Are you prepared if your dog needs first aid?
We had a dog who loved to get into the trash. She also tried, and sometimes succeeded in picking up a stray chicken bone while we on a walk. We were fortunate that those events were rare and beyond one stressful Thanksgiving episode, the first aid our dog needed was Neosporin on a cut.
Throughout April, the American Red Cross is trying to raise awareness about the specialized knowledge needed to treat our pets.
Can you answer these questions?
- Do you have phone numbers to 24-hour Animal Hospitals in your area on speed dial? How about a local veterinarians who makes house calls?
- Do you have the poison control hotline in an easy place to find quickly?
- Does your medicine cabinet have essential medications and supplies appropriate for your dog?
- Can you perform pet CPR?
- If you have a big dog, do you have the help/equipment necessary to get them into your car if they cannot walk?
The last one became a big deal for us as our dog aged, and I realized that I could not physically carry her 85 lb. body, even a little, forget down the front porch stairs.
April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month, a good time to look over your first aid supplies, your dog's current health needs, and if you are prepared to help your dog is they need first aid.