First Aid Flashcards
First consideration is
Safe working environment
_ / 10 dogs and cats will have an emergency at some point
9
_ more animals could be saved with appropriate first aid
1/4
By knowing first aid you can:
- lower body temp
- stop bleeding
- prevent infection
- prevent loss of consciousness by alleviating choking
- expel poison by inducing vomting
- keep heart and lungs working
Triage is …
the process of evaluating needs during an emergency
Questions to determine priority
Is animal breathing? (If yes then heart is beating
if heartbeat is present but not breathing - rescue breathing)
Is heart beating? (If not breathing AND no heartbeat - need to perform CPR)
Heart and lungs are working but animal is in distress - need to perform first aid
What are agonal breaths
gasping or labored breaths signaling death
10 situations requiring vet
- trauma to head, chest, abdomen or unconscious
- 1st time seizure, seizure > 5 minutes, or longer than normal for epileptic
- arterial bleeding
- fractures, suspected muscle strains/tears
- wounds > 1” in length or 1/4” deep
- suspected poison/snake bite
- shock
- respiratory distress
- inability to walk
- bloat
5 vital signs
- Pulse
- Respiration
- Temperature
- CRT
- Hydration
How to check pulse and normal range
-place two fingers over depression in upper inner thigh
-count for 60s (or 30 s x 2)
-normal:
cat 160-200 bps
small dog 90-160 bps
m/l dog 65-90 bps
How to check respiration and normal range
Observe, or place hand over chest
Normal:
cats/small dogs 20-40 breaths/minute
m/l dogs 10-30 breaths/minute
Normal range of temps
Normal: 100-102.5
Fever: 103 or higher
Emergency: 104 or higher
Normal CRT
1-2 seconds
How to check hydration
Pinch fold at nape of neck, shouldn’t stay tented
Press gums - shouldn’t be dry or sticky
How to examine animal
-Start from nose, work your way back, observing with eyes and gently feeling
-Checking for sores, redness, lumps, bumps,
mites, bruising, bleeding, tenderness
-Gently clean ears, check for redness, parasites, odor
-Observe eyes - should dilate symmetrically, normal motion tracking
-Feel muzzle for bumps, tenderness
-Gums should be pink
-Check for broken teeth, swelling, bleeding
-should feel not see ribs
-inspect legs and paws making sure not cracked toenails good length
-check abdomen for hard spots or tenderness
-mammary glands, genitals, anus should be clean with no colored discharge
-check skin/coat for flaking, excess shedding
Basic signs of illness/injury
- Redness
- Swelling
- Tenderness/lameness
- Open sores
- Bleeding, pus, or discharge
- Breathing difficulties
- Increased or decreased heart rate
- Excessive panting
- Prolonged CRT
- Abnormal temp, hydration
- Infrequent or frequent urination
- Unproductive straining to urinate/defecate
- Vomiting/diarrhea/constipation
- Restlesness
- Inability to walk
- Distended abdomen
- Lethargy
Creating safe environment
- put cat in bathroom
- wrap in towel
- scruff
- use towel or triangular bandage to support hindquarters
- can use any kind of board to immobilize if suspect spinal injury
- small animal can use carrier or any kind of box
First aid kit should contain…
- Gauze squares
- Rolled gauze
- Styptic powder
- Bandage scissors
- Tweezers
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Eyewash
- Chlorhexidine
- Coldpack
- Antibiotic ointment
- Dose syringe or eyedropper
- Digital thermometer
- Antihistamines
- Antacids
- Electrolytes
- Nylon slip leash
- Towel/blanket
- First aid handbook
- Important phone numbers
Signs of choking
- Noise/cough as animal exhales
- Rasping noise as he inhales
- Gagging/retching
- Pawing at mouth
- Drooling
- Staggering
- Outstretched neck
- Pale blue gums
- Collapse
If you suspect choking for a small pet:
With front end on floor, place hindquarters in lap to elevate
Deliver firm blow between shoulder blades
If suspect choking for larger pet:
Stand behind arms around waist
Close hand over fist just behind last rib
5 quick thrusts
Choking: If large animal is unconscious
Place animal on side
Hand over hand on one side of chest
5 quick thrusts
Alternate with rescue breathing and CPCR
CPCR and CPR similarities
