2. Main Aims
• Preserve Life
• Prevent Suffering
• Prevent the situation deteriorating
• Promote recovery
3. Personal Safety and Restraint
• Approach slowly and calmly
• Quiet, calming voice and body language
CATS DOGS
• Require considered handling – • Use suitable restraint, at the very least
“Scruffing”?
• “Swipes” very common a slip lead
• Handling aids can help • Muzzle, even if friendly for procedures
• Can calm down when handled
correctly
4. Triage
• Assess the situation
> Danger to the animal AND YOU!
> Suitable place for First Aid treatment?
> Can the animal be moved?
• Assess the injuries
> Life threatening injuries FIRST
> Consider the injuries that may be causing pain for
handling
> Blood does NOT always signify the worst injury
• Treatment Plan
10. The Urinary System
• Parts of Urinary System
• Function of Urinary System
• Healthy Urine
11. The Reproductive System
• Reasons for Neutering
> Disease / Infection
> Behavioural
> Population Control
• Post Op Care
> General demeanour
> Wound checks
> Patient interference?
14. The Healthy Animal
Dog Cat
Body Temperature 38.3 – 38.7°C 38.0 – 38.5°C
Pulse Rate 60 – 180 110 – 180
Respiration Rate 10 – 30 20 - 30
Gum Colour + Pink Gums Pink Gums
Capillary Refill Time < 2 seconds < 2 seconds
Temperament Bright, alert, responsive, Bright, alert, responsive,
relaxed
Appearance Bright eyes, clean ears Bright eyes, clean ears
and nose, normal coat, and nose, normal coat,
normal posture, odour free normal posture, odour free
(!)
Behaviour Eating, drinking, urinating Eating, drinking, urinating
and defecating normally, and defecating normally,
keen to exercise. easy fluid movement.
15. The Unhealthy Animal
Watch Out For:
• Diarrhoea / Vomiting / Loss of Appetite
• Straining to Urinate / Defecate
• Change in Behaviour
• Change in Posture
• Unresponsive / Lethargic
16. Reasonable Protection
– Vaccination / Parasite Control
– Kennel / Run Security and Upkeep
– Trained Handlers – Basic lessons
– Animal Behaviour
– Cleaning Protocols
18. Controlling Bleeding
• CALMLY Call for
Help!
• Bleeding
> Severity and Types of
Bleeding
> Controlling bleeding
–Direct pressure
–Tourniquets
> Bandaging hints and tips
19. Poisoning
• Identify the Cause if Possible
• Remove Source
• Induce vomiting if recommended
• Dilute and Absorb
• Symptomatic Treatment
OR
20. Fights
• Your Safety
• Puncture Wounds
• Infection Highly Likely
• Flush, Flush, Flush!
• Antibiotics If Possible
21. Fractures
• Very Painful
• Swelling & Immobility
• Transport Carefully
• Splinting will be painful
22. Hypothermia Hyperthermia
• Core body temperature is • Core temperature is above normal
below normal • More common in dogs
• Trauma, collapse, shock • Move away from heat
• No direct heat! • Cool with water and fans
• Insulate the animal • Small frequent drinks
• Control environment
• Ensure temperature correction gradual
• Special care with infants and geriatrics.
“ First Aid” is the initial steps taken following an accident, illness or injury. First aid does not mean making a diagnosis or to giving any medication but to help to promote a good recovery. Where possible expert help should be called ASAP. Your aims in first aid are to: Preserve life Prevent suffering Prevent a condition from getting worse
It is extremely important to stay calm in a first aid situation as you are more likely to do the wrong thing in a panic. Take a second to assess the situation, take a deep breath and if possible call for help. When assessing the situation, remember to consider the dangers to you as well as the dog. Consider if the dog can be moved from where it is and if appropriate, find a suitable place to administer first aid nearby. Remember that the most serious and most life threatening injury must ALWAYS be treated first. Consider that this may not be the injury that looks the most dramatic. Be aware of possible alternate methods of restraint or handling that may be adopted to prevent further pain or injury. Hopefully you will have another person nearby that may be able to help you. If they are not trained, ensure you give them clear instructions. It may be necessary to have a “Plan B” a second treatment plan, if what you attempt to do first is ineffective.
In order to access situations and attend to the most serious and life threatening injuries first a brief knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology is helpful.
The nervous system controls the body and feeds the brain with information from both outside and inside the body. Externally, the senses (sight, sound, smell, hearing, and touch) send messages to the brain, informing it of the surroundings. Internally the body can detect the slightest alteration to what is normal and sends a message to the brain. The brain receives these messages via the nerves and the spinal cord, it then processes that information and messages back to the correct muscle organ or gland to respond appropriately. The unconscious nervous system works automatically and will work even if the animal is asleep or under anaesthetic and controls actions such as as breathing or heart rate. The bodies reflexes can be considered as part of this as the body will react automatically to a stimulus. The conscious nervous system is everything that the body “chooses” muscle movement and vocalisation are examples of this.
The heart is a four chambered pump, split completely in half. One half containing oxygenated blood (red) and the other containing de-oxygenated blood (blue). Blood is pumped from the heart to the lungs to be oxygenated and then returns to the heart to be sent to the rest of the body supplying oxygen to tissues. Blood then returns to the heart to be pumped back to the lungs. Arteries carry bright red oxygenated blood from the heart. They have thick walls which contain smooth muscle to allow them to dilate or constrict to allow more or less blood to an area of the body. Within the tissue blood vessels become tiny capillaries, these are small and thin walled to allow the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Veins carry de oxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart and they are thin walled with valves to prevent blood from flowing the wrong way. Blood has many functions, including: Carrying oxygen to and carbon dioxide from the tissues. Carrying digested food from the stomach and intestines to the tissues Carrying water to the tissues Carrying waste products away and to the kidneys for excretion Regulation of body temperature by distribution of heat Transportation of hormones and enzymes, antitoxins and antibodies Blood also carries different cells with different functions: Red blood cells contain haemoglobin which gives them the red colour and enables them to carry oxygen – they are produced in the bone marrow White blood cells come in all different types, all of which help the body fight against infection Platelets are also formed in bone marrow and play a vital part in the clotting of blood.
Respiration is the exchange of gasses between a living thing and the environment and is the only purpose of the lungs. The air is drawn and out by the expansion and contraction of the lung which is controlled by the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. External respiration is where air is inhaled through the nose and mouth and into the windpipe (trachea) and then into thousands of tiny pockets (alveoli) in the lungs which look like a sponge. Internal respiration then takes over and is the transfer of oxygen into the blood stream through tiny blood vessels. At the same time, carbon dioxide is released back into the lungs to be exhaled. The Brain has a major part in respiration as it will detect the tiniest change in the circulating oxygen and carbon dioxide levels and stimulate a change in rate or depth of respiration to correct this.
The function of the digestive system is to break down food so that it can be absorbed by the tissues and excrete waste. This starts with food in the mouth by chewing being softened with saliva. It then passes down the oesophagus until it reaches the stomach where enzymes begin to break down the food chemically. This then moves into the small intestine which where the body absorbs every part of the food it can use. It then moves to the large intestine where water and vitamins are absorbed. Finally waste products pass into the rectum and are excreted via the anus as faeces. While the liver is not technically part of this process, it is considered as an important part of the digestive system as it breaks down fat and any toxic substances absorbed by the intestines.
The urinary system removes waste products from the body. It consists of two kidneys which filter blood and produce urine from the waste products. The ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. The bladder stores the urine prior to excretion. It is made of muscle which can contract and expand depending on the amount of urine produced. Once the bladder reaches a certain size, a signal is sent to the brain that tells the body to urinate. The urine then travels down the urethra out of the body. Dark, smelly urine is concentrated, while pale weak urine is very dilute. Assessing the ability to urinate and frequency and quality of urine produced is an excellent indicator of health. Any abnormality can be an indication of poor health. PLEASE NOTE: If an animal does not pass urine at all it is very serious and veterinary advice should be sought immediately.
The female reproductive system consists of the ovaries , fallopian tubes, Uterus or womb. Surgical removal of these is referred to as an ovariohysterectomy, or spay. The male system is designed to produce and transport sperm, the surgical removal of the testicles is called castration. Neutering has many benefits: It can prevent cancers and infections or diseases that are stimulated by the long term production of sex related hormones. This can include life threatening conditions life “pyometra” in the bitch (a massive infection of the uterus) Behavioural benefits include not only male dominance related aggression and spraying to mark territory in males, but also prevention of false pregnancies in bitches which can cause high levels of stress. The desire to find a mate will also disappear which stops dogs running across roads, train lines, through fences and even glass windows to get what they want. Obviously, neutering prevents unwanted offspring. Post operative care of patients following neutering can prevent emergencies and ensure a swift recovery. Care is required during recovery and includes: > Monitoring of vital signs > Temperature regulation and monitoring > Use