Our guest speaker was Ali Cassaday. She is a Teacher Training Specialist who works with the Southeastern PA Chapter of the American Red Cross and trains people to perform emergency first aid including CPR on both people and animals. She said the Red Cross offers a Pet First Aid class. The cost is $ 65 for a 4 hour course, including an excellent Pet 1st aid book and kit filled with essential items. The book is also available separately for $ 12.95, and the kit can be purchased for $ 30. Although the NJ Red Cross hasn't offered the course, she can arrange one if there is interest. (Rev. Shellie Pinner said PetPALS of Southern NJ could sponsor the class at her church.) Ali will also prepare written handouts on specific topics by request.
The PA Red Cross has obtained dog and cat mannequins (Jerry and Fluffy) for practicing CPR techniques on animals, just as a human mannequin has been used for people. When the trainee breathes into the mannequin properly, the chest rises. For info, call 1-800-42 CROSS.
Ali gave us lots of info about emergency care of animals. "Pet First Aid is immediate and temporary care given to an injured animal until it can be taken to a professional veterinarian for more definitive medical care and attention." It's important to know what is normal when treating any animal. Pulse rates vary from 100-160 beats per minute for small dogs, 60-100 bpm for medium-large dogs, and 160-220 bpm for cats. Dogs breathing rates are 10-30 breaths/min, up to 200 pants/min, cats 20-30 b/m, up to 300 pants/min. Body temp for dogs 100.2-102.8' F, cats 100.5-102.5' F. Mucous membrane color pink, capillary refill (check gums) 1-3 sec.
Recognizing an emergency - unusual noises, sights, odors, behavior. Emergency action steps (ABC's): A - Check the scene for safety, then check the animal. If the scene is unsafe, go for help. B - Call for help - 911 will not usually help. Call a local veterinarian, emergency animal clinic, animal shelter or animal control. If you suspect poisoning, call the National Animal Poison Control Center - 800-548-2424 or 900-680-0000. (Note: there are fees associated with poison control services!) C - Care - provide first aid until advanced help can be provided.
Use caution approaching an injured animal. Even your own dog or cat may strike out when frightened or injured. Stoop down slowly, approach cautiously, note behavior, facial expression, body language, and avoid direct eye contact. Try to use leashes, towels or blankets, and a box. Try to carefully muzzle the animal to prevent biting, but do not use a narrow band, rope or wire to muzzle the animal, and do not muzzle an animal who is vomiting, coughing, or having difficulty breathing.
Rescue Breathing - Mouth-to-Snout. Open the airway by tilting neck and head slightly back and pull tongue between front teeth. If animal is unconscious, sweep mouth to check for obstructions. Check for breathing (look at chest, listen and feel for air). If no breathing, close the mouth and place your mouth over the animal's nose and forcefully blow (4 or 5 quick breaths), then check for pulse (under arm pit, inside thigh, on throat).
Look for signs of cardiac arrest before CPR - no spontaneous breathing, no pulse, gray colored mucous membranes, dilated pupils not responsive to light. Always check for a pulse before giving compressions. Administer CPR only if there is no pulse. Do compressions where the elbow meets the ribcage. This requires training to perform properly. Check with Ali for information and handouts.
For a drowning animal, remove the animal from the water. Lift rear legs to remove water from mouth and nose. Check ABC's, give rescue breathing or CPR if needed, and transport to a veterinarian even if the animal is revived.
For choking, clear the mouth taking care not to get bitten. Turn animal upside-down by the rear legs or lift rear legs like a wheelbarrow. If object does not come out, perform abdominal thrusts. With animal seated or standing, place arms around animal's waist, close hands into a fist, place fist just below last rib, compress the abdomen by pushing up with fist 5 times in a quick, rapid manner. If not successful, give a sharp blow between shoulder blades, then repeat abdominal thrusts.
Look for shock, the body's response to a change in blood flow and oxygen to internal organs. Shock is life threatening! Signs are rapid, weak or absent pulse, prolonged capillary refill, depressed mental state, unconsciousness, cool limbs, or rapid, slow or difficult breathing. Check ABC's, administer rescue breathing or CPR as needed, control bleeding, maintain body warmth (use blankets), elevate hind end slightly by placing on a blanket (unless neck or back injury is suspected), transport to veterinarian immediately.
For burns, never apply ointments or topical medications unless advised by a veterinarian. For thermal burns, applying cool water helps stop pain and stop the "cooking" effect. Apply sterile nonstick pad or clean moist cloth over burned area. For dry chemical burns, brush or vacuum off thoroughly, then rinse with large amounts of water. For liquid chemical burns, flush area thoroughly with water for at least 15 minutes, being careful not to spread the chemical. Alkaline chemicals can be neutralized using acid such as vinegar and water solution. Acid chemicals are neutralized with alkaline such as soap or baking soda. If skin appears damaged or animal is in pain, get veterinary help. For electrical burns (mostly cats, puppies and kittens), make sure power is turned off (at the circuit breaker box) before attempting to help the animal. Check ABC's and give rescue breathing or CPR if needed. Treat for shock, and transport to a veterinarian immediately.
When transporting an animal who has been injured, if you suspect head, neck or back injury, do not encourage animal to stand or walk. Carefully slide a board under and secure the animal with ties. Splint only if you must and can do so without causing further pain and injury.
Bloat is when the stomach fills up with air or food, often within hours of a meal. Torsion is when the stomach turns around itself, cutting off blood supply to stomach and spleen, resulting in life-threatening shock. Signs are drooling or salivating, restlessness and pacing, nonproductive retching or vomiting, enlargement of the stomach area, and shock. Bloat and torsion are deadly. There is no time for first aid. If not treated within 2 hours (maximum), the animal will probably die. Take the animal to a veterinarian fast.
In case of poisoning, it's important to know the type of poison. Signs of poisoning include diarrhea; seizures; abnormal mental state; salivation; swollen, red, irritated, skin or eyes; ulcers in mouth; burned lips, mouth or skin; bleeding from anus, mouth or any body cavity. Call veterinarian or poison control, and follow directions. Do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so, as caustic substances can cause even more damage as they come back up. To induce vomiting, administer household (3%) hydrogen peroxide orally using syringe or eye dropper, one teaspoon per 10 pounds body weight, every 10-15 min, on the way to the veterinarian. Do not use syrup of ipecac.
This is just a brief overview of Ali's information. Hopefully, we'll have a Red Cross course offered in our area. Contact Ali at 856-663-7684, fax 856-663-9252. Call PA Red Cross at call 1-800-42 CROSS.
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One of the most important facts that Ali gave us was about raised food bowls. Many people with larger dogs think they're helping their animals by using platforms and dish holders that raise the bowls off the floor. This is good for the dog's neck, but it is extremely dangerous because it increases the risk of bloat by over 200%! Since bloat is a life-threatening condition, it's probably best to keep your dog's dish on the floor. As with every medical situation, talk to your veterinarian!
SHARE Meeting Mar. 8, 2001