Both use chest compressions and artificial respiration
CPCR and CPR difference
CPCR focuses more on chest compressions
CAB stands for
Circulation Airway Breathing
How to do chest compressions
Place animal on side chin up
Where elbows touches chest
Compress to 1/3 width
CPCR for large dogs
Place animal on solid surface right side down
30 compressions followed by 2 breaths
Repeat compressions
CPCR for cats and small dogs
Place chest in palm of hand
four fingers on one side, thumb on other
50 compressions followed by 2 breaths
CPCR 3 person technique
Person 1 administers 30 vigorous chest compressions
Person 2 administers 2 breaths at end of 30 compressions
Person 3 compresses abdomen with one hand
CPCR must be started _ minutes after heart failure to avoid brain damage. After _ minutes damage is irreversible
4, 10
CPCR neonates
Administer 1 compression and 1 puff breath
Rescue breathing
Make sure mouth is sealed
Use hands to make tube over nostrils,
Deliver 2 fulls breaths into nostrils
Make sure you see lungs rise
Pregnancy lasts _ days in dogs and cats
60-65
Signs an animal is close to giving birth
- Mammary gland enlargement
- Milk secretion
- Anorexia
- Restlessness, seeking seclusion, nesting
- Rectal temp decreases
Birth - situations which require your assistance
- Fetus is only partially out but can see front legs and head
- If mom doesn’t eat amniotic sac in 30 seconds - carefully clean away and rub newborn vigorously with clean towel
- Mom doesn’t sever umbilical cord - tie knot 1 1/2” from baby and 1” further snip between threads
Birth - signs of emergency
- dark green fluid
- straining w/o delivering for more than hour
- mother is weak, nervous or restless more than 1/2 hour after birth
- tremors days or weeks after birth, vomiting, trouble standing
Differences between vein and arterial bleeding
Veins, darker, bluer, steady stream
Artery - bright red, spurting (emergency)
For minor cuts and scrapes:
- Flush with water, saline, chlorhexidine
- Pat dry and bandage loosely
- Can use styptic powder for toe nails
For severe bleeding:
- Apply direct pressure with gauze
- Elevate limb
- If bleeding not controlled, apply pressure to one of five arterial points
- Cover with rolled gauze and secure with self adhering bandage
5 arterial pressure points
1 - Front leg: Above elbow toward inside of front leg (near armpit)
2 - Back leg - Inside upper thigh where leg meets body
3 - Front foot - behind front foot above largest pad
4 - Rear foot - behind rear foot just above largest pad
5 - Tail - underside of tail at base
Injuries -paw
Remove debris, flush to clean Elevate if needed Dry with nonstick pad Wrap gauze in figure eight pattern around toes Cover with self adhesive bandage
Injuries - Ear
- Press upright ears down or downright ears up for pressure
- bandage using good ear as anchor
- Can cut t shirt sleeve to wrap over head
- Can use styptic powder
1st degree burns
2nd degree burns
3rd degree
1st - skin appears dark pink or red
2nd - blisters and/or serous fluid
3rd - skin appears charred, white, leathery or brown
Care for first degree burns
Cool with room temp water
Trim away fur and apply aloe vera
If skin unbroken, home care is OK
Care 2nd degree burns
- Flush with cool water 5-10 min
- Pat dry with clean cloth
- Bandage loosely with nonstick bandage
- Don’t apply gels or ointments
Care 3rd degree burns
- Restrain pet,
- Bandage loosely
- Get to vet
- Monitor for shock
Chemical burns
Flush with lukewarm/cool water 10 minutes
If suspect chemical that could harm lungs, monitor breathing
If chemical is oily, use dishwashing liquid before flushing
If chemical is dry/powdery, brush away as much as possible before flushing
If burn appears 2nd or 3rd degree seek vet
bring container if possible
Electrical burns
Make sure source of electricity is removed
Check breathing and pulse, if no, CPCR
Shocks can damage blood vessels in lungs causing slow leak of fluids - seek vet
Drowning
Hold small dogs/cats securing by hind legs
Large dogs - “wheelbarrow” position
Can place hand behind last rib and thrust towards head several times
Wrap animal in towels/blanket
If heartbeat but no breathing - rescue breathing
