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Basic
Supplies ...
Gauze pads, gauze roll/ bandages, roll of cloth, thermometer,
tweezers, hydrogen peroxide, antibiotic ointment, Q-tips,
instant cold pack, rags/ rubber tubing for tourniquet, First
Aid book. For a complete supplies list see First
Aid Kit
Handling
an Injured Animal ...
Any cat injured or in pain can bite or scratch you. Even the
friendliest of pets must be handled with care for the safety
of all involved. If you are accidentally bitten or scratched,
seek medical attention. Cat bites can become infected quickly!
Cat Vital
Statistics ...
Pulse and Heart Rate - Normal resting rates:
Cats:
150-200 bpm
Pulse should be strong, regular and easy to locate.
Checking
the pulse ...
The easiest place to locate a pulse is the femoral artery
in the groin area. Place your fingers on the inside of the
hind leg and slide your hand upward until the back of your
fingers touches the abdomen. Gently move your fingers back
and forth on the inside of the hind leg until you feel the
pulsing blood. Count the number of pulses in 15 seconds and
multiply that number by 4. This will give you the beats per
minute (bpm).
Temperature
...
Normal temp. 100-102.5 degrees
Thermometer should be almost clean when removed.
Abnormalities are indicated by blood, diarrhea, or black,
tarry stool.
Basic
First Aid Procedures ...
All of the following situations require immediate veterinary
care.
Fractures
...
- Muzzle
animal
- Gently
lay animal on a board, wooden door, tarp, etc. padded with
blankets.
- Secure
animal to the support.
- Do
not attempt to set the fracture.
- If
a limb is broken, wrap the leg in cotton padding, then wrap
with a magazine, rolled newspaper, towel or two sticks.
Splint should extend one joint above the fracture and one
joint below.
-
Secure with tape. Make sure wrap does not constrict blood
flow.
- If
the spine, ribs, hip, etc. appears injured or broken, gently
place the animal on the stretcher and immobilize it if possible.
Bleeding
(external) ...
- Muzzle
animal
- Press
thick gauze pad over wound. Hold firmly until clotting occurs.
- If
bleeding is severe, apply a tourniquet between the wound
and the heart.
- Loosen
tourniquet for 20 seconds every 15-20 minutes.
A tourniquet is dangerous and should only be used in
life-threatening hemorrhaging of a limb. It may result in
amputation or disability of the limb.
Bleeding
(internal)
...
Symptoms: bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum; coughing blood;
blood in urine; pale gums; collapse; rapid or weak pulse.
Keep animal as warm and quiet as possible.
Burns
...
- Chemical
- Muzzle
anima
- Flush
immediately with large quantities of cold water.
- Severe
- Muzzle
animal
- Quickly
apply ice water compresses.
- Treat
for shock if necessary.
Shock
...
Symptoms: weak pulse; shallow breathing; nervousness; dazed
appearance.
Often accompanies severe injury or extreme fright.
- Keep
animal restrained, quiet and warm.
- If
unconscious, keep head level with rest of body.
Restraint
Methods ...
If your animal is injured, you must restrain him/her for your
safety as well as your pet's. Muzzle your pet to restrain
it unless it is unconscious, has difficulty breathing or has
a mouth injury.
Cats--Muzzles ...
- Speak
and move calmly and quietly.
- Have
someone restrain the cat by holding the scruff of its neck
firmly. This does not hurt the cat; it just prevents him/her
from moving.
- Working
from behind the cat, quickly slip a nylon muzzle over the
cat's face. The muzzle will cover most of his/her face,
including the eyes.
- Secure
snugly behind head.
- If
you are alone, scruff the cat with one hand and put the
muzzle over the cat's face with the other. Slide both hands
along muzzle straps and secure behind the head.
If a muzzle is not available, one can be made with a rag
or a strip of gauze. Make sure that it is carefully placed
around the cat's mouth and securely fastened, as cats can
escape from these temporary muzzles.
Cats--Body Restraint ...
- Most
cats can be restrained by holding the scruff of the neck.
- A
make shift cat sack can be used for unruly or very frightened
cats.
-
Put one pillowcase inside of the other so that the pillowcase
sack is doubled.
- Slip
sack over cat from tail to head.
- Wrap
heavy towel securely around pillowcased cat. This should
secure cat's legs so that he/she cannot scratch.
- Gloves
are not recommended for handling cats. They reduce the handler's
dexterity and can easily be penetrated by a cat's teeth.
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