5 Must-Know Pet First-Aid Skills

Most of us are not lucky enough to have our pet’s vet by our side 24/7.  When the cat stops breathing or the dog cuts his paw, odds are you will be home alone after veterinary hours.  Therefore, YOU must be able to rescue and help your pet BEFORE medical help is available.

In addition to getting to know your pet from snout-to-tail and getting down on all fours to keep their surrounding environment safe, there are five must-know skills to help a pet in need. Keep reading to learn the skills you need to know so that you can help keep your pet safe.    

Identify SHOCK 

Shock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when a pet doesn’t receive sufficient blood and oxygen to the tissues and organs.  His body tries to compensate by increasing heart and respiratory rates, restricting urinary output (to maintain fluids), and constricting blood vessels near the skin’s surface, but this requires energy he doesn’t have and will result in death without quick medical care. 

Look for:

• Pale gums, bright red gums or CRT slower than 2 seconds (when pressing on gums, look for the time it takes for color to return once the pressure is released)
• Woozy or weakness
• Panting
• Rapid heart rate

React: