Survey, Secure, Stat!
While it’s important not to self-diagnose your pet’s symptoms, you must first determine the situation. Next, stabilize your pet, then take him to the veterinarian, who will want to know what happened and when, and if your pet is feeling worse, better or the same since the incident occurred.
| Broken Bones |
| Survey: |
Your pet is limping or favoring a limb. |
| Secure: |
Muzzle your dog or use an E-collar for your cat and manipulate his head away from you while placing him in a padded carrier. |
| Stat! |
Go to the clinic immediately. Pelvis fractures may not be readily apparent. |
| Burns |
| Survey: |
Your pet’s skin has obvious signs of burns, or he has ingested a toxin and is drooling, pawing at his mouth or swallowing excessively. |
|
Secure: |
Again, restrain your pet. Flush burns with cold water or apply a wash cloth cooled with ice water. |
| Stat! |
Go to the clinic within the hour, or immediately if electrocution was the source of injury. Bring the chemical agent with you, if possible. |
| External Bleeding |
| Survey: |
Your pet is bleeding profusely. |
| Secure: |
Don’t forget: restrain your pet for his protection and yours. Then, firmly press thick gauze on the wound until clotting occurs. Apply a tourniquet between the wound and the heart only if bleeding is severe or a limb is hemorrhaging. Every 15 seconds, loosen the tourniquet for 20 seconds. |
| Stat! |
Go to the clinic immediately. |
| Internal Bleeding |
| Survey: |
Your pet is bleeding from the nose, mouth, ears or rectum, is coughing blood, has blood in his urine, pale gums, collapses or has a weak or rapid pulse. |
| Secure: |
Keep him warm and as quiet as possible. See if he responds when you call his name. |
| Stat! |
Go to the clinic immediately. |
| Shock |
|
Survey: |
Your pet appears to be nervous, dizzy or dazed, and/or has a weak pulse and shallow breathing. |
| Secure: |
Restrain him in warm blankets and keep his head level with his body if he's unconscious. Check his eyes to see if they look normal, and if he responds when you call his name. |
| Stat! |
Go to the clinic immediately. |
Further Reading:
A Survival Tail
“Nikki,” a 7-year-old dog living in Southern California, fractured her leg and suffered a puncture wound while on a camping trip with her family.
Be the First to Aid Your Pet
Even Fido and Fluffy can become ill. It's important that you stabilize your pet before you head to the veterinary clinic. Do you know what to do?
Curious Behavior
Your pet is acting odd, but you’re not sure what’s wrong. Knowing your pet’s vital signs can help your veterinarian assess his condition.
First Aid Checklist
You can easily put together a well-stocked pet first aid kit using a waterproof container that opens and closes easily. Print out this checklist and keep within reach.
Choking Hazards
It's possible for dogs to ingest a toy, a small object—or even food that may lead to choking. What should you do if this happens?
Learn more about VPI Pet Insurance:
Dog insurance, Cat insurance, Get a quote
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