If neither heartbeat nor breathing - CPCR
Get to vet
If witness animal fall
- 1st check breathing and heartbeat - if no, administer CPCr
- If animal is conscious, perform first aid as needed
- If animal is reluctant to move, transport with some type of stretcher
For frostbite:
- Get into warmth
- Wrap in semiwarm blankets
- Lower affected area
- Get to vet
Symptoms of heat stroke
Heavy panting Gasping Vomiting Foam Weak or fast pulse Inability to drink Bright red of bluish gums Unconsciousness
How to treat heatstroke
-Get to cooler environment
-Apply room temp water to paws, armpits, groin, belly
-Can use rubbing alcohol, cold pack
-Do not force drinking
-Check temp - if 103 or higher get to vet immediately
If pet goes unconscious, use karo syrup
-CPCR if necessary
How to treat hot spots
- Trim fur
- Warm water, pat dry
- Dont use ointment as it traps bacteria
- Use spray or cream or black tea teabag
- 3 - 5 x / day until healed
- See vet if doesn’t heal by 7 days
For embedded object…
- Secure objects position by placing gauze rolls on either side then securing with third roll
- Place brace around object using styrofoam cup with hole, etc
- Tape brace firmly to body
- Dont attempt if struggling
- Get to vet
For vomiting
- Rest stomach by withholding food for 24 hrs
- If all is well after 24 hrs feed bland diet of boiled chicken and rice
- If persists more than 24 hrs seek vet
Constipation
- Encourage water consumption
- Can add bran cereal (no sugar) 1-3 tbsp / day
- Can add pure cooked pumpkin - 1-3 tbsp / day
- If does not resolve after 24 hrs - seek vet
Bloat
- Can be fatal in 30 minutes
- Occurs when dogs swallow air or excess food
- Valve of stomach becomes blocked
- When stomach dilated, presses on other organs
- Stomach can twist 1/4 - full turn (volvulus/torsion)
- Tissue of stomach quickly dies
- Difficulty breathing
- Often in deep chested dogs
Symptoms of bloat
- Distended belly
- Retching/dry heaves
- Restlessness/collapse
- Difficulty breathing
Treating bee stings
- If stinger is visible, flick it away w/ credit card, etc - don’t use tweezers
- Administer benadryl 1 mg/lb - can repeat after 6-8 hours
- Can apply cold pack
- If in mouth
- offer ice cube
- flush with tsp baking soda in a pint of water
Symptoms of anaphylactic shock
- Severe swelling
- Difficulty breathing
- Pale blue membranes
- Rappid irregular pulse
- Prolonged CRT
- Lower than normal temp ( < 100 F)
Snakes may be venomous if
Broad triangular head with narrow neck
Vertical pupils
“Pit vipers” have heat sensing pits
2 fangs which leave puncture wounds
Difference between hemotoxic and neurotoxic
Hemotoxic: Damages blood vessels, causing swelling as blood seeps into tissue
Neurotoxic: Results in paralysis, including respiratory muscles
If animal gets snake bite
Keep bite wound below heart
Keep animal calm
Get animal to vet hospital
You should have emergency number
If animal gets snake bite, do NOT
cut over bite or suck out venom
manipulate bitten area
allow pet to move about
use ice pack
Snakebite general advice
- Stick to open paths
- Don’t let dog nose under rocks, logs, etc
- Eliminate trash piles
Hypoglycemia can be caused by …
Pancreas malfunctioning, liver disease, parasites
Hypoglycemia symptoms
- Twitching, shaking, wooziness
- Head tilt
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
If suspect hypogycemia…
administer sugar
under 50 lbs: 1 tsp over 50 lb 2 tsp
If animal is not alert in 5-10 minutes seek vet
A compound fracture is
broken bone that has penetrated skin
A sprain/strain is
when ligament is overstretched
If notice limping
- Restrict exercise
- Apply cold compress 3-4 x / day for 5-10 min
- If not improved after 24 hours rest and ice packs seek vet
- If suspect break, immobilize limb (dont attempt if animal is resistant)
To avoid poisoning
Keep harmful items out of reach
Childproof locks
Pet friendly chemicals
Toxic dose of chocolate:
Milk: 1 oz / lb
Dark: 1/2 oz / lb
Baker’s: 1/4 oz / lb
Dry cocoa powder: 1/8 oz / lb
Common signs of poisoning
- Muscle tremors, seizures
- Vomiting, diarrhea
- Drooling, foaming
- Redness of skin, ears, eyes
- Lethargy/anxiety
- Blisters
- Swelling
- Increased or decreased heart rate
