April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month, and while we hope you never need to provide emergency care to your furry friends, we do recommend familiarizing yourself with some basic instructions, just in case an emergency occurs. The American Red Cross offers an app for pet parents that provides step-by-step instructions for dealing with more than 25 common first aid situations. The organization also offers a Pet First Aid course, which gives pet parents the opportunity to learn and practice life-saving techniques.
This month is also a good time to take inventory of your pet first aid kit, or put one together if you don’t already have one at the ready. Some basic items to include are: special pet bandages that won’t stick to fur, a gauze roll and pads, adhesive tape, antiseptic, hydrogen peroxide, non-latex plastic gloves, a rectal thermometer, blunt-tip scissors, tweezers, styptic powder and wet wipes. Of course, you may wish to add other items that you believe might be needed. It’s also a good idea to keep a photocopy of your pet’s medical records and vaccination schedule in the kit.
If you have questions about creating a pet first aid kit, or want to make sure you have the supplies on hand for a specific type of emergency situation, please give us a call! We’d love to help you make sure you’re prepared to help provide the care your pet needs should an emergency situation arise.