers, ice-melting products and gasoline.
Paints and Solvents
Paint thinners, mineral spirits and other solvents are dangerous if swallowed or if they come into contact with your pet's skin.
Latex house paints typically produce a minor stomach upset, but some types of artist's or other specialty paints may contain heavy metals or volatile substances that could become harmful if inhaled or ingested.


Plants Inside and Outside the House
They may be pretty, but some plants are poisonous—even deadly. AVOID:
	Amaryllis	Hibiscus	Oleander
	Azaleas	Holly	Philodendron
	Castor bean	Hyacinths	Poinsettias
	Christmas tree pine needles	Hydrangea	Rhododendron
	Chrysanthemums	Lilly of the Valley	Rhubarb leaves
	Daffodils	Mistletoe	Sago Palm
	Easter Cacti	Mother-in-Law's Tongue	Shamrock
	Foxglove	Mulch with cocoa beans	Tulips
As little as a single leaf from any lily variety can be lethal to cats. Complications from poisonous plants include heart problems, kidney failure, liver damage or other illness.
For a complete list of common toxic and non-toxic plants, visit the ASPCA and the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center.

A Spring display of tulips is beautiful, but keep your pets away. Tulips can be poisonous for your pets (although not to deer, who will travel miles to wipe out a display such as this).

Animal Emergency & Specialty Center

If your pet is injured or sick after our working hours, please take them to the Animal Emergency & Specialty Center in Parker. They have a fully equipped hospital and excellent doctors and staff. The center is located at the red dot.

emergency map to animal emergency and specialty center

The exterior of the Animal Emergency and Specialty Center in Parker.