How To Prepare For Emergency Needs

You’re on a hike with your dog and they cut their paw badly on a sharp rock – the closest veterinary hospital is 30 minutes away and you need to do something NOW to control the wound, what do you do? Are you prepared with the proper supplies? This article will help you know what to pack, how to administer, and what to avoid in case of emergency.

Urgent medical situations can be scary. Being properly prepared can help ease the fears when you’re put in a situation where first aid needs to be administered. The first thing you’ll want to do is have the proper supplies. A general supply pack should include things like non-stick bandages/gauze pads, vet wrap or medical tape, hand sanitizer, tweezers, scissors to trim the hair around wounds or cut bandages if needed, thermometer, sterile saline solution, a syringe, triple antibiotic ointment, Benadryl, and emergency contact numbers for your vet and/or nearest animal hospital in the area.

Flushing a wound and placing proper bandaging until you can seek medical care can make a large difference in healing and infection risk. When placing a bandage, be careful not to apply medical supplies so tightly that circulation is restricted – unless compression is required en-route to a veterinary hospital. This can pose a threat of its own if kept in place too long. Keep in mind as well that there are few over-the-counter medications that are safe for animals to take. Never administer ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or any other over-the-counter pain medication to your animal in an emergency. Benadryl can be given at the proper dosing in case of allergic reaction. Know your pet’s weight and dosing prior to administration.

In the event of an emergency, being fully prepared and educated about your options can help control the situation and ease the stress of knowing what to do for your pet. If you have further questions about what supplies or needs your pet might have, please contact Four Paws Animal Hospital and Wellness Center at 540-898-5388.