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Many of the solutions we use ourselves for ordinary ailments and many over-the-counter drugs that we use can be used for pets. Check with your vet if you're unsure about any of the following. This information has been gleaned from a variety of pet books.
We have a first-aid kit in our vehicle for our pets as well as ourselves. Make sure you have your vet's telephone number and the number of an emergency vet pasted on the lid. We also carry a list of BC vets downloaded from the Internet.
"Emergency Care for Cats and Dogs" is a good book to carry.
Basic Supplies include:
- Gauze rolls or pads
- 1" stack of 4x4 gauze bandages
- 3 -1/2 x 4 -1/2 Telfa ouchless non-adherent pad
- 3M Vetrap Bandaging Tape 4" x 80"
- 1/2", 1", and 1-1/2" adhesive tape
- Absorbent cotton
- Scissors, with rounded tips
- Hydrogen Peroxide - for cleaning wounds
- Antibiotic ointment
- Hydrocortisone ointment
- Eyewash
- Tweezers
- Rectal Thermometer
- Syringe for giving oral medications
- Antihistamine liquid
- Betadine or Hibitane for cleansing
For Car Sickness:
Dramamine, available in 50-milligram tablets that can be split into quarters. If your pet has glaucoma or a bladder problem, don't administer it without a vet's approval. Medium to large dogs should get about 25 to 50 milligrams and small dogs should get about 12.5 milligrams at least an hour before traveling.
For Vomiting:
No food for 24 hours. Once the worst of the vomiting is over, keep the water bowl full - don't let him get dehydrated. If water makes him queasy, let him lick ice, one cube every 15 minutes. If he's lethargic, disoriented, or stumbling around, get him to a vet. Kaopectate will help if your pet is still not feeling up to par - 1 teaspoon for each ten pounds of weight. Ask your vet for advice.
FOR DOGS ONLY: Pepto-Bismol will help soothe your dog's tummy. One teaspoon for every 20 pounds of dog every four to six hours for up to two days. Use an oral syringe. Do not give to cats as it can make them sicker.
Diarrhea:
No food for 24 hours after onset of diarrhea. If it isn't better after a day or so, call your vet. When your pet is ready to eat again, keep it bland. If your pet's stools are still a little soft, try adding a little Metamucil to his food - 1-1/4 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon a day for one or two days. Just mix it with water and pour it on his food. It may sound strange to fight diarrhea with fiber, but sometimes it works very well. Keep his water bowl full. It's also a good idea to give him a separate bowl of Gatorade, which, like other sports drinks, will help replenish minerals the body needs.
Constipation:
Give him a high fiber diet. Use a pet food that contains 7 to 13 percent fiber. A sprinkle of oat bran every day can help keep constipation away. Another good source of dietary fiber is Grape Nuts Flakes - one to three teaspoons several times a day until the constipation clears. Normally vets advise against giving much milk to their cats or dogs because it can cause diarrhea, but if you have a constipated pet, give a small pet 1/8 cup twice a day and a large dog about 1/2 cup. When your pet is regular again, stop the milk. Use Metamucil, 1/2 teaspoon twice a day for small pets and 2 teaspoons for large dogs.
Arthritis:
Buffered aspirin can be given to dogs for arthritis pain. Do not exceed one quarter of a 325 milligram tablet per ten pounds of dog twice a day. Always use buffered aspirin and give it only after mealtimes. Never give your cat aspirin without advice from your vet. It can be deadly. Never give dogs or cats other over-the-counter painkillers without first checking with your vet. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are dangerous for your pets.
Itching:
Always check with your vet for precise dosages, although in an emergency Benadryl can be used for itching from mange, lice, allergies, and hives - 1 to 3 milligrams of medication for every pound of pet.
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