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Whether You’re a Dog or a Cat Person, Make Sure to be a Prepared Pet Person
Written by
Leigh-Anne Dennison
, Redcross.org Staff
Saturday, August 06, 2005 — As an organization dedicated to helping individuals, families, communities and businesses prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters, the American Red Cross often reminds the public to think about the unique needs of their pets when preparing for impending disasters. Now, with “Pet First Aid,” the Red Cross helps pet owners prepare for and respond to the everyday emergencies that can endanger the lives of their companion animals.
“We know pet owners enjoy a very special bond with their pets—they’re a part of the family,” says Scott Conner, vice president of American Red Cross Products and Health and Safety Services. “We’re here and committed to helping save lives—training some 12 million people each year in courses like First Aid/CPR for adults, children and infants.”
“Pet First Aid,” published by the Red Cross and written by Bobbie Mammato, DVM, MPH, complements a pet first aid training course offered by many of the organization’s chapters across the country. With the class or on its own, “Pet First Aid” is a valuable and life-saving resource—an essential addition to any home where the extended family members are canine or feline.
The book covers a wide array of pet emergencies from the simple, such as dealing with a tick bite, to the serious, such as collapse or car accidents. At just over one hundred pages, the book features more than 130 illustrations with step-by-step instructions covering first aid procedures ranging from administering medication to performing CPR and rescue breathing.
One major challenge all pet owners face is that their companion animals cannot tell them what is wrong or where they hurt. The manual offers guidance to caregivers on detecting illness and injuries as well as recommending the appropriate treatments.
For example, recently there have been a number of heat advisories issued for parts of the country, but would most pet owners know how to recognize and treat hyperthermia or heat stroke in their pets? “Pet First Aid” makes sure they have the know-how to save their pet’s life. In this case, it lists potential causes, or factors, along with indicating signs to help owners detect the heat-related illness in their pets, such as excessive panting, salivation and vomiting.
"Pet First Aid" is a valuable resource for pet owners. With illustrations, such as this one that demonstrates how to cool a dog suffering from heat stroke, accompanying instructions that help pet owners prevent, prepare for and respond to companion animal-related emergencies.
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Having helped them recognize the medical emergency, the book next provides first aid recommendations, which include:
- Get the pet out of direct heat;
- Check for shock and take the animal’s temperature;
- Spray the animal with cool water;
- Place water-soaked towels on the head, neck, feet, chest and abdomen; and
- Take the animal to the nearest veterinary hospital immediately.
In addition to detection and instructions for the emergency care, such as those in the example above, “Pet First Aid” includes a section that offers guidance for building a pet first aid kit and basic how-to information such as checking an animal’s pulse, heart rate and temperature. The author encourages animal caregivers to be observant and learn what is normal for their pets so that they can more quickly recognize when something is wrong.
A number of local Red Cross chapters across the country offer classes with hands-on training in pet first aid procedures. A list of select Red Cross chapters offering pet first aid courses can be found by visiting www.redcross.org/services/hss/courses/pfachapter.html.
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