Tag Archives: pet first aid

Pet First Aid: Asthma Attacks

Dogs don’t often have asthma problems; asthma is more commonly seen in cats. Siamese are especially susceptible to asthma attacks! You may not notice the first few attacks. Signs of an asthma attack: Coughing Crouching low and extending head and elbows — this is the animal trying to make more space for the lungs to expand Straining to breathe Gasping A lack of oxygen will cause the gums to turn purple If your pet is having an asthma attack, she needs the veterinarian as soon as possible. Call your vet and get moving. Before you reach the vet’s, there are … Continue reading →

Creative Alternatives to Elizabethan Collars

About six months ago, my brother’s pit bull/lab mix Kuma had to have a cyst removed from her shoulder. It was large enough that she needed five stitches and was sentenced to Conehead City for ten days. Let me tell you — Conehead City is not a fun place to live if you’re a dog or a cat. Part of Kuma’s problem was navigating stairs with her cone on. When she couldn’t see her feet, she couldn’t climb down the stairs to go into the yard to piddle! But as soon as the cone was off, she would start messing … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid Awareness Month

April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month. It’s the perfect time of year for it, because the weather’s nicer, we’re outside more –as are our pets most likely–and there’s lots to get into. Some of it can be harmful, even fatal, to your dog or cat, but with awareness you can avoid trouble. Below is a list of some of those things. Where applicable, related Families.com articles are referenced for further information. Dangers Lurking in the Garden Lawn and garden care is on many people’s minds this time of year. If your pet’s going to help you, here’s some things … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Hypothermia

Pets that are outdoors in the cold — especially in temperatures below freezing — can develop hypothermia. Hypothermia is an abnormal lowering of the body’s temperature. It can lead to unconsciousness, shock, and even death. A pet that shows signs of frostbite (including shivering, ice on the fur or body, and discoloration of skin at the extremities) may also be experiencing hypothermia. However, hypothermia can occur without frostbite present. Signs of hypothermia include shivering, weakness, and a low body temperature. Take your pet’s temperature rectally to be certain. The most important thing you can do is get your pet warm! … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Frostbite

Just because dogs and cats have fur doesn’t mean pets can withstand cold winter temperatures and nasty weather. Leaving your dog or cat out in the cold could have some serious health risks. Exposure to extreme freezing temperatures for long periods of time can result in frostbite. Frostbite is damage or death to tissues in the extremities — tips of the ears, the tail, around the face, on the genitalia, and on the foot pads. Frostbite comes on in stages: When a pet is exposed to cold temperatures, the airs stand on end to trap air near the body. The … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Bee and Wasp Stings

If your pet has a run-in with an angry nest of bees or wasps, you may find that he’s mainly been stung on and around his face. A pet’s fur protects the majority of the body; you may see other stings on the flanks, legs, and belly. Most of the time, a bee or wasp sting isn’t a serious injury. You may see redness or swelling; your dog may itch at the spot or experience pain. The first thing to do is remove the stinger. Scrape a stinger free with the blunt edge of a knife, a credit card, or … Continue reading →

When Is Vomiting An Emergency?

One truth of pet ownership: you’re going to have to deal with barf. And poop. And sometimes both. There’s nothing quite like waking up to the sound of a hairball in progress, or a beloved pet yakking up her latest meal. Most times, vomiting or diarrhea isn’t an emergency. Sometimes pets just eat something that doesn’t sit right, or eat too fast, or just get too excited or nervous. Moose tends to get diarrhea after spending an afternoon running around with the energetic puppy Casey. All that play is just too much for his system to handle! Lally will sometimes … Continue reading →

Reverse Sneezing

You know what a regular sneeze is, right? If you’re a dog owner, you may have heard a reverse sneeze, too. A reverse sneeze sounds a lot worse than it really is. The dog stands very still and extends his head, making honks or snorts and breathing quickly. He may turn his elbows outward, or otherwise stand awkwardly. It sounds like he may be choking, or have something stuck in his nose. Don’t worry — he doesn’t. A reverse sneezing episode can last up to a minute, but isn’t a cause for alarm. So why is it called a reverse … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Epilepsy

Epilepsy is one of the main causes of seizures in dogs. It is a neurological disorder characterized by sudden attacks of muscular or sensory malfunction that may come with loss of consciousness or convulsions. There are two types of seizures that may come with an epileptic episode. A grand mal seizure is a severe, widespread cramping of skeletal muscles, resulting in body movement. A petit mal seizure is a less severe type of seizure where brain activity is only mildly disrupted — the pet may still have some control of movement. What you may see if your dog is having … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Seizures

Dogs are more likely than cats to suffer from a seizure, but either can suffer from a seizure at any time. Basically, an injury or inherited condition can short circuit the electrical activity in a pet’s brain, causing your pet to lose control of his or her body. A pet who is having a seizure may experience the following symptoms: * Falling over * Crying out/vocalizing * Uncontrollable leg movement or paddling * Loss of consciousness * Involuntary loss of bladder and bowel control Seizures look scary. Keeping calm and acting quickly can help your pet weather the attack. Move … Continue reading →