Posts Tagged ‘Emergency Pet Care’

This article is from page 23 of the PetTech PetSaver program and is helpful if your dog or cat has a seizure.

Seizures-Convulsions

Definition: Involuntary contractions of muscles caused by abnormal cerebral stimulation or dysfunction.

Causes: Seizures or convulsions can be caused by epilepsy, poisoning (from toxic substances like lead, organophosphate and strychnine) or head trauma (mostly caused by being hit by a car or a fall).

A seizure caused by poisoning is an emergency situation. The veterinarian needs to know the amount and type of poison ingested. It is best to bring the suspected container with you.

Signs: Falling, chomping jaws, stiffening of the body, paddling motion of the legs, jerky and uncontrollable movements lasting two to three minutes. Prior to and after the seizure the pet can have a low level of consciousness, be unresponsive and not know who you are. The pet may also empty its bladder and bowels.

Actions For Survival: Stay calm, reduce external stimuli (lights, sounds, people). DO NOT restrain the pet or place anything in its mouth. Clear the area of hard or sharp objects that might cause harm. If possible, pull the pet away from objects and onto a blanket to help reduce injury.

First Aid: Seizures:

• Be sure that your pet has a heartbeat and is breathing. If so, place a rolled-up blanket or towel under the head for protection.
• When the seizure has stopped, monitor breathing. If the pet has no history of seizures, transport to the nearest veterinarian or emergency animal hospital. If the pet has a history of seizures, take note and transport only if the seizure is not like its “normal” seizures
• Keep the pet comfortable in a quiet, dark place
• Clean up any mess and make a note as to the duration and frequency of the seizure for the veterinarian. If the seizure lasts longer than what is “normal” or the pet has repeated seizures, then you should contact its veterinarian.

A seizure caused by head trauma is an emergency situation. Treat as other life-threatening symptoms present themselves (i.e. CPR, Rescue Breathing, shock, bleeding, etc.). Transport the pet to its veterinarian or nearest emergency animal hospital immediately, moving it as little as poss ible.

Note to Pet Owners: Keeping records of a pet’s health is important, especially for a pet that has seizures.

You can contact my instructor, Jennifer Perry at 770-575-1423 or  Jennifer@PetTechAtlanta.com. Her website is http://pfa.pettechatlanta.com/.

May all that have life be delivered from suffering.
– Buddha

A couple of weeks ago, I attended my Georgia Network of Professional Pet Sitters monthly meeting, where Beth Fasnacht of Pet Watch, Inc. gave us an excellent presentation on disaster emergency preparation. Here is a little more of what I learned.

Caring For Birds in an Emergency

Birds should be transported in a secure travel cage or carrier. In cold weather, wrap a blanket over the carrier and warm up the car before placing the birds inside. During warm weather, carry a plant mister to mist the bird’s feathers periodically. Do not put water inside the carrier during transport.

• Provide a few slices of fresh fruits and vegetables with high water content
• Have a photo for identification and leg bands
• If the carrier does not have a perch, line it with paper towels and change them frequently
• Try to keep the carrier in a quiet area. Do not let the birds out of the cage or carrier during an emergency
• When transporting house lizards, follow the same directions as for birds

What About Other Pets?

Reptiles

Snakes can be transported in a pillowcase, but they must be transferred to more secure housing when they reach the evacuation site.

If the snake requires frequent feedings, carry food with you.

Take a water bowl large enough for soaking as well as a heating pad.

Pocket Pets

Small mammals (hamsters, gerbils, etc.) should be transported in secure carriers suitable for maintaining the animals while at the shelter. Take bedding materials, food bowls, and water bottles.

Life is life–whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man’s own advantage.
– Sri Aurobindo

I want to thank Beth Fasnacht at Pet Watch, Inc., who is in my networking group, Georgia Network of Professional Pet Sitters for providing me with this crucial information during our February meeting. I learned a lot from that meeting and will be sharing it all in previous, present and future blogs.

Pets and Disasters: Getting Prepared

Our pets enrich our lives in more ways than we can count. In turn, they depend on us for their safety and well being. In this article, you are going to learn how to be prepared with a Disaster Plan to protect you, your family, and your pet family as well.

Did you know that the Humane Society of the United States is working with the American Red Cross on providing shelter and help to victims and their pets in disasters? Do we have any of these shelters in our areas? Do you have an emergency disaster system in place for you and your family?

One way the HSUS is working with people is teaching them how to prepare for a disaster. This article will hopefully help you if a disaster strikes your home and give you some interesting facts about what is being done to help people find shelter in a disaster.

Be Prepared With a Disaster Plan

The best way to protect your family and pets is to have a disaster plan in place. This includes all supplies, and they need to be ready to take out the door and/or  use  if a disaster strikes.

Being prepared can save their lives and yours!

Different disasters require different responses. However, whether the disaster is a hurricane or a hazardous spill, you may have to evacuate your home. If you must evacuate, the most important thing you can do to protect your pets is to evacuate them, too. Leaving pets behind, even if you try to create a safe place for them, is likely to result in their being injured, lost or killed. Prepare now for the day when you and your pets may have to leave your home.

Have a Safe Place to Take Them

Red Cross Shelters cannot accept pets because of states’ health and safety regulations and other considerations. Service animals that assist with disabilities are the only animals allowed in the Red Cross Shelters. It may be difficult, if not impossible, to find shelter for your animals in the midst of a disaster, so plan ahead. Do not wait until disaster strikes to do your research.

• Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area to check policies on accepting pets and restriction on number, size, and species. Ask if “no pets” policies could be waived in an emergency. Keep a list of “pet friendly” places, including phone numbers, with other disaster information and supplies. If you have notice of an impending disaster, call ahead for reservations.
• Ask friends, relatives, or others outside the affected area whether they could shelter your animals on a temporary basis. If you have more than one pet, they may be more comfortable if kept together, but be prepared to house them separately.
• Prepare a list of boarding facilities and veterinarians who could shelter animals in an emergency; include 24-hour phone numbers.
• Ask your local animal shelter if they provide emergency shelter or foster care for pets in a disaster. Animal shelters may be overburdened caring for the animals they already have, as well as those displaced by a disaster, so this should be your last resort. If your local area does not have an emergency shelter, maybe work with the Emergency Management Team in your area to set one up.

“True benevolence or compassion, extends itself through the whole of existence and sympathizes with the distress of every creature capable of sensation.”
– Joseph Addison