First Aid for Dogs and Cats

Your pet arrives home with his paw broken, he doesn't sleep enough or he refuses to eat. What is the first thing you should do in order not to worsen his state of health?

Cats

1. Your cat has diarrhea

In the next 12 hours give her just liquids; he mustn't eat anything. If it's about a temporary problem, after the first meal, the cat will feel better. If diarrhea persists, take her to the vet, along with a sample of his physiological needs, which will be subject to laboratory tests to discover if your pet has any intestinal parasite or if he ate something toxic or expired.

2. The cat was bitten

You must control immediately how serious the injury is. If the bite left a superficial mark (up to 2 cm), then you can try to cure it by yourself. Cut the fur around the wounds, disinfecting it with physiological solution and apply an antibiotic ointment. Apply daily disinfectant on the wound, to healing. If the wound is larger, try to stop the bleeding with bags of ice and cotton dressings imbued in disinfectant; then, take the cat to the vet.

3. Your cat has fleas

If your kitten is full of parasites, he will begin to scratch himself angry, as often as possible and the usage of vials and anti-flea treatments are not of great use without the veterinarian's advice. On the contrary, these medicines may even lead to the cat's poisoning. Therefore, ask the vet about which is the vital cycle of parasites and what should you do. Also, ask the doctor how and in what doses should be used the anti-flea solution recommended for your cat.

4. You cat's eyes are too wet all the time

Don't administrate her drops, but go quickly with the cat to the vet. On the basis of her health problems can be many causes, from an allergy to an inflammation caused by a wound. But it may also depend on a blood circulation problem, on the eye tension or on the obstruction of eye.

Dogs

1. The dog has an insect in the eye

Remove the insect as fast as possible. Otherwise, your dog will be tempted to do so by himself, thus risking hurting his eye. You need a syringe without a needle, of 5 or 10 ml, filled with physiological solution. Open well the dog's eye, then spread the serum on the eye and repeat the operation until the insect gets out. If the dog plans to scratch his eye, put him a special neck collar- it is a plastic cone that should be placed around the neck, which stops the dog to touch his face with the paws.

2. The dog swallowed something

Don't give him food or water, but take him immediately to the vet. Avoid retrieving the swallowed object by yourself. Removing a thorn or a piece of bone "stuck" in the dog's mouth or neck is a delicate operation which, if it's not done correctly, can lead to an injury or to bleedings difficult to stop. The doctor, however, will give him a sedative. And when the dog will be quiet, the operation will be easier to make.

3. The dog ate something toxic

Write the product name and the time when the dog swallowed it. Then, take him immediately to the vet. Avoid any domestic method by which you can make him to eliminate the substance. Whatever would be the substance swallowed, your action will worsen the situation. In case of intoxication, the only one who can intervene is the vet, with a gastric washing and proper treatment.

4. He cut himself

Block the blood flow by pressing on the wounded area with sterile dressings. If the bleeding is intense, apply on the affected area a bag of ice. When the bleeding has stopped, wash carefully the wound with psychological solution, then cover it and call the vet.

Sources: www.petalert.com.au/faid/fa1.php, www.avma.org/firstaid, www.thepetcenter.com/gen/faid.html