First Aid For Felines

First Aid is defined as emergency treatment administered to injured or ill individuals before professional medical care can be made available. As with all first aid, common sense is a big factor in treating the problem correctly. The principles applied are the same for animals as for people, but you must remember that your cat cannot tell you what has happened or where the injury is. You as the pet owner will have to be observant when evaluating the situation. With First Aid What You Should Remember is : You must take care not to cause new problems or make existing ones worse when trying to help. Protect yourself when administering first aid to any animal, including your pet. Even a beloved cat may bite or scratch when afraid or injured. Remember, after any emergency procedure involving your cat, always consult or visit your regular veterinary doctor. For administering veterinary first aid effectively, remember the following: Purchase a First Aid Kit now. Have your veterinarian demonstrate important techniques such as CPR and safe, effective restraint methods. Remain calm at all times. Your feline friend will respond best to quieter voices and a slow, soothing approach. Evaluate the situation and examine your cat quickly to detect the problem.

First Aid Kit For Felines

Accidents would not be accidents if you were forewarned .The only way you can realistically combat them is by making sure you have planned ahead .Making sure that you have a well stocked first aid kit should be the first line of preparation. What your First Aid kit should have: 1. Telephone numbers of the vet and an all night clinic. 2. A manual with the comprehensive information about injuries and their first aid treatment. 3. Plastic gloves. 4. Cotton wool. 5. Adhesive tape 6. Sponge and gauze strips. 7. Roll bandages that stretch and cling. 8. Non-adherent sterile pads. 9. Scissors and tweezers with rounded tips. 10. Muzzle and a nylon leash 11. Hand towel or a clean white cloth. 12. Rectal thermometer. 13. Soap. 14. Antibiotic ointment. 15. Betadine lotion 16. Painkillers (check with vet for the correct dose and amount to prevent any complication)

17. Epsom salts. 18. Syringe or an eyedropper (plastic). 19. Saline eyewash. 20. Glucose syrup. 21. Hydrogen peroxide solution 22. Hydrocortisone ointment 23. Antihistamine liquid

First Aid For Deep Wounds

Penetrating Chest Wounds If the wound is penetrating, and the cat shows difficulty in breathing, this is what you should do: DO NOT try to remove any object that "sticks out of the chest". Seal the wound along with the foreign object and make it airtight by holding and taping the plastic sheet around the wound. The sheet should not shift but should NEVER be very tight either Take the cat to the vet IMMEDIATELY to reduce any chances of a complication. If the breathing is very irregular, CPR may be needed Bleeding, deep and sucking wounds to the chest must be immediately treated. The most fatal of wounds are arterial wounds, characterised by rhythmic spurting. In bleeding from the veins, bleeding is a slower dripping or pooling of blood. To limit bleeding apply gentle, steady pressure with clean, absorbent material. Tourniquet may be applied, only if the bleeding does not stop. In effect it should be the last resort as it might lead to paralysis of the organ. If the wound is not as serious, bandage it. If the wound is only superficial, clean it with salt water. It is very important that your feline friend receives immediate veterinary attention in all these cases. The exceptions could be minor wounds which should be examined within 24 hours.

First Aid In Case Of Vomiting

Cats have an efficient vomiting mechanism. Vomiting thus can signify anything, from something minor to a serious ailment. Causes of vomiting include: Sudden changes in diet Intestinal parasites (worms) Bacterial or viral infections Motion sickness Foreign body ingestion Poisoning Kidney failure or other metabolic disorders Special types of stomach or intestinal disorders Pancreatic disorder (inflammation of the pancreas gland)

If the cat vomits only a couple of times, not followed by other problems, then it may not be very dangerous. Here is what you can do:

Withhold all food for 24 hours. Offer small amounts of water frequently or let the animal lick an ice cube. If the episode is not repeated, you can start giving the cat light food including boiled rice, soup etc. Make the meal light and well spaced instead of following the usual course. Gradually revert back to the original diet Signs when vomiting may be dangerous include : Symptoms lasting more than 24 hours Vomiting accompanied by diarrhoea Cat brings out blood in his vomit or stools Fever Evidence of pain Weakness or collapse Bloating of the abdomen Signs of dehydration are observed including, poor gum colour, dull, sunken eyes, or decreased elasticity of the skin.

