First Aid For Pets: Be Prepared

Dr. Debbye Turner Tells What To Have On Hand And How To Use It

(CBS)  You probably have a first aid kit at home for your family - but what about your family pets?

You need to be ready if your furry friend faces an emergency at home, The Early Show's resident veterinarian, Dr. Debbye Turner, pointed out Saturday.

What's more, she notes, as the weather gets warmer, more pet owners take their pets with them when they leave the house - on vacations, to the park, jogging, hiking, even swimming. That can be fun for you and your pet, but there's a chance your pet will get hurt there, as well.

So, it's important to know some of the basics of first aid for your pet, to give you peace of mind and your pet fast help if necessary.

Her words of wisdom:

First of all, find out if your veterinarian accepts emergency and after-hours calls. Get that phone number if it's different from the regular clinic phone number. If your vet doesn't take emergencies, find the emergency veterinary clinic closest to you. Always have the emergency phone number on hand, in case you need it. Once an emergency happens, it's too late to go searching through the phone book.

Also, in general, these basic first aid tips are meant to help you help your pet until you can get her or him to a veterinarian. These steps should never take the place of seeing a veterinary professional when an emergency, or even a seemingly minor problem arises.

BITES & CUTS

The first thing to do is muzzle your pet to protect yourself from getting bitten. Even the friendliest pet will bite when afraid or in pain. If you don't have a muzzle for your dog, it's easy to make one. Take a long piece of gauze bandage, a scarf, nylon stocking, necktie, or even a sock, and tie it in a loose loop. Carefully place the loop around the dog's snout. Let it slide as far back (toward the head) as possible. Tighten the loop until it's snug, but not too tight. Then, bring the loose ends under the dog's ears and tie them together behind the dog's head. Don't muzzle an animal that's having difficulty breathing or is unconscious. It's difficult to muzzle a cat. Try wrapping her in a towel to help control her movements and protect you from her claws.

Once the mouth is secured shut, inspect the wound. Remove any debris, dirt, or foreign objects. Gently rinse the abrasion with saline or regular water and a mild soap. It's OK to apply an antibiotic cream or spray; just be sure to bandage the wound so your pet doesn't ingest the cream or spray. If there's a gaping wound, once it's cleaned, cover it with a gauze bandage and wrap it with a roll of gauze or a clean towel. Then, the bandage should be held in place by adhesive tape. The bandage should be snug, but shouldn't cut off circulation to the wounded area or cause further damage. If there's bleeding, use an old towel or gauze bandage to apply firm pressure to the wound to help stop or slow the bleeding. Hold with constant pressure for several minutes. Checking the wound repeatedly will slow or impede the clotting process and cause the bleeding to continue. Then, take the animal directly to the veterinarian.

INSECT STINGS

If your pet is stung by a bee or wasp, use tweezers to remove the stinger. Be careful not to press on the venom sac. That only injects more venom into the wound. Apply a cool compress on the sting or bite, such as a towel soaked in cold water, or an ice pack (ice in a plastic bag, wrapped in a cloth or towel) Cortisone cream can be applied to the bite; just be sure the pet can't ingest the cream. You'll need to put on an Elizabethan collar or bandage the wound. Call your veterinarian for further treatment.