The strength of the human-animal bond is undeniable. For many of us it is so strong that our pets are considered part of our family. Information has been provided below to teach you the household hazards that signal danger and the importance for preparing for a pet's illness or emergency.

Home First Aid Kit

Store in a waterproof pouch

Your kit should include the following: (most items can be found in your local pharmacy)

• Latex gloves
  
• Gauze sponges, both large and small
  
• Roll gauze, 2 inches in width
  
• Roll bandages, such as Vetwrap® or Ace® bandaging - a bandage that stretches and/or clings
  
• Adhesive tape (Cloth tape is preferred - any kind of tape can work in a pinch)
  
• Non adherent sterilized gauze pads
  
• Small scissors
  
• Nylon leash
  
• Towel
  
• Muzzle
  
• Rectal thermometer
  
• Water based lubricant (KY Jelly)
  
• Rubbing alcohol
  
• 3% hydrogen peroxide
  
• Over-the-counter triple antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin)
  
• Eye wash
  
• Benadryl®
  
• Styptic powder or pencil
  
• Needle-nose pliers
  
• A list of emergency phone numbers such as your veterinarian, Anne Arundel Emergency Clinic (410.224.0331) and the National Animal Poison Control Center (800.548.2423 or 900.680.0000)
  

Approaching a Sick or Injured Animal

Always approach an injured or sick animal slowly and cautiously. Even your own pet, who would otherwise not be aggressive, may strike out when they are ill or injured. Keep a close eye on the posture and expressions, an aggressive dog will wag its tail when in pain. Never look a frightened or injured dog in the eye, this action is perceived as a challenge - promoting aggressive behavior. Speak in a low monotone voice and use slow calculated movements when approaching.

1. Dog aggressive signs to be cognizant of: Growling, ears flattened, hair standing up between shoulder blades, teeth exposure, tail wagging or slightly tucked between back legs.
   
   
2. Cat aggressive signs to be cognizant of: Ears flattened, enlarged pupils, salivation, back arched with tail upright.
   

The majority of aggressive animals require sedation before medical attention can be administered. If you are unable to safely handle the animal, please contact the Animal Control or Police Department for assistance.

Capture Techniques

1. Leashing:
   
   1. Leather or nylon leashes are appropriate - avoid chains or other metal collaring
      
   2. Make a large loop by passing the end through the opening
      
   3. Stand behind or to the side of the animal when proceeding to harness
      
      
2. Towels or blankets:
   Place a towel or blanket over the animal
   
   1. Cats: Grasp the scruff of the neck for proper holding
      
   2. Encompass the towel around the animal - covering all four paws but room for the animal's head to breathe
      
      
3. Boxes: (Cats generally hide in boxes for security) Great for transport
   
   1. Cat/Dog carriers
      

Muzzles

Muzzling is of great importance when handling painful and/or aggressive dogs. Commercial grade muzzles can be purchased at your local pet store or ordered through most veterinary hospitals. See below for other options.

There are occasions when muzzling can be of detriment.

• Vomiting
  
• Coughing
  
• Difficulty in general breathing
  

An animal may become aggressive when attempting to muzzle. In this case, do not attempt to muzzle or treat the injured animal. Take the patient to your local veterinarian or Animal Control.

Homemade muzzles

1. Gauze typically works the best - however a piece of hosiery, necktie, sock or soft piece of rope can be used.
   
2. Begin with material about 18 inches in length.
   
3. Place a knot or dampen the middle of the material to anchor the muzzle.
   
4. Create a large loop to cover the animal's nose and tighten without affecting their breathing pattern.
   
5. Drop the end of the material by the sides of the face, cross, and pull up behind the ears.
   
6. Tie into a secured bow.
   
7. For short nose breeds and cats, perform steps 1-4 then take one end of the material and pass it under the loop on the nose and tie both ends behind the neck.
   

Recognizing an Emergency

Whether the animal is your pet or not - be prepared to assess the situation. Look for signs of impaired movement or labored breathing, vomiting, lethargic behavior, bleeding, diarrhea, change in diet or sleeping patterns, difficulty getting comfortable or any out of the ordinary behavior.

