Dan's Papers - January 16, 2009 - Pet Agree - Being Prepared for Pet Emergencies

Better safe than sorry. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. My sister always told me to have a plan B and always be prepared. The latter may have been inspired by the Boy Scouts, but it was very good advice.

My advice to you is if you have a dog or cat, be prepared by having emergency supplies on hand. But as important as having the proper supplies is knowing when and how to use them. You may be surprised to find out that many of the items needed for your pet emergency kit are ordinary household items you may already have. Recognizing the signs your dog or cat may show when ill or injured is half the problem and administrating care is the other half. So before an emergency occurs, make a list and make an appointment to talk to your vet.

The Pet Emergency Pocket Guide™, written and edited by a team of veterinarians, experts in animal safety and pet owners, offers advice on planning ahead and locating care for your pets in the event of an injury, illness or emergency. Color-coded and illustrated sections show and tell what to do for your pets, before, during, and after an emergency. Some of the categories are: "How-to" first aid, including CPR and Heimlich; contact information for important emergency references; general care, including handling, grooming, muzzling and transporting; glossary of signs and conditions in dogs and cats; list of the most common poisonous and toxic foods; taking care of a sick dog or cat, and more serious condition; how to create pet emergency and shelter/evacuation kits; traveling with your pet, including preparing a travel kit; pet preparedness, including planning for natural disasters; current information on sheltering, since many shelters do not accept pets; and pet record pages to help document information such as allergies, vaccinations and surgeries.

Detailed information will guide you through injury and medical emergency situations like car accidents, collapsing or fainting, diarrhea that goes on for more than a day (especially in small animals), distended abdomen, electrical shock, eye injury or swelling, fever, frequent vomiting, frostbite, labor or birthing difficulty, loss of consciousness, neck injury, pale gums, paralysis or lack of coordination poisoning, seizures, straining to urinate and unproductive retching.

I know all of my fellow rescuers have their own brand of provisions put away in a Rubbermaid container in the event that a puppy is hypoglycemic, vomiting to point of dehydration or simply has a tick imbedded in its neck. I'm going to list a few of the things I keep in my stash and would love it if some of you would e-mail me a list of yours.

Some of the things I have are: tweezers, scissors, bandages, cardboard, Neosporin and triple antibiotic cream (not ointment), rectal thermometer and Vaseline, a bottle of Dawn antibacterial soap, Preparation H, alcohol, witch hazel, peroxide, PeptoBismol, antibiotic eye ointment, eye drops, Benadryl liquid, q-tips, cotton pads, Pedialyte, chicken broth, jarred baby chicken puree, frozen chicken cutlets, Minute Rice, baby rice cereal, Karo syrup, Esbilac puppy formula, rubber coated baby spoon, insulin syringes without the needles, and an eye dropper bottle.

NB: It is NOT intended or recommended that you treat your pet yourself in lieu of seeking the care of a veterinarian. It is recommended that you meet with your veterinarian and discuss what you may be able to do for your pet in the event that a medical problem arises and veterinary care is not available, your pet needs immediate medical attention, or until you reach an emergency clinic.