Cameron Park Veterinary Hospital
Emergency Numbers
In the event of an emergency during normal office hours: call us at: (530) 677-1671 or (916) 933-0174
In the event of an after-hours pet emergency: call (530) 676-9044 for the Motherlode Pet Emergency Hospital.
In an emergency, first aid is not a substitute for veterinary treatment. However, before you are able to get your pet to either us or the emergency veterinarian, knowing some basic first aid can help.
You should learn these techniques before they are needed.
Do NOT try to get online during an emergency to access these tips. You could be wasting precious time.
Always seek veterinary care following any of these first-aid attempts.
Approach your pet carefully to avoid getting bitten. Wrap large open wounds to keep them clean. Apply pressure to profusely bleeding wounds. Do not use a tourniquet. Wear gloves when possible. Bite wounds often become infected.
Apply firm, direct pressure over the bleeding area until the bleeding stops. Hold the pressure for at least 10 straight minutes (continually releasing the pressure to check the wound will hamper the clotting). Avoid bandages that cut off circulation.
If your pet is not breathing, place it on a firm surface with its left side up.
Check for a heartbeat by listening at the area where the elbow touches the chest.
If you hear a heartbeat but no breathing, close your pet's mouth and breathe directly into its nose--not the mouth--until the chest expands. Repeat 12 to 15 times per minute.
If there is no pulse, apply heart massage at the same time. The heart is located in the lower half of the chest, behind the elbow of the front left leg. Place one hand below the heart to support the chest. Place other hand over the heart and compress gently.
To massage the hearts of cats and other tiny pets, compress the chest with the thumb and forefingers of one hand.
Apply heart massage 80-120 times per minute for larger animals and 100-150 per minute for smaller ones.
Alternate heart massage with breathing.
Please note: Even in the hands of well-trained veterinary health professionals, the success of resuscitation is very low overall.
A choking animal will be frantic and may be more likely to bite.If your pet can still partially breathe, it's best to keep the animal calm and get to a veterinarian as quickly as possible.
Look into the mouth to see if foreign object in throat is visible.
If you can, gently clear the airway by removing the object with pliers or tweezers, being careful not to push it farther down the throat.
If it is lodged too deep or if your pet collapses, then place your hands on both sides of the animal's rib cage and apply firm, quick pressure.
Or place your pet on its side and strike the side of the rib cage firmly with the palm of your hand three or four times.
Repeat this procedure until the object is dislodged or you arrive at the veterinarian's office.
Look for bleeding. If you can control bleeding without causing more injury, then do so.Watch for signs of shock.
DO NOT TRY TO SET THE FRACTURE by pulling or tugging on the limb.
Transport your pet to the veterinarian immediately, supporting the injured part as best you can.
Symptoms: vomiting, convulsions, diarrhea, salivation, weakness, pain
Record what the pet ingested and how much.
Immediately call your veterinarian or poison control center.
Do not induce vomiting. In case of toxins or chemicals on the skin from oils, paints, insecticides and other contact irritants, request directions on if and how to wash the toxin off.
Symptoms: salivation, loss of control of urine or stool, violent
muscle twitching, loss of consciousness
Move your pet away from any objects that could be harmful during the seizure.
Use a blanket for padding and protection.
Do not put yourself at risk by restraining your pet during the seizure.
Time the seizure. They usually last only 2 to 3 minutes.
Afterwards, keep the animal calm and quiet.
Get your pet to the veterinarian immediately.
Website Copyright 2007 © Gary Stout CPVH Logos Copyright 2007 Cameron Park Veterinary Hospital