The following scenarios are examples of emergencies:

• Trauma - Recently hit by a car, gunshot or bite wound, possible drowning or falling from heights
  
• Seizures - First occurrence or those lasting more than 2 minutes or recurring repeatedly
  
• Excessive bleeding - particularly unable to be clotted by applying direct pressure to wound
  
• Difficulty breathing
  
• Shock - dazed, weak, delayed or dull responses
  
• Heat stroke (hyperthermia) or hypothermia (drastic drop in body temperature)
  
• Poisoning
  
• Open wounds revealing bone or body tissue
  
• Burns
  
• Problems during birthing
  
• Profuse diarrhea and or vomiting
  
• Straining to urinate or defecate
  
• Painful, enlarged abdomen
  
• Severe depression or anxiety disorders - characterized by hiding, behaviorally unresponsive and lack of appetite.
  

Assessing Emergency Situation

• When approaching animal be aware of potential hazards in the vicinity. For example - if an animal has been in a fight, do not place yourself in harms way between the two animals. Watch for oncoming traffic before entering the street to provide assistance.
  

Become familiar with your pet's normal behavior

• Practice measuring/assessing vital signs regularly
  

Pulse rates

• Can be taken on the inner thigh, just below the wrist (carpus) or the ankle (hock), feeling the chest wall area
  

Dogs

• Puppy (until one years of age): 120-160 beats per minute
  
• Miniature to small breed (under 30lbs): 100-160 beats per minute
  
• Medium to large breeds (over 30lbs): 60-100 beats per minute
  

Cats

• 160-220 beats per minute
  

Breathing vitals

• Count the number of times the chest rises and falls in one minute
  
• Normal breathing for a dog is 10-30 breaths per minute and up to 200 pants per minute
  
• Normal breathing for a cat is 20-30 breaths per minute and up to 300 pants per minute
  

Respiratory pattern

• When a dog or cat inhales normally, the chest should expand fully. If the animals' abdomen is actively expanding instead of the chest - this may indicate a problem. Exhaling should not be labored. If your pet is making loud, shallow gasping sounds when breathing - you should contact your local veterinarian or vet emergency hospital immediately.
  

Body temperature steps

1. Use a rectal or pediatric thermometer to take the temperature
   
2. When using a mercury thermometer - it should read below 90° degrees
   
3. The thermometer must be lubricated with petroleum jelly (butter or dishwashing liquid can be also used)
   
4. Insert the thermometer into the rectum just past the tip of the digital thermometer and just to the start of the mercury line
   
5. Leave the thermometer inserted for 3 minutes
   
6. Remove and read results
   

Normal temperature for a dog is 100.0-102.5° degrees Fahrenheit
Normal temperature for a cat is 100.5-102.5° degrees Fahrenheit

Mucous membrane color

• By observing the color of your pet's mucous membranes - you can assess whether enough oxygen is traveling into the blood stream
  
• Lift the animals upper lip to view the gum line - normal color is pink. Abnormal colorings are: blue, pale, yellow, grey, white, brick red or brown.
  
• For breeds with pigmented gum lines (often black in color) - pull down the lower lid of the eye to observe the color
  

Capillary refill time

• Quickest method to check for proper blood circulation.
  
• Press firmly on gum lines inside inner lip.
  
• Observe the color within a 1-2 second timeframe. The gum line should start out white after pressure and then return to either dark pink, pink or pale pink. To check the capillary refill times, press on the gum line, release and watch the gum line color change.
  
• Capillary refill times that are more than two seconds or less than one second are considered an emergency.
  

Dehydration

• Pull up on the skin to the back of the neckline to observe it's elasticity. Immediate return to the neck area is normal. If delayed - then the animal is dehydrated. FYI: As pets age - their skin elasticity can be decreased.
  
• The gum lines should also be felt to assess moisture. Dry and tacky gums also indicate dehydration.
  

Surveying the injured patient

• Initially assess the situation for one minute.
  
