1. Pet Emergency – First Aid

2. Approaching an ill or injured animal Remain calm and be reassuring Observe warning signs

3. Emergency Safety Scene ALWAYS asses the emergency scene for your own safety Many rescuers are injured or killed in attempts Remain calm and be reassuring Observe warning signs Infection Control Standard precautions should be employed All blood and certain body fluids that may contain a blood should be considered potentially infectious and precautions should be taken

4. Restraints *REVIEW with a partner!* Muzzle Towel or blanket E-Collar Physical restraints

5. Initial Assessment A – AIRWAY B – BREATHING C - CIRCULATION

6. Asses – Alert - Attend Asses Asses the emergency scene for safety Is it safe to approach pet? If not, STAY AWAY! If safe, approach slowly Assess responsiveness If unresponsive, ALERT & ATTENDAlert Notify authorities or an animal health care professional A bystander can call a veterinarian immediately – make sure to delegate!

7. ATTEND to the  A - Airway  Gently tilt animal’s head backward to open the airway  Inspect for materials or fluids  B - Breathing  LOOK for chest to rise and fall  LISTEN for breathing  FEEL for breath on your cheek*  If breathing is absent, give two rescue breaths  If pet is breathing, maintain body temp. and arrange transport  C – Circulation  If pet does not start breathing or moving, or the heartbeat is ABSENT, start CPR  If breathing, moving or heartbeat is PRESENT, check for and control major bleeding

8. Are they breathing? You can check with a peace of hair or a fine light material in front of the nose.

9. Rescue Breathing *Done if breathing is absent and there is a heartbeat. Seal the upper and lower jowls with your hand so air doesn’t escape. Give 2 rescue breaths. Blow for 2-3 seconds into the pet’s nose. Each breath should be given with enough force to make the chest rise, but no more than that. Small pets – blow into both the mouth and nose

10. Choking *If an obstruction is present. 1. Open the mouth and see if the object is visible 2. If you can see it, attempt to remove object with tweezers, pliers, or other appropriate device. 3. A finger sweet should NOT be performed in a conscious animals, risk of severe bite is present. 4. If object is not visible, you will have to perform an abdominal thrust (similar to the Heimlich) 5. Face the pet’s spine and place arms around pet, making a fist and placing thumb side right below pet’s front legs, and press inward and upwards against the animal’s chest. 6. Repeat several times and check pet’s mouth. 7. If object is dislodged and pet is not breathing, perform rescue breathing and CPR as necessary.

11. Check for Animal’s Heartbeat *Practice feeling a pulse on your pet! 1. On pet’s chest wall just behind the point of the elbow 2. Inner thigh where the leg meets the body 3. Below the ankle on the side of the front of back paw

13. CPR - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation *If a pet is unresponsive and there are no signals of circulation (breathing or pulse)…START CPR!

14. A suitable position for a stable but unconscious pet Lay the pet on its side with head and neck slightly extended. Fold a blanket or towel and place it under the shoulder (not the neck) so that the chest is above the head. This is to prevent fluids from the mouth from going into the lungs. Keep the pet warm by covering it with blankets. Transport the pet as soon as possible to a veterinarian.

15. DO NOT PRACTICE ON A LIVE ANIMAL OR HUMAN!!! It is very important never to practice CPR on a normal animal be that human or pet. While you can decide where to put your hands and where the pulses are felt, artificial respiration or cardiac massage can seriously harm your healthy pet.

16. Bleeding Control If signals of circulation are present, continue assessment of circulation by checking for major bleeding.

17. Bleeding Control Steps Restrain animal first Use a sterile or clean dressing, apply gentle pressure over wound Wrap roller gauze around wound site Tie knot directly over wound Caution Caution: Do not tie TOO tight or you may cut of circulation If bleeding does not stop, use the flat part of your fingertips to compress the nearest artery (pressure point)

18. SHOCK Uncontrolled internal or external bleeding reduces the volume of circulated oxygenated blood = shock. Lack of oxygen Death if not treated promptly! If the pet’s body cannot adjust or compensate for major blood or fluid loss, shock will occur.

19. Signs of Shock Restlessness, anxiety Change in level of responsiveness Tongue, gums or inner eyelids may appear gray, blue, or whitish Rapid, shallow breathing Rapid weak pulse Extreme thirst Slow CRT time (>2 seconds) Cold face extremities Weakness Collapse Temperature below 100 o F Trembling

20. Care for Shock 1. Perform initial assessment: Assess – Alert – Attend 2. Open and maintain airway 3. Perform rescue breathing and CPR, if necessary 4. Control bleeding, if any. 5. Maintain as near normal a body temperature as possible. 6. Try to sooth and relax pet, and keep it as quiet as possible. 7. Make arrangement for immediate and safe transport of pet to a veterinary hospital.

21. Head-to-Toe Exam & D-O-T-S Inspect (look) and palpate (feel) for signs of injury: Deformities Open injuries Tenderness Swelling Head Neck Chest Abdomen Pelvis

22. Triage 22 -French word that means “to sort” Telephone triage 1. Obtain client’s name, telephone number, pet’s age, breed, sex (spayed or neutered), brief description of the problem. 2. Conditions requiring immediate veterinary care: Severe hemorrhage Labored breathing Loss of consciousness Seizures

23. REVIEW