Pet Talk: Be ready in case of emergency

Pets find trouble in the most unlikely places, so it is wise to have a pet first-aid kit ready before you need it. The basic principles of first aid aren't much different in animals then people, except that pets can't tell us "where it hurts" or if the bandage is on too tight. It is important to recognize that a hurt animal will instinctively bite or scratch -- even his beloved owner! So if your pet is injured, be very careful when treating it, or you will need medical attention, too.

A basic pet first aid kit is designed to provide quick "doctoring" for your pet, with an understanding that the injured animal will be taken to the veterinarian as soon as possible. On a card, write your regular veterinarian's name and phone number, the local emergency veterinary clinic's phone number, and the Animal Poison Control Center's phone number ((888) 426-4435). If traveling in California, the internet link itsaboutpets.net will provide you with a directory of California veterinarians -- you can search by city to find the veterinary clinic closest to you. Write down that Web site.

Your kit should include some self-adhesive bandage material like "vetwrap." This product may be found at your local drug store, but can also be purchased from veterinary clinics, pet stores, online, etc. Self-adhesive bandages are preferred, because sticky tape and bandages won't stick to pet hair.

Jon Klingborg -

Hydrogen peroxide is excellent for cleaning wounds and is also highly effective at inducing vomiting if your dog swallowed something he shouldn't have. (Cats rarely eat "bad" things.) If your dog ingested a poison, then you only have 30 minutes to induce vomiting -- otherwise the poison is already out of the stomach and on its way through the intestines. Give your dog one teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide for every 10 pounds of its body weight. You will need to use a bulb syringe and squirt the peroxide in your dog's mouth to make him swallow it. You can repeat this once, and you should already be on the way to an emergency clinic.

An electronic rectal thermometer (designed for people) is important. The average body temperature for a dog and cat is 101.5 degrees. If the pet's temperature is below 100 or above 103.5, you should be worried. K-Y jelly is handy to lubricate the thermometer, but it also is good to coat open wounds and prevent dirt from getting into them. Before applying the K-Y jelly to a wound, use saline solution (for contact lenses) to rinse the wound clean or to flush debris out of eyes.

Rolled gauze bandages are effective at absorbing blood and may be used as a tourniquet in extreme situations. Additionally, long strips of gauze can be tied around a pet's mouth and used as a muzzle if he is trying to bite you. Most pets prefer to breath through their nose, so a muzzle won't cause him any difficulty breathing -- with the obvious exception being short-snouted dogs with tiny nostrils. Use common sense.

Pack blunt scissors, because bandage material can be difficult to tear. Blunt tipped scissors will also allow you to safely cut the hair around your pet's wound. A long pair of tweezers, forceps or needle-nosed pliers is handy if you need to grasp and remove thorns or stickers. Include a couple of instant icepacks that are activated when squeezed. Also, protect yourself and wear some latex gloves.

Finally, pack some roll-on antiperspirant in your pet's first aid kit -- it can be rolled on the pet's wound or bandages to reduce his tendency to lick at the injured area. It doesn't matter if the antiperspirant is scented or not, though I think gels work best.

The shopping list for a basic first aid kit: phone numbers, self-adhesive bandage (such as Vetwrap), hydrogen peroxide (and a measuring spoon), saline solution, rolled gauze, instant ice packs, digital rectal thermometer, K-Y jelly, blunt scissors, tweezers, latex gloves, bulb syringe, antiperspirant.

Dr. Jon Klingborg is a veterinarian at Valley Animal Hospital in Merced. He can be contacted at askdrjon@pacbell.net.