Hurricanes, thunderstorms, flash floods and auto accidents, among others, are worrisome and stressful for animals and humans alike.
But you can take a lot of the anxiety from these situations with preparation ahead of time. The same applies for you and your family.
Here are some common items to keep in a pet first aid kit and what you may need them for;
• Medical and vaccination records;
• Bottled water for drinking or flushing wounds;
• Collapsible bowls;
• Treats to coax them to the car or a safer place and a small supply of food;
• Small flashlight – check the batteries;
• Soft muzzle, leash, and collar or harness;
• Medical gloves for you if you have to treat wounds;
• Tweezers for removing stingers, ticks, and other foreign materials;
• Clean towels to clean a wound, act as stretcher, or wrap an anxious pet in (See online Thundershirt)
• Emergency blanket for cold environments or a pet that is in shock;
• Rectal thermometer as well as a water-based lubricant like KY jelly (normal human digital thermometer from the pharmacy – check with your vet office how to use it properly;
• Antiseptic soap (antiseptic hand soap NOT hand sanitiser) to clean around small wounds;
• Saline solution or just use your bottled water to flush (pour carefully and slowly into the wound and let it come out naturally) deep wounds;
• Canine or feline-specific NSAIDs provided by a veterinarian – NSAID stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and helps pain, swelling and inflammation. Some especially found in the pharmacy are dangerous or fatal for cats and dogs;
• Antihistamine for mild allergic reactions to stings, bites, or ingestions – get type and dose from your vet;
• Cold compress for decreasing swelling and inflammation;
• Gauze, tape, elastic wrap, scissors – if swelling occurs after you have placed a bandage, remove it and replace less tightly. Check bandaging details with your vet office.
• Cotton balls or swabs;
• Burn relief gel to apply on skin (topical);
• Hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting if you know or suspect they have eaten something they should not – check with your vet office to get the dose and directions for your pets, and when not to use it;
• Milk of Magnesia or activated charcoal – give this after they vomit as these products tend to bind toxins or poisons. This helps prevent them from being absorbed;
• Saline solution for flushing wounds/ eyes;
• Eye dropper or syringes for flushing wounds or administering oral medications; and
• Antibiotic ointment to help prevent infection, relieve pain, and act as a barrier from bacteria and germs – honey is the best for our purposes here and you can put some in your tea
Keep everything in a watertight bag or plastic container and in an accessible place.
One of the local pharmacies has a bright red plastic container for human first aid – similar brightly coloured container or bucket with lid would make an excellent pet first aid container.
Remember that first aid does not take the place of veterinary care – if and when possible have a vet visit.
Teach your dog to walk nicely on a leash – short daily training with treats will ensure that they will not be completely scared if they have to suddenly wear a leash (going to the vet, or transported to a safe place).
Get a safe secure carrier or basket with lid and zip ties to safely transport your cat.
A towel or small sheet to partially cover an open basket will make the cat feel more secure.
Don’t let them out until you are in a safe place to do so or you risk your cat darting away.
Lots of good websites to get more information such as https://thesavvysitter.org/ blog/preparing-for-a-hurricane-withyourpet.
• JO OLVER is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the views of this newspaper.