• Inspect the area of the animal - observe the animals body, posture, presence, blood, feces or vomiting, breathing pattern, noises or other materials in the vicinity (poison), foreign material that has been chewed on.
  
• Inspect the animal - Airway (A) is there an open airway?, Breathing pattern (B) is the animal breathing?, Circulation (C) is there a heartbeat and pulse? Mucous Membrane Color, Capillary Refill Time, Bleeding, Level of Consciousness - Is the animal alert, awake, seizuring, disoriented, hyperactive, depressed or unconscious.
  

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

CPR is the method used to treat an animal that is not breathing or has no heartbeat. It consists of rescue breathing (also called mouth to mouth resuscitation) and chest compression. CPR is based on three basic principles - known as the ABC's of CPR. You must follow the ABC order when assessing the animal emergency. (Airway, Breathing and Circulation)

Even when performed by an experienced veterinarian, CPR does not always work - do not become discouraged if your attempt should fail. Remain confident that you have done everything possible to save this animals life.

A = Airway
Does the animal have an open airway? Check to see if the throat and mouth are clear of any foreign objects. If yes, go to the Breathing section, if NO you need to open the airway.

1. Lie the animal down on its side
   
2. Gently tilt the head slightly back to extend the neck and head
   
3. Pull the tongue between the front teeth
   
4. Use your finger to check for any foreign objects to be removed (this includes vomit)
   

B = Breathing
Is the animal breathing? If the answer is yes, allow the animal to assume a body position that is most comfortable for them. Then, move on to the Circulation section. If the answer is NO, perform the following.

1. Open the airway as instructed in the Airway section
   
2. Muzzle medium to large dogs
   
3. Place your mouth over the animals nose and forcefully exhale
   
4. Give 4-5 breaths rapidly - then check for breathing without assistance. If shallow, irregular or normal breathing does not begin - continue artificial respiration until you reach a veterinary hospital for a maximum of 20 minutes. (Beyond 20 minutes there is little chance of reviving the animal)
   
5. Use the following rate process to determine the time interval for breathing:
   

a. Small dogs or cats (under 30 lbs.) 20-30 breaths per minute
b. Medium to large dogs (over 30 lbs.) 20 breaths per minute

C = Circulation
Is there a heartbeat or a pulse? If the answer is NO, perform chest compressions.

Small dog or cat under 30 lbs

1. Lie the animal down on their right side
   
2. Kneel next to the animal with the animal's chest facing you
   
3. Place the palm of one of your hands over the rib at the point where the elbow touches the chest. Place the other hand underneath the other side of the animal. (a book or firm flat surface may be used to place under the opposing side of the animal)
   
4. Compress the chest ½ to 1 inch with elbows softly locked and pressure coming form the bending at the waist
   
5. Chest compressions are alternated with breaths
   
6. If working alone - do five compressions for each breath then check for pulse
   
7. If working with someone - alternate the breathing method while performing the compressions at a rate of 3 for each breath - then check pulse.
   

Medium to Large Dogs (30-90 lbs)

1. Stand or kneel with the animal's back towards you
   
2. Extend arms at the elbows
   
3. Cup your hands over each other
   
4. Compress the chest at the point where the elbow lies when pulled back to the chest
   
5. Compress - so the chest moves about 1-3 inches with each compression
   
6. If working alone - do 5 compressions for each breath
   
7. If working with someone - alternate the breathing with compression @ a rate of 2-3 for each breath - then check pulse.
   

Giant Dogs (Over 90lbs)

1. Use the technique for medium to large dogs
   
2. If working alone perform 10 compressions for each breath, and then check pulse
   
3. If working with someone - alternate the breathing with compression @ a rate of 6 compressions for each breath.
   

Do not assume that there is not a heartbeat or pulse simply because an animal is not breathing. Do not start chest compressions before checking the heartbeat. (If the animal is conscious and responsive - the heart is beating.)

Continue CPR until the animal has a strong heartbeat and pulse, or until you reach a veterinary hospital.