First Aid For Heat Stroke

Cats lack sweat glands and do not dissipate the body heat like we do. They pant to decrease their body temperature. This works well as long as the outside temperature is lower than body temperature. But with the temerature soaring outside they often suffer heat strokes.

The problem increases if atmospheric humidity is high. Immediate first aid is advisable as heatstroke reduces the blood circulation, compromising kidney function, causing swelling of the brain, and general overheating of body tissues. Suspect A Heat-stroke When : Your cat is in an enclosed area without proper air circulation, such as a closed car or room. The pet has been in direct sunlight without access to fresh water, or has been exercising excessively on a hot day. Extreme panting and salivation is observed. The animal looks anxious, panic-stricken or giddy. Rectal temperature exceeds 105 degrees F. Note: The animal may collapse shortly after these symptoms are observed. First Aid For Your Cat

First move your cat to a cooler place, preferably an indoor air-conditioned setting. Bring down body temperature. Wrap your cat in a towel immersed in cold water. You can also pour water on the body if a towel or cloth is not available. Apply ice cubes to the gums. Encourage your cat to drink water. Put on a fan nearby to further help in cooling. Check the body temperature with a rectal thermometer every five minutes. Stop heat reduction after the temperature reaches 103 degrees F to avoid overcooling. If the animal is unconscious, let it drink as much cold water as it can once it regains consciousness. Massage the legs to stimulate circulation and prevent shock. Even if the worst seems to be over, see a veterinarian as soon as possible. Often, intravenous fluids, steroids and cold-water enemas are needed to prevent permanent damage to the brain and kidneys.

First Aid In Case Of Eye Injury

Eyes are fragile sense organs that can contract a variety of maladies. To prevent any complications later, seek veterinary help if you suspect eye infections. Common Eye Problems Include Conjunctivitis: It is an infection of the lining of the eyelids. Symptoms include teary, blood shot eyes. Corneal abrasions or ulcers Foreign bodies between the eye and eyelids or in the eye itself Glaucoma (increased pressure within the eyeball) Animals that have protruding eyeballs, can get Proptosis, triggered off essentially due to trauma. In this, the eyeball is forced partially out of its socket due to a sudden change in pressure. Proptosed eyes must be treated immediately to hope to salvage vision. Even a simple injury or infection can get dangerous in no time.

Never waste time in having a veterinarian examine an eye problem. If help is delayed, here is what you can do : With clean hands, gently remove any foreign material that is visible under the eyelids. Flush the eye gently with water or saline solution if you suspect that noxious fluids or small particles have contacted the eye. Prevent the discharge from building up and spilling into the eye by wiping the corner of the eye with a moistened cotton ball. Animals might try to rub the eye increasing the damage. This should be avoided as it might increase the damage.

First Aid In Case Of Burns

Burns are categorised as thermal, chemical, or electrical. Burns that do not scald the skin are relatively easier to treat. First aid when burns do not scald the skin: Wash the area completely with water, cold if possible. Apply a cold compress till the wound heals. Never apply creams or wrap the animal in a blanket if the skin is not charred, as even if this stops external burning, internal burning will continue.

After the burning subsides, blisters might appear. This is NOT a cause of worry, as they are not painful and will dry up with time. First aid for burns that scald the skin : Cover with a dry cloth or towel and transport to a veterinarian immediately. For deep burns, it is imperative that you seek immediate veterinary help. At times the animal can go into shock even without being symptomatic. In these cases, the actual amount of damage will only become apparent after a couple of days. Help will prevent infections and secondary illnesses. Though electrical burns show little sign externally, they are very dangerous. They can cause convulsions or life-threatening heart and lung conditions, at times manifesting themselves up to 24 to 48 hours after the incident. If your cat has an electric burn, switch off the source of current before you try to extricate your pet. Take your cat to the vet immediately if he has an electric burn; chances are that he could recede into a shock. If help is delayed, give your cat plenty of fluids and keep him wrapped up in a warm wrap.