For cats and dogs confine your animal in a space away from danger. Having then been neutered at a young age so they tend to stay home and out of trouble. Picture: SUPPLIED

Accidents happen despite our best efforts, but there are things we can do to prevent some health emergencies in our animals.

This should become second nature for you, your family and your animals.

First aid is those things you can do to lessen the bad things which can happen as a result of illness or injury.

They do not substitute for veterinary medical help, but can be a life-saving first step. Take note that human emergency rooms are not for treating animals.

Please do not take your injured or sick animal to the human hospital because:

For cats and dogs confine your animal in a space away from danger. Having then been neutered at a young age so they tend to stay home and out of trouble.

Deworming on a regular basis, especially young animals, don’t feed bones, keep them out of trash and drain water, and vaccinations.

These and other steps go a long way to prevent emergencies; For farm animals have fenced enclosures to minimise tie-out (ropes around any neck is dangerous).

Animals and roadways do not mix so keep them away from the roads. Always provide a fresh source of water. Rotate grazing areas to minimise parasites. Muddy paddocks or pastures harbour all kinds of problems for people and animals.

Have; fresh clean drinking water; and separate sick animals in their own space.

Until there is adequate and appropriately trained veterinary personnel consistently in Fiji, you need to know first aid for your animals. Following are some of the more common emergencies you might experience and what first aid to provide until you can get veterinary attention.

Hit or run over by a vehicle

Even if the dog is walking around keep them confined to a small safe space until you know for sure they are OK either by watching them closely over the next 24-48 hours, or after a veterinary check. If they are unable to rise and walk then use your stretcher to transfer and move the dog to safety.

Dogs in pain often bite at the first object in front of them so gently but quickly placing a blanket over them while being transferred to safety is safest for all. Put them where it is quiet, warm, dry and safe. Offer only water for the first six-eight hours. Arrange a veterinary visit as soon as possible.

Bleeding and deep wounds (such as cane knife). If bleeding, apply pressure. A clean dry hand towel is a good first aid bandage for deep wounds.

Place it directly over the wound then wrap a bandage snugly around this site as with the head wound bandage. This can stay for several hours or even overnight until veterinary care is available.

If it is not bleeding, use a T-shirt or shorts to cover the wound and keep it as clean as possible. Open wounds from a surgical site need to be quickly wrapped and covered.

Anything protruding should have a moist bandage first then a small hand towel after which a rolled bandage to keep it in place. Have it seen by a vet as soon as possible. Surgery patients need to be kept quiet, confined and keep them from licking/chewing to help prevent these uncommon but important complications.

Anti-histamines are available at local pharmacies and are important medicine to have on hand in case your dog has an allergic reaction. These are seen as sudden facial swelling, sudden excess itchiness, general fl ush or redness to the skin, or raised swollen patches of skin. Ask your vet beforehand what types and dose your dog or cat would require.

If you know what they ate and it was less than four hours ago, you can give hydrogen peroxide to make them vomit.

If more than four hours ago then using charcoal slurry can help bind the toxin/poison and reduce its effect.

Toxins to the skin such as insecticides need a complete, thorough bath and rinsing as soon as possible until all traces of odor are gone. Do not use kerosene or any other garden products on your animals.

Many deaths are a result of this. Do not give Panadol or paracetamol to your dog.

Milk and coconut milk are not treatments, but can at times be useful in much the same way as rinsing a wound with salt water helps a wound. All poisons are not alike – if you think your dog was poisoned to what did it have access.

This is so important to get the name of the poison – write it down.

Pet first aid kit – gather these together in a plastic container  and check them frequently.

Emergencies can strike at any time, whether you are safely at home or driving to work. Even if a vet is available a first aid kit may be required until your animal can be seen. Here is a list of items to keep on hand at all times. You might want one set in your car and one at home;

• Your vet emergency number and availability (SPCA emergency number to text is 9922634);

• Tarp or heavy blanket to use as a stretcher;

• Blanket or towel for cover;

• Waterproof sheet or tarpaulin for cover from elements but preferred they are under a roofed space;

• Hand towel for applying pressure to bleeding wound;

• Pads of clean cloth, large cotton gauze or hand towels for placing on wounds;

• Rolled bandage material for keeping wound pads in place;

• Honey or antibiotic ointment for small wounds;

• A saline (saltwater) solution, boiled and cooled water in a bottle, or bottled water for gentle flushing of wounds;

• Hydrogen peroxide (small amounts trigger vomiting);

• Milk of magnesia or charcoal slurry to absorb poisons or toxins;

Disaster preparedness would also add leash and secure carrier or box for smaller animals and cats; food and water (enough for one week at least); waterproof plastic sheet; food and water bowls; your pet medications; liquid soap or shampoo; first aid kit as above.

Pet first aid booklet to give detailed instructions on when and how to use these items.

This is an example of what is commonly called a “belly band”. Particularly useful for bite wounds of the abdomen or post-surgery complications until a veterinarian can see your animal.

This website – https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951311 – hasan excellent introduction first aid section if you want quick checks on the internet.

It is worth mentioning again to not take your animal to the human ER: Human ERs cannot deal with an animal emergency for sanitary reasons, and the fact that they do not have the training or facility to do so.

Take the animal home and find a warm, safe, quiet place. Place thick padded bandage on any wounds.

Place a copy of first aid instructions or booklet in your  animal care kit for reference.

Follow first aid advice for your particular problem.

Write down all the details including medications given or applied and names of any other chemical or drug they were exposed to.

Bring the animal to your vet the first thing in the morning – with or without calling first.

Do not feed or worry about feed – give water only.

The vast majority of cases will do well with first aid and a veterinary visit as soon as can be arranged.

Fiji does not have an emergency care facility and is unlikely to have one in the near future (costs of equipment, supplies and personnel are key to setting such a place). Furthermore many people are out of urban areas, and/or have transport issues.

They have no option, but first aid which means that everyone with animals can utilise first aid.

There are several veterinary options in Suva at the moment – get the phone contact and details of your vet. Text SPCA at 9922634 when the offi ce is closed – interns do triage on such calls until 10pm.

Copyright © 2022 Fiji Times Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2022 Fiji Times Limited. All Rights Reserved.