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Pet Medication Home -> First Aid for Felines
First Aid for Felines - How
to Keep Your Car Safe from Harm
Cats are known for their curious and adventurous nature. Curiosity
doesn't always kill the cat, but can often cause injury. The owner
will likely have to get the cat stabilized before taking it to the
veterinarian. Any home with a cat should have a feline first aid
kit assembled and handy.
A first aid kit for a cat contains many of the same items it would
for a human.
- A roll of absorbent cotton and some cotton balls,
- gauze pads and tape,
- a pair of small scissors with rounded tips,
- tweezers,
- instant ice pack,
- hydrogen peroxide,
- a bulb syringe for suctioning mucous from mouth or nose
- sterile eyewash solution for cats,
- a clean, white cotton sock (to cover wounded paws),
- small flashlight,
- rectal thermometer,
- injection syringe without the needle (to give liquid medication),
- unflavored electrolyte liquid (like Pedialyte).
Place all the items in a sturdy plastic container with a secure
lid. Write your veterinarian's name and phone number on the lid,
as well as that of the closest emergency pet hospital. If you travel
often and leave your cat with another person, put several copies
of a signed release form in the first aid kit authorizing the caregiver
to approve necessary treatment.
Cat are great explorers and care must br taken with potential hazards
in and around the home. particularly with young kittens. watch out
for hot surfaces and liquids in the kitchen, unguarded fires, electric
cables, sewing pins and needles (especially with cotton attached)
and open windows on upper stories.
In the garden make sure the dustbins are secure as cats may scavenge
and eat decayed food or cut themselves on tins or glass. Being inquisitive,
cats accidentally get shut in a shed or garage.
If your cat is injured, approach her calmly and carefully. Don't
assume that she won't scratch or bite you - injured pets often react
negatively at first to any attempt to touch them. Once you get close
enough, place a towel over her head to "blind" her. The
darkness created by the towel has a calming effect. You can also
tightly wrap the towel around her body to keep her from struggling.
If your cat is bleeding heavily, it is important to slow or stop
the flow as soon as possible. Use a clean towel or cloth to apply
pressure directly to the wound. Change towels/cloths as needed,
but keep pressure on until you reach a veterinarian. If necessary,
you can apply thick gauze pads and use tape to secure them while
you transport your cat. It is best, however, to keep pressure on
the wound and have some one else drive.
If your cat seems to be choking, use a flashlight to see what she
is choking on. If you can easily remove it, do so. If not, you will
might need to perform a modified Heimlich maneuver.
Here's what you need to do:
- Place the pet on its side on a hard surface.
- Place both hands behind the last rib and press down quickly
and firmly - release immediately and repeat rapidly several times.
- Try to direct the force of your hands slightly forward - this
will make your efforts more effective.
- Have someone carefully open the dog's or cat's mouth wide and
attempt to retrieve the material from the throat as you compress
the chest.
It is important to get proper training for this, as it can cause
serious injury if done incorrectly. Many humane societies and animal
welfare organizations offer classes on pet first aid, that include
the Heimlich maneuver, CPR, and techniques for dealing with serious
injury and poisoning.
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