First Aid
First Aid
It is best to be prepared for emergencies which can happen at any time. For such moments, have a first aid kit ready and at hand. Check periodically to ensure that you have all that you need to make up the kit. You can put all the requisites in a small plastic toolbox and write your name and address details on the outside of the box, and your veterinarian's telephone number.
Discuss your pet with the person you leave your pets with and let them know what to do in an emergency. Also maintain an information sheet for each pet with its name, age, breed, sex, identification and any health problems. If he gets lost, this information will help track him down.
Your first-aid kit: Fill up your kit with the following supplies: cotton, cotton balls, gauze pads and tape, hydrogen peroxide, hydrocortisone ointment, scissors, eyewash, tweezers, silver nitrate, oral syringes, electrolyte fluid, baby food, towel and exam gloves.
Keep rotating your stock so that your medication is always fresh. Pack any liquids in a plastic zip-lock bag for safety. Use your first aid kit only in cases of serious injuries, but not as a substitute to seeing a veterinarian.
How to handle an injured pet: If your pet is injured, he may just bite or scratch you, so handle him with care. If this happens, seek medical attention as cat bites can become infected quickly.
Cat statistics: The normal resting rate of your cat's pulse and heart is 150-200 bpm. It should be strong, regular and easy to find. Search for his pulse in the femoral artery in his groin. If you place your fingers on the inside of his hind leg and let your hand slide upward till you reach his abdomen, you will feel his pulse. Count till 15 seconds and multiply that number by 4 to get the number of beats per minute (bpm).
Temperature: His normal temperature should hover between 100-102.5 degrees. First aid in emergencies what to do:
Fractures: Muzzle him and lay him down on a wooden door or board and lay blankets on it. Tie him down for support but don't try to set the fracture. Take the broken limb in your hands and wrap it in cotton pads and wrap with a magazine or paper or two sticks. Let one splint go above the fracture and the other go below. Strap it down with tape but don't prevent blood flow. Now, place him on a stretcher and immobilize him.
External bleeding: Muzzle him as before and wrap gauze over the wound, hold him down till clotting begins, but if the bleeding is severe, apply a tourniquet between the wound and the heart. After 15 minutes, loosen the tourniquet for 20 seconds since otherwise it can be life-threatening.
Internal bleeding: Here, your cat may suffer from a bleeding nose, mouth or rectum; he may cough blood or may have traces of blood in his urine; or have pale or a weak pulse. In such situations, keep your cat warm and quiet.
Burns: Muzzle him and flush his body with a lot of cold water. In severe cases, apply ice water compresses and give him shock treatment.
With these methods, you can now take good care of your cat in an emergency.