Central Coast Home & Lifestyle Magazine Autumn 2022

Having a sick or injured dog or cat and not knowing what to do and what treatment is required in some cases can become a life- threatening situation. Minimise the panic associated with potential emergency situations by being prepared and educated when it comes to providing first aid care to pets. Pet First Aid Tips

F or any snake bite , it is essential to take your pet to the vet straight away. If possible, call ahead to let the vet know you're coming. If you see the snake, observe its colours and markings - do not attempt to catch or kill it. Often the bite site is not obvious, but if you can, apply a pressure immobilisation bandage to the area. Keep your pet calm and restrict their movement as much as possible, to slow down the spread of the venom. If the bite is from a venomous snake, then treatment with anti venom by your veterinarian as soon as possible after the bite will give your pet the best chance of making a full recovery. Spider bites , Apply a cold pack to the area if swollen and contact a vet for advice if you notice signs of a reaction such as difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhoea or collapse. Seizures can be scary for pets and pet parents. If your pet experiences a seizure, it is important to ensure that they are safe and cannot hurt themselves by moving any furniture away that may injure them. Do not attempt to restrain your pet or place your hand in their mouth as they may accidentally bite you. Most seizures last 2-3 minutes. Once your pet's seizure has stopped, it is best to keep them as quiet as possible and contact your veterinarian. If the seizure does not stop or your pet has multiple seizures in a short period of time, then it is important to see your veterinarian immediately. Paralysis Ticks If you think you have found a tick on your pet, the first step is to carefully try to remove the tick by grasping the head of the tick. Avoid pressing on or rupturing the body of the tick during removal. A "Tick Twister Tool" is a great addition to any Pet First Aid Kit as these make removing ticks at home a lot easier. If you are not confident in your ability to remove the tick then you can ask your vet to remove it. Not all ticks are paralysis ticks, so identification of the tick is important to know if your pet is at risk. Paralysis ticks can

and Sultanas, Garlic and Onions, Rodent Poison, Panadol and Ibuprofen, Lily Flowers, Cleaning Chemicals. Bleeding cut or wound , apply pressure using a clean towel or gauze. Be cautious as pets who are scared or in pain may bite or scratch. All but the most minor of wounds should be assessed by a vet due to the risk of infection and damage to underlying tissues. If there is a mild wound, trying cleaning the area with some diluted Betadine or warm salty water and apply a pet antiseptic lotion to protect against infection. It is important that your pet does not lick the area excessively as this will increase the chance of a secondary infection establishing. If your pet is licking, an Elizabethan Collar may be required for a few days. If the wound gets bigger, starts to look moist or develops a discharge, or if your pet continues to lick the area, then visit your vet. Broken toe nail may not seem like an emergency situation, injured toe nails can bleed a lot when they first occur, and can be alarming for pet parents. Broken toe nails are a common issue seen by veterinarians, and usually occur when a pet gets their toe nail caught when jumping or running. This can be very painful, and the trauma can result in bleeding from the nail, swelling or limping. If your pet injures their toe nail and it is bleeding, apply gentle pressure or a light bandage to help stop the bleeding. It is best to have your vet check the wound as broken toe nails can be very painful and prone to infection, so medication and bandaging may be required. Keeping your pets toe nails short by clipping, especially the dewclaws, can help to minimise the likelihood of this occurring. First Aid kit essentials - Gauze Swabs, Gauze Roll or Cohesive Bandage, Adhesive Tape, Conforming Bandage, Cleansing Wipes, Sterile Saline Solution, Disposable Gloves, Blunt Ended Scissors, Tweezers, Tick Twister Tool, Towel, Thermal Emergency Blanket

be deadly so if your pet is showing signs of tick paralysis such as weakness, vomiting or difficulty breathing seek immediate veterinary assistance. When it comes to ticks, prevention is better than cure. Ensuring your pet is covered with tick prevention year round is the best way to protect your pet from deadly tick paralysis. Diarrhoeaor Vomiting can occur in dogs and cats for many reasons. If your pet experiences a gastrointestinal upset and you are not sure of the cause, monitor them closely and make sure they are drinking enough water. Start a bland diet such as chicken and boiled rice or Prescription Veterinary Gastrointestinal Diets, can help resolve mild cases. If symptoms continue, they are a puppy or kitten, they get worse, they refuse to eat or your pet seems otherwise unwell, then it's time to see your vet. Exposure to household toxins the general rule is that if it can be harmful to people, it can be harmful to our pets. Some common toxins that can be dangerous to dogs and cats include exposure to cleaning chemical or ingestion of rodent poisons, human medications, plants and human foods. If your pet has been exposed to a chemical then check the label for further instruction on how to treat exposure in humans and follow the instructions for your pet, such as washing the area with water. Then your pet should see your veterinarian immediately. Let your vet know what product your pet was exposed to, to formulate the best treatment plan for your pet. If your dog or cat has recently ingested a toxic or foreign substance, speak with your veterinarian as soon as possible. If caught early enough, your veterinarian can use a safe and reversible medication to induce vomiting if required in some cases, to reduce any toxic effects. It is not recommended to try and induce vomiting at home as this can be very difficult, and may result in severe side effects.. Common Household Toxins: Chocolate, Grapes

12 Home & Lifestyle Magazine | Autumn 2022