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Pet Library

Pet First Aid

When they’re injured or ill, a vet is always the best bet for your pet!

However, in an emergency, basic first aid treatments could stabilize your pet until you can transport them to Quarry Ridge Animal Hospital or to the nearest emergency clinic.

Remember that first aid is not a substitute for veterinary treatment—any first aid treatment should be followed immediately by veterinary care.

Important Tips

  • Keep a pet first aid kit, your pet’s medical records, and emergency contact information where you can access them quickly
  • Do not use human adhesive bandages
  • Always call your vet or poison control before inducing vomiting
  • Take temperature rectally (not by mouth) using a digital thermometer intended for pets
  • Always consult your veterinarian after any first aid treatment or ER visit
  • Small dog and pet medications

Pet First Aid Kit

Be prepared for an emergency by creating a pet first aid kit before you need it. If you and your pet spend time in the car or go on regular adventures away from home, it’s a great idea to keep one kit at home and one in your vehicle.

We packed our first aid kit in a durable 1.5 gallon plastic food storage container. A tool box, a tackle box, or a sturdy backpack are also good options. An ideal container is brightly colored and clearly labeled so that it’s recognizable and easy to find when you need it.

3% Hydrogen Peroxide
Never administer to induce vomiting before consulting a veterinarian or a poison control center. Do not treat wounds with hydrogen peroxide. Store hydrogen peroxide in an opaque bottle.

Adhesive Medical Tape
Secure gauze or bandages. Do not apply adhesive materials to fur.

Clean Towels
Use towels to restrain, muzzle, or transport an injured animal. Towels can also be used to clean, protect, or pad wounds and injuries.

Digital Thermometer
Normal temperature for dogs and cats is 100-102.5o Fahrenheit.

Exam Gloves
Prevent cross-contamination between you and your pet while administering first aid.

Eye Dropper or Oral Syringe (without a needle)
Flush wounds or administer fluid medications.

Gauze Rolls and Gauze Pads
Use rolled gauze to wrap wounds or muzzle an injured animal.

Hand Sanitizer Gel or Wipes
Clean hands before and after treating a wound—do not use on your pet.

Instant Cold Pack
Reduce swelling and inflammation after a bee or wasp sting, sprain or strain, or bruising. Do not apply cold packs directly to skin—use a towel in between. Do not use cold packs to cool an over-heated pet.

K-Y Jelly or Surgilube in single-use packets
Protect wounds or eyes or lubricate a thermometer.

Milk of Magnesia or Activated Charcoal
Never administer to absorb poison unless instructed to do so by a veterinarian or a poison control center.

Muzzle
Never use a muzzle on a vomiting animal.

Non-adhesive Bandages
Use bandages to control bleeding and protect wounds. Do not use traditional Band-aids on pets’ wounds.

Pet Emergency Contact Information
Be prepared with contact information for Quarry Ridge Animal Hospital, the emergency clinic nearest your home, Poison Control, and local police and fire departments and Animal Control.
Download our Pet Emergency Info Card & Pet First Aid Kit Checklist
Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Pet’s Medical Records
Especially vaccine history, current medications, age, and weight.

Saline Solution
Flush eyes and wounds.

Scissors
Cut bandages and tape. Trim fur surrounding wounds, if necessary.

Sealed Bottled Water
Cleanse wounds, rinse burns, cool an overheated pet by wrapping with wet towels, or rehydrate.

Self-adhering Medical Wrap (Vet Wrap)
Secure gauze or bandages.

Spare Leash & Collar and/or Location of Pet Carrier

Styptic Powder
Quickly slow bleeding from minor cuts, e.g. a nail that was clipped too closely.

Supply of Pet’s Chronic Meds
Check expiration dates before administering.

Tick Comb and/or Tick Remover Tool

Triple Antibiotic Ointment in single-use packets
Protect wounds before bandaging.

Pet Emergency Information

One item you’ll want to include in your first aid kit is a Pet Emergency Info card with vital information about your pet and contact information for Quarry Ridge Animal Hospital, the emergency clinic closest to your home, Animal Poison Control, and phone numbers for local police and fire departments and Animal Control.

You can also find important information like your pet’s vaccine history, the names and dosages of their current medications, their most recent weight, and their microchip number in your online Pet Portal or the MyPetsWellness mobile app.

Be prepared by writing this information down before you need it! We’ve created a printable Pet Emergency Info card that you can fill out and keep in your first aid kit or on your refrigerator. Simply download and print the document, fold on the white dotted line, trim the white border, and glue or tape along the edges to create a double-sided card with a First Aid Kit checklist on the back!

Poisonous Plants

A
Arum Lily
Autumn Crocus
Australian Flame Tree
Avocado
Azalea

B
Baneberry
Bird of Paradise
Bishop’s Weed
Black Laurel
Black Locust
Bleeding Heart
Bloodroot
Bluebonnet
Blue-Green Algae
Boxwood
Bracken Fern
Buckthorn
Bulb Flowers
Burdock

C
Cacao
Camel Bush
Caladium
Calla Lily
Cardinal Flower
Chalice
Cherry Tree
Chinaberry Tree
Clematis
Cocklebur
Coffee
Coral Plant
Coriander

D
Dieffenbachia

E
Easter Lily
Elderberry
Elephant Ear (Taro)
English Ivy
Eucalyptus
Euonymus

F
False Hellebore
Flame Tree
Felt Plant
Firethorn
Four O’Clock
Foxglove

G
Glottidium
Golden Chain
Ground Cherry

H
Heaths
Heliotrope
Hemlock
Henbane
Holly
Honeysuckle
Horse Chestnut
Horsetail
Hydrangea

J
Jasmine
Jimsonweed

L
Lantana
Larkspur
Lily of the Valley
Lupine

M
Marijuana
Mandrake
Mexican Poppy
Milkweed
Mistletoe
Mock Orange
Monkshood
Moonseed
Morning Glory
Mountain Laurel
Mushrooms

N
Nightshades

O
Oak
Oleander

P
Periwinkle
Philodendron
Pigweed
Poinciana
Poinsettia
Poison Ivy
Poison Oak
Pokeweed
Potato Shoots
Privet
Pyricantha

R
Rain Tree
Ranunculus (Buttercup)
Rape
Red Maple

S
Snowdrop
Spurges
Sweet Pea

T
Tansy
Tobacco

V
Vetch

W
Wisteria

Y
Yellow Jasmine
Yews

How-To Videos

Pet Resources

This page contains links and references to third-party websites. Links to other websites are provided merely for the sake of convenience. Quarry Ridge Animal Hospital does not accept any responsibility for the availability or the contents of such websites or any liability for damage or injury resulting from the use of such contents, of whatever form.


ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center

24-Hour Emergency Veterinary Poison Hotline 888-426-4435 www.aspca.org
Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue (ROAR)

Ridgefield Animal Shelter and Adoption Center 203-438-0158 www.roar-ridgefield.org

Danbury Animal Welfare Society (DAWS)

Danbury Animal Shelter and Adoption Center 203-744-DAWS www.daws.org


In addition to the Pet Health Care Library, we have provided the following links to websites that provide some great information on a variety of topics related to veterinary medicine and pet health care. We will update this page frequently, and would love to hear your ideas on links that you would like to see us add to this page to share with other pet owners. Feel free to send us your favorites. If we like them, we will add them to our list!
 
  • Choosing a new puppy This is a nice starter guide of things that you should consider when you are thinking about getting a puppy.
  • Heartworm Society Everything you ever wanted to know about heartworm disease can be found here!
  • Behavior problems Founded by Brian Kilcommons and Sharon Wilson, best-selling authors and recognized experts on animal training and behavior, this site is a terrific resource for advice on a variety of behavioral problems. If you want to learn more about feline housesoiling, barking dogs, aggression, or any other behavioral problem, check this one out!
  • National Animal Poison Control Center This is the website of the National Animal Poison Control Center. It includes a library, links to other sites, and phone numbers for the poison control center.
  • USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service The USDA maintains this website with information on a variety of animal health related topics, including the latest news on such things as Mad Cow Diseases, foot and mouth disease, and many other things.
  • Rainbow Bridge Anyone who has ever lost a pet should visit this wonderful site. It is a terrific tribute to our lost family members
  • West Nile Virus This site is maintained by the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, and has the latest information on the spread of West Nile Virus in the US, as well as information on disease transmission, symptoms, etc.
  • Care Credit Help pay for your pets care

Coyote Awareness

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are canid predators found all over the USA. For the most part, Coyotes live alongside humans with no negative interactions. Their main prey sources are small mammals such as rabbits, and rodents, but they will also prey on larger animals such as:

  • Woodchucks
  • Beavers
  • Deer
  • Carrion

As humans have expanded their range and population density, interactions with Coyotes have increased, and this can result in injuries or even death to our dog and cat family members. It is important to remember that Coyotes are wild predators who hunt to survive, and they do not differentiate between our pets and wild prey.

There are important steps to take to keep ourselves and our pets safe from unwanted interactions with Coyotes.

Coyotes are wild predators.

Please admire them from a distance. Coyotes should be given space and not harassed, fed, or closely interacted with. By respecting boundaries with wildlife, we can promote a healthier coexistence with these animals.

Vaccinate your pets.

Keep your pet up to date on routine vaccinations. Rabies, Distemper, Parvo, and Leptospirosis are all carried by Coyotes. Pets can contract diseases through bites or scratches. Leptospirosis comes from standing water, like ponds and puddles.

Secure your pets.

By keeping your pet indoors/securing their shelter, you are reducing risk for your pet to be harmed by a predator. Coyotes view small pets as prey. Leaving pets in a fenced yard does not guarantee their safety, as coyotes can to jump over fences.

In closing, Coyotes are a beautiful opportunistic predator that we can live alongside in harmony if we take precautions. Remember, wild animals should be respected and admired from afar.