Because only a layer of skin, fat, and muscle protects the stomach, an abdominal wound can be very serious. The organs in the abdomen are easily injured — bruised or torn — by a car accident, a fall, or other impact.
If there is ANY puncture or open wound, you should contact your veterinarian. It can be very hard to tell at home if a smaller wound has penetrated the abdomen and the internal organs are exposed. Even an abdominal bite can be a serious injury.
Your first aid will concentrate on keeping your pet alive while you get to the veterinarian’s office.
- Watch for shock. Shock can make the organs shut down from lack of oxygen. Your pet may be weak or woozy. His gums may be pale. Wrap your pet in a blanket to keep him warm and rub a bit of honey or Karo syrup on his gums to keep his blood sugar up.
- Apply pressure to the wound if it is bleeding. Use a clean cloth or sterile gauze; keep adding cloth or gauze if the wound bleeds through.
- Protect the wound. Cover the puncture or wound with a pad made from a folded towel or sheet, then secure it with an Ace bandage or panty hose — something stretchy. Make sure the bandage is loose enough that you can slip a few fingers underneath; this will make sure you aren’t cutting off circulation.
- Numb the pain with ice. Apply an ice pack to the bandage outside the wound.
- Move your pet carefully. Transport your pet on a rigid, stable surface like an ironing board for large pets or a sturdy trash can lid for smaller pets.
If the internal organs are exposed and you are more than twenty minutes away from the veterinarian’s office, you’ll need to gently rinse them with sterile contact lens solution or clean lukewarm water. Organ tissue dies if it dries out. Protruding organs may be gently pushed back into the abdominal cavity once they’ve been rinsed. Soak cloth or gauze pads in the contact lens solution or warm water and place them against the wound, then wrap them in a plastic wrap to keep the liquid in.
After the veterinarian has cared for your pet, you’ll have some nursing ahead. Your pet will probably need antibiotics to protect against infection. Some abdominal injuries need stitches and a drain to get rid of infected material. You may need to keep the injury site clean and/or change bandages. Your pet may need a period of rest and limited activity, too.