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Pet First Aid: Electrical Burns In The Mouth

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I once caught my dog Lally chewing happily on the vacuum cleaner cord. Thank goodness she didn’t get a nasty shock — the vacuum wasn’t plugged in at the time. But pets who like to chew (especially puppies and kittens) may be tempted to gnaw on an electrical cord. That puts them at risk for a mouth burn and/or electrical shock. Signs that your pet has gotten an electrical burn in his or her mouth: Blisters, especially on the gums, lips, and tongue Erratic heartbeat Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Loss of appetite Refusal to eat or drink Lethargy … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: When His Head Gets Stuck

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Okay, head entrapment isn’t an emergency unless the pet is having difficulty breathing. But it can be a common problem, especially with curious puppies! Cats and kittens have small, rounded heads that can easily slip into and out of tight spaces, but puppies (and full grown dogs) can find themselves trapped after a small change of position. Where can your pet get stuck? Veterinarians have seen pets with their heads stuck between the slats on the back of a chair, in wire or chain-link fences, between the rungs of the banister on a staircase, or even inside jars! When is … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Drowning

Warmer days ahead means your pet may intentionally (or unintentionally) end up in the water. If your dog or cat does end up in the pool or another body of water, you don’t have to worry about their swimming ability. Dogs and cats are born with the ability to swim! The problem comes if the animal is unable to get out of the water. Steep pool sides and no close land (like if your dog jumps off a boat in the middle of a lake) means your pet may get tired before he can get out of the water. If … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Car Accidents

Car accidents don’t have to be fatal. You may have heard of or seen a dog or cat who walked away from a car accident, thanks no doubt to their amazing flexibility and protective layers of fur. However, just because an animal CAN walk away from an accident doesn’t mean it is uninjured. Internal injuries may take days to show up. Here’s what you should do if your pet is hit by a car: Muzzle them if they are not having trouble breathing. An injured dog or cat may bite the first person who tries to help them. You can … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Triage

Triage is the process of prioritizing injuries and body conditions in order of severity. If your pet is seriously ill or has been seriously injured, triage will help you choose the most dangerous risk to use first aid on first. Before attending to your pet, make sure you are in a safe place. Performing first aid in the middle of a busy street where your pet has been hit by a car is not good for either of you. Relocate to a secure place whenever possible. Keep in mind the basics of emergency health care: Check, Call, Care. Check your … Continue reading →

New CPR May Save More Lives

A new study from the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona finds that chest compressions may be the most important factor in surviving a heart attack. The study specifically looked at cardiac arrest that happens outside of a hospital — when people must often rely on friends, family, and emergency medical personnel to save them. EMS personnel in the study were tracked both before and after training in a new style of CPR. Study authors have coined a new phrase — and a new style of CPR — that can potentially triple the survival rate of people who have an out-of-hospital … Continue reading →

How to Perform CPR

Before I even get started here, I want to say this: the best way to learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is to take a class. But just in case you never get to take a class, or it’s been a while since you got certified and want a refresher, here it is. First things first: make sure you are safe. Don’t start CPR in the middle of a busy highway, for example. But also make sure you take universal precautions to protect yourself against communicable diseases. Universal precautions include: Wash your hands before and after any emergency medical action. Wear gloves … Continue reading →

Dead Dog Walking

Today I failed as an animal lover and as an advocate of rescuing animals. I let a stray continue being a stray. I did stop my car so the dog could cross the busy street. I was thankful I had caught it out of the corner of my eye in time so I could stop. I was thankful that the person in the car behind me had enough time to slam on their brakes and not hit me. I marveled that the dog had made it across Nolensville Road at all. It’s a six lane road with a turning lane … Continue reading →

Murphy’s May Day Morning Walk

We’re having well above average temps here in Nashville again lately. It feels more like the middle of summer than early spring. Today is supposed to reach 88 degrees. (If not 90.) On Tuesday nights I play volleyball at Centennial Park, which means Murph’s regular afternoon walks are both earlier and shorter than normal. Since it’s going to be so hot when I have to take him, and because we had company in town the last week and some of his walks were abbreviated then, and because today is May Day, I decided to spoil Murph and celebrate the day … Continue reading →