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September 20, 2011

Pet First Aid—Is It a Priority?

ASPCA First Aid Kit

Let’s face it: Accidents happen—especially when it comes to our active and curious pets. Slips, trips, bumps and spills, whatever the harm, it’s really important to have a first aid protocol in place.

Find an emergency vet. If your vet clinic doesn’t provide 24-hour service, talk to them about emergency care options in your area. It’s a smart idea to keep the name, number and address of an emergency hospital tacked to the refrigerator or stored in your cell phone for easy access.

Learn life-saving actions:

  • If your pet is bleeding, immediately elevate and apply pressure to the wound.
  • If your pet is choking, place your fingers in his mouth to see if you can remove the blockage. If you’re unable to remove the foreign object, perform a modified Heimlich maneuver by giving a sharp rap to his chest. This should dislodge the object.

Be prepared. While a minor cut, scratch or scrape may not seem like much to worry about, infection can easily occur, and it’s important to have a first aid kit on hand. From now until the end of September, use coupon code FIRST to save 15% on our 126-piece First Aid Kit for Pets.  

  

Post your comments

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  • Submitted by PetLoverToronto at:October 18, 2011 02:28 PM

    I came across your blog, in looking for information about pet care in general and specifically pet first aid. I truly enjoy finding sites such as yours who clearly understand how important our pets are to us. I live near Toronto, Ontario in Canada, which is a huge pet loving community, however I love to see even more of us pet lovers online. Your writing is great, and I am glad you are contributing to the world of pet owners, and most importantly to the pets themselves. Since I was looking for information about Pet First Aid, I should mention that I was considering taking a course I found through a google search: Toronto Pet First Aid, which is put on by a company called DogGuru.ca. What are your thoughts about courses like this? Thanks again for your article.

  • Submitted by Kathleen at:September 21, 2011 05:29 PM

    My outdoor cat came home with an abscess that I thought I could handle because I've dealt with them before but, within a day he scratched it open and pulled most of the skin off his face!! Cost me a fortune! So from now on first aid handled properly, and don't be afraid to use the"cone of shame"

  • Submitted by Jude at:September 20, 2011 05:53 PM

    Any information on dogs ingesting chicken bones?

  • Submitted by Dianne at:September 20, 2011 05:15 PM

    Can you get pet first aid kits at the SPCA

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