Pet First Aid Awareness in Westchester County, NY

              Do you have a first aid kit at home for your pet? If not, how prepared are you and your pet for an emergency? Although we always recommend contacting  your veterinarian if you think your pet is having an emergency, it’s important to know what steps you can take immediately to keep your pet stable while you are determining whether they need medical attention. Make sure you have a first aid kit close by that all family members are aware of.

What should you keep in your pet first aid kit?

• Vet wrap – vet wrap is a colorful, self-clinging bandage material used by vets to cover wounds and bandage injuries in pets. It is sold in drug stores as a beige-colored, over-the-counter bandage for people. Pick some up in your local pharmacy or from your vet so that you can have it on hand to keep wounds clean, controll bleeding, and deter your birds from picking on open wounds.
• Styptic powder, flour, or corn starch – all are helpful when trying clot blood from a broken blood feather or a broken nail. These clotting aids should not be applied to open wounds on the skin, and pets that bleed significantly should be examined by a vet as soon as possible.
• Oral dosing syringe – if your pet is sick and needs to be syringe fed or to be given oral medication, it’s important to keep a variety of different sized oral syringes on hand. Consult your veterinarian on appropriate sizes for your pet.
• Adhesive removal – In case your pet gets stuck to something with a glue base, such as a glue trap, we recommend having an adhesive removal handy. A commonly used, safe brand that we use at the Veterinary Center is Eaze Off by Millpledge. When using this product, be sure to spray it sparingly directly over the glue and not near the bird’s face or eyes.
• Sterile gloves – if your pet has an open wound, have sterile gloves on hand so you can handle your pet without introducing bacteria or other microbes from your hands into the wound.
• Gauze – To stop bleeding from a wound or keep a cut clean, you should have sterile gauze on hand.
• Hydrogen peroxide – if you need to clean a wound, use a small amount of hydrogen peroxide. Never use isopropyl alcohol, as it is very irritating and may cause significant discomfort for your pet.
• Q-tips – Q-tips can be helpful when trying to clean a concentrated area on your pet.

Conclusion

At the Veterinary Center for Birds and Exotics, we ALWAYS recommend that you contact us if you feel your pet is having an emergency. By being available 24/7/365 for phone consultations, our staff can help you decide whether your pet needs to be examined immediately by a doctor or if it’s okay for you to make  scheduled appointment.  Never try to self-treat your pet at home or “Google” treatment. Doing so may cause more harm than good for your pet. If you think your bird is having  an emergency, keep them in a warm, quiet environment to prevent any further stress on, and call us right away.