Help an Injured Animal Without Hurting Yourself

Have you ever gotten home from work, only to find that your dog or cat has hurt themselves while you were away? After reading this article you will no longer "wish" that you knew how to deal with your animal while he or she is in pain.

The first step to dealing with an animal who is in pain, is to be sure that you are as safe as possible first. Your precious puppy or kitten, no matter their previous temperament will be defensive in protecting their painful area and may lash out with their claws or teeth. You absolutely need to muzzle them in some fashion before handling them at all. It is the author's opinion that you should purchase a muzzle that fits each of your animals and keep it in an accessible place at all times. If you're out on a walk with your dog, however, chances are you won't be muzzling him and won't carry the muzzle with you. In this case, it is reasonable to think that you can use your dog's leash as a muzzle. If it is tied loosely around the dog's mouth, it should prevent any untoward biting, or at least slow the reaction down long enough for you to move out of the way.

The second step in dealing with an animal who is in pain is to clean and stabilize the wound. If they've been bitten by another dog, and the other dog is no longer a threat (has been removed from the situation), then clean the wound immediately after muzzling the animal. This can prove tricky with cats (as their claws have a tendency to move a mile a minute when they're hurt), but if you have another set of hands available, you can hold your kitten's paws together while your partner cleans the wound with water, then with alcohol. If the wound is terrible, skip this step. Just muzzle the animal so that you can move it, then get to an animal hospital immediately. But if the hospital can wait (for example, if your dog has skinned its leg while out playing), then perform this step with the utmost care. Make sure that your animal is as comfortable as possible while cleaning, then move to the next step.

The third step in helping a hurting animal (provided the wound does not require immediate veterinary care) is to cover the wound. Dogs have a habit of wanting to lick and chew on their wounds. This is not a good thing! Dogs will start licking a wound, and won't stop, making the wound worse the more time it is left uncovered. Keep a roll of "vet wrap" (available in almost any pet store) in your medicine cabinet (and one in your car if possible) as well as non-stick bandage pads (3M 2" by 2" squares, available at your local grocery store are great for this) Put some Neosporin or equivalent antibiotic cream on the clean wound, cover it with a bandage pad, then wrap the wounded area with vet-wrap. This will keep your dog or cat from licking the wound (though it won't keep them from chewing the vet wrap, so pay attention) for the time being.

The fourth, and most important step is, of course, to take your animal to your veterinarian as soon as possible. Your veterinarian knows medicine, pain and your animal better than you could ever hope to. If you're waiting for Friday (pay day) to roll around before you take fluffy in, even though she was attacked by a dog on Monday, stop. Don't do it. Most veterinarians have insurance policies for your animals available in office, and nearly all veterinarians have a service available for those who cannot pay immediately. Do not use these steps to "cure" your animal from any disease or ailment of any kind. Simply use them to keep the wound clean until the time when your veterinarian can see your pet.

With this knowledge on your side, you will be more prepared to help your furry, four legged member of the family the next time an emergency (or near emergency) comes knocking on your door.

Be safe, and happy trails!