First Aid For Cats
Tips About First Aid For Cats
First
aid for cats requires having a small set of medical supplies,
paying attention to your cat, applying basic medical skills and
first and foremost, keeping your cool. Many things can
happen to your cat and knowing how to respond to the situation
can make the difference between life and death.
In this article I cover the basics. Get hold of a
good veterinary
first-aid book to keep on hand. In some communities you can even
take a class on a first-aid for pets.
Whether your cat is an indoor or outdoor cat (or both) odds are
at some point in time something is going to cause him injury. In
an emergency it's a good idea to have already thought through
your first aid for cats plan.
First, take consideration of your own safety. After all you can't
help your cat if you're injured. If you can enlist the help of a
human partner, do so.
Confine his movements...
Dr. Andrew Jones has a surprising view
on veterinary care. Find out what they are and learn how
you can take charge of your own cat care when you read his
Veterinary
Secrets Revealed. Try my
standard method for confining my cat's legs and claws.
Take a large towel and wrap it around your cat making sure that
you have his legs and feet and claws encased within this wrap. A
pillowcase with the corner cut out works well too. Just drop the
pillowcase over his head adjusting it so that his is head sticking
out of the pillow corner. Use the rest of the case to confine and
control his movement.
If this is an open wound, it may be a bite or a scratch. If the
blood is still flowing, use a clean damp cloth to gently apply
pressure until the bleeding has stopped. Then apply a broad spectrum
top antibiotic and call your vet.
Sometimes first aid for cats means not treating the wound. If
the wound has clotted, do not try cleaning it. You could restart the
flow of blood. Do NOT use alcohol or peroxide on an open wound. This
causes more pain and make it more difficult to stop the bleeding. If
the wound is deep or long and you can't seem to get control the
bleeding continue to apply pressure with a clean cloth and get your
cat to the vet immediately. Do not use a tourniquet as you may cause
serious damage to life and limb.
You may not notice that your cat has experienced a wound right away.
You may discover it when your grooming your cat and notice a scab.
The scab may break open and present you with a smelly gob of puss.
This is what is known as an abscess. Most abscesses are caused by a
scratch or bite from another animal—cat or otherwise.
Fractures
One of the incredible things about cats is that they
are very flexible. They can, however, break bones just like the rest
of us. If your cat has been hit by a car, bicycle, fallen out of a
tree, off the roof or even been stepped on by Grandpa, get him into
your vet for x-Rays. It doesn't matter if he's still walking on all
fours, you are better safe than sorry. Wrap him in your first aid
for cats pillowcase or towel constraints, place him in a carrier if
possible and get to the vet.
Again,
it may help to have somebody else do the driving for you. It's a must
to have another person drive if you can't get you cat in a pet carrier. An injured cat in the car with you
at the wheel is a recipe for disaster.
A broken bone usually
isn't a fatal sentence. Your vet can us pens, screws, plates, splints
and casts to align the bone and promote quick healing. Finally,
when you and your family are working on your disaster preparedness
plan, don't forget to include a plan for the family pets.
During a disaster you need all of your wits and strength you can
muster. Having a plan in place for your pets and children can mean the
difference between rapid recovery and a lifetime of anxiety and
regret.
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