April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month and a great time for pet owners in Arlington, VA to learn how best to handle pet accidents and emergencies. Animals can't tell you when they aren't feeling well and many hide signs of illness until a problem is well advanced. Knowing what is normal for your pet and being able to recognize changes early can make a huge difference in treatment success.In Arlington, VA, the warm weather and longer days are (hopefully) here. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom and this means we have more outdoor activities to enjoy: Cookouts, gardening, pool parties and travel all fun, family events that can expose pets to an increased variety of outdoor threats. If you have travel plans for Spring Break, be sure your dog walker has the name and number of your vet. Pets are an important part of our lives, and we need to be able to assist them in an emergency. Here are some helpful and important tips in keeping your pet safe this spring:
Pet First-Aid Kit: Keep a pet first-aid kit. Buy or make yourselfa first aid kit, tape a card with the phone numbers of yourveterinarian, the after-hours emergency clinic, and the ASPCA animal poison control center (888-426-4435). Also add these items to your first aid kit: antiseptic wipes and over-the-counter antibiotic ointment, gauze pads, self-cling bandage, adhesive tape and scissors, hydrogen peroxide, tweezers for tick removal, nail trimmer, sterile saline solution to flush eyes and wounds. Be sure your dog walker knows where to find your first-aid kit in case of an emergency while you're away!
CPR: Know how to perform CPR. There are many classes that are offered in the surrounding Arlington, VA areas. If you have a dog walker, do they know CPR? Many pet care professionals are now being certified in pet first-aid and CPR as part of their training.
Poisons: Easter Lilies, Hibiscus,Amaryllis, Daffodil, Day Lily, Gladiolas, Hyacinth, Iris and Tulips. These flowers can all be very harmful to pets. Two or three days after cats have eaten a few leaves of a Tiger Lily or Easter Lily, they can go into renal failure. After ingesting Hibiscus, a dog will vomit persistently, may vomit blood and have bloody diarrhea. If your pet eats something that is poisonous, call your veterinarian and/or poison control center.
Car Safety: Most dogs love putting their heads out the window during car rides. However, try to avoid this behavior, as it can lead to eye, ear, and other injuries. Do not allow pets to ride in the front seatno matter how much the pet enjoys itand be sure to secure your pet in the car. An unrestrained pet can interfere with driving and, in the event of an accident or sudden stop, a dog can be thrown into the windshield, injuring a passenger or causing the driver to lose control of the car. When traveling, have a crate, travel harness, or partition between the front and back seats. Children are almost always safely strapped into car seats but pets rarely get treated with the same safety measures. An unrestrained pet can also be the source of distractions while driving. Even minor accidents can frighten pets into jumping from open doors or windows into traffic. And most importantly, don't leave your pet in a hot car!
Seasonal Allergies: Allergies, flea dermatitis and ear problems are more common in the spring. You may not think itchy skin and earaches are an emergency, but they can be painful and worsen if left untreated.
So, this spring learn how to recognize an emergency, perform first aid and CPR, treat common problems, and put together a pet first aid kit. Your pet will still stay safe and you will enjoy the beautiful season of spring!
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