How to Celebrate Pet First Aid Month

Do you think you're truly ready in case your pet ever has a medical emergency? I think I know the answer. For this reason, April has been designated as National Pet First Aid Month. So while you're getting ready for spring, you can also get ready if heaven forbid, your pet needs emergency care. Here is how to take advantage of Pet First Aid Month.

Instructions

1. Put together a basic pet first aid kit that is easy to reach. The kit should contain hydrogen peroxide, antibiotic ointment, gauze pads, bandages, tweezers, thermometer, instant cold pack and rags/rubber tubing for a tourniquet.

2. Keep the phone number of your regular vet, the addresses/phone numbers of the closest animal emergency clinics to your house and the numbers for poison control hotlines in a visible spot in your house and also in your car glove compartment.

3. Know which diseases and illnesses your type of pet is prone to and what types of foods, plants and household items can be toxic to your pet. For instance, certain dog breeds (especially larger ones) are prone to bloat, chocolate and grapes are toxic to both dogs and cats and various lawn fertilizers (including cocoa mulch) can be fatal to dogs and cats.

4. Learn life-saving procedures such as how to administer rescue breathing and CPR to your pet, what to do if your pet is choking, how to check your pet's vitals and how to handle insect bites and poisoning. Throughout the month of April, various humane societies and shelters in order to raise money will offer very affordable classes in pet first aid and CPR. In other words, you can learn to save your pet's life for about $15!

Tips & Warnings

• Pets 911 is a website that lists emergency animal hospitals by state, which may come in handy if you are traveling with your pet (see Resources below).

• The American Red Cross teaches classes in pet first aid and they also offer pet first aid kits and a reference guide that teaches pet owners how to recognize an emergency, administer medications, perform CPR and first aid and treat common problems and emergencies (see Resources below).

• If your pet has a specific medical condition, speak with your vet about possible treatments that you can administer yourself in the event of an emergency. For example, an EpiPen (epinephrine pen) may be a life-saving item to add to your first aid kit if your pet suffers from severe allergic reactions to bee stings.

• If you suspect your pet has ingested poison, The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center offers advice over the phone 24 hours a day, every day of the year. They can be reached at [phone]. The Animal Poison Hotline, provided by North Shore Animal League America (NSAL) and PROSAR International Animal Poison Center (IAPC) can be reached at [phone] and is also staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Both services will charge a fee to your credit card. The ASPCA Poison Control Center fee is $55 and the Animal Poison Hotline is $35 per incident as of this writing.

Resources

• Pets 911
• American Red Cross