The end of April is almost near, but it seems you forgot an essential national campaign that involves your furbabies. Nope, it is not the "National Scoop the Poop Week" or the "National Hug Your Dog Day." We don’t need to remind you of that. This campaign is all about your pet's safety and health, specifically, how you handle pet emergencies.
Sure, you are providing them food and shelter. You also ensure that they get their regular dose of shots and checkups, even if you have to drag them out of your house. Plus, there is no shortage of toys and treats to help them enrich their hearts and tummies, respectively.
But what if your dog swallowed a sock from the hamper or your cat licked the floor you scrubbed with a household cleaner? What are you going to do when the nearest veterinary clinic is miles away from your house?
Understandably, a situation like this would rattle you, and you may even fear for your pet’s life. So, it would be best to ease their pain and give them first aid before getting professional help. After all, there is no one else they can count on but their human, no other than you.
Did you know the American Red Cross declared April as the "National Pet First Aid Awareness Month?" According to the American Red Cross, it is a campaign that promotes our pets' safety during local emergencies or large disasters. They're not only referring to our furry companion animals but also pets with feathers and scales.
3 Types of Accidents Your Pet May Encounter
Dogs or cats are naturally curious. Based on a Dogtime.com article, the three most common causes of emergency vet visits every day are injuries, choking, and accidental poisoning. They love to explore their surroundings and get into mischief, sometimes leading to accidents or mishaps.
Unfortunately, the sources of our pet’s accidents can be found anywhere. Let discuss each in detail:
Common cause no. 1: Injuries
Dogs and cats are rowdy and adventurous. Some are fearless and practice death-defying maneuvers such as jumping from impossible heights or running mindlessly in unknown rocky terrain. Other pets engage in fights with other dogs or cats. Or worse, they get hit by a vehicle during their unsupervised escapades.
In a WebMD article, Petplan pet insurance says that the top dog injuries are rupture of the cruciate ligament in the knee, lameness, and foreign body ingestion. In contrast, cat injuries include bite wounds, foreign body ingestion, and abscesses.
Common cause no. 2: Choking
This is where foreign body ingestion comes into play. Dogs and cats love to chew on things. Dogs nibble on bones, toys, sticks, socks, and even pantyhose. Well, that's their usual batch of "chew toys." Dogtime.com revealed that there had been reports of pups even swallowing a barbeque brush, jumper cables, and fire logs. Whoa!
On the other hand, cats like to play with linear foreign bodies such as thread, ribbon, string, cord, and rubber bands. One study revealed that 90.6% of feline linear foreign bodies were thread. So there is a love-hate relationship between yarns and kitties.
Common cause no. 3: Accidental poisoning
The American Association of Poison Control discloses that more than 90% of reported pet poisonings happen at home. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals attended nearly 180,000 poison-exposure cases in 2013. Sadly, we can't monitor our pets 24/7 because we have other responsibilities like running errands, household chores, and going to school or work.
It is crucial to note which toxins pets can find inside our homes and store them out of reach. The most common dog poisons are chocolate, insect bait stations, rodenticides, fertilizers, and xylitol. Conversely, cat poisons are lilies, household cleaners, paints, and varnishes.
National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
You may argue that it would be better to see a veterinarian if your furbaby gets sick or hurt. But some situations might make it impossible to rush to the vet immediately. Scenarios like you and your pup are out camping, your current residence is in a remote area, or the roads are closed because of a raging snowstorm or hurricane.
That is why you need to learn how to administer pet first aid. The American Red Cross launched the National Pet First Aid Awareness Month because some pet parents don't know how vital pet first aid is. Sad but true.
Do you already have a first aid kit for your furbaby at home? The kit includes items like absorbent gauze pads, adhesive tape, antiseptic wipes, gauze rolls, cotton swabs, medicines, Pedialyte, antibiotic cream, ice packs, and more. Also, make sure that you have an updated list of emergency contact numbers.
Besides, you must know how to administer CPR if your pet is unresponsive, unconscious, or stops breathing. In case of pet poisoning, ring the vet or the animal poison control, and ask for any home remedy solutions to help induce your pet's vomiting. At the same time, schedule an appointment and tell them that it is an emergency. More importantly, remain calm and act fast because your furry companion needs all the help you can give them to survive.
Perfect Petzzz: A Certified Well-Behaved Furry Friend
We can’t help it; we get paranoid or scared for our pet's safety since dangers are everywhere, even in the comforts of our own homes. If you want stress-free pet ownership, then you should get a Perfect Petzzz!
Perfect Petzzz is a lifelike pet that almost feels and behaves like a real one. It offers the same real pet ownership experience as living pets without the hassles and expenses like vet bills.
Yes, you've read it right. A Perfect Petzzz will never set its foot (or paw) inside a veterinary clinic. It is so well-behaved that you can leave it on its own for an extended time.
All it does is sleep on its soft bed while emitting soft and soothing snores. In return, you should reward them with lots of pets and snuggles for being a good boy or nice kitty!
Each Perfect Petzzz bundle includes a new plush pet bed, collar with pet tag, pet brush, and adoption certificate. It is available for purchase through our Amazon site. For any other inquiries, contact us here.