April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month

As April rolls around, it's the perfect time to remember that your pets rely on you for their  health and safety needs. 

Some Veterinary clinics, pet stores, local animal shelters and training centers offer classes in pet first aid and other various pet related classes.


The top 6 primary pet concerns are as follows:

• pets can be lost or injured due to open doors and windows at home or in vehicles
  
• warm weather can cause heat stroke or death, while cold weather can cause frostbite and hypothermia
  
• extreme weather conditions can cause animals to become lost or injured
  
• pets not fed and hydrated properly or kept up on shots can suffer from serious health issues
  
• poisonous plants, chemicals in the home, medications,  many human foods are toxic to our pets
• choking hazards from toys or household items

Recommendations for a Pet First Aid Kit

• Muzzle or strip of fabric to prevent biting (in cases of severe pain during treatment but only when there is no injury to the throat or neck, vomiting, or difficulty breathing)
• Leash
• Pediatric digital rectal thermometer plus water-based lubricant
• Oral syringe
• Tweezers
• Saline eye wash
• Epsom salts
• Rubber gloves
• Mild soap
• Cut- and wound-care items: hand sanitizer, antiseptic (povidone-iodine) solution such as Betadine, elastic or ace bandage, stretchable gauze, gauze pads, non-stick bandages, non-scented sanitary pads (for heavily bleeding wounds), first aid adhesive tape, blunt scissors

Warm Weather Issues

With the excitement of warmer weather, also comes the chances for heat stroke in animals when they don't have access to water and a cool place to rest. Leaving your pet in a car for even a few minutes can result in tragedy.  Be sure your pets have plenty of ventilation at home as well as water  and a cool place to relax away from the heat.  


HOW TO KEEP YOUR PET HEALTHY

Pet owners can follow these important steps to help keep their pet healthy:

• Give pets plenty of exercise.
• Make sure they have plenty of fresh, cool water.
• Make sure they get regular yearly checkups with their veterinarian, and are up to date on vaccines, especially rabies.
• Get pets spayed or neutered.
• Keep dogs on leashes outside – another animal may be too much temptation
• Know how to perform CPR and provide basic first aid until veterinary care is available

EMERGENCIES AND YOUR PET

Don’t forget to include pets in planning for emergencies in your home or neighborhood:

• Make plans to take your pets with you if you have to evacuate.
• Most Red Cross shelters cannot accept pets because of health and safety concerns and other considerations. Know which friends, relatives, hotels, boarding facilities will accept pets in an emergency.
• Assemble an easy-to-carry kit with emergency supplies for pets: Leashes, harnesses and/or carriers
• Food, drinking water, bowls, manual can opener
• Medications and copies of medical records
• Current photos of the pets

ASPCA Poison Control Center 24-hour hotline (1-888-426-4435)

Links to more information for pet health and safety 


http://www.redcross.org/news/event/April-Pet-First-Aid-Awareness-Month


http://www.peta.org/living/companion-animals/create-canine-first-aid-kit/


http://www.thesafedoghandbook.com/


http://www.amazon.com/First-Disaster-Response-Guide-Veterinarians/dp/1603440038/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1301242575&sr=8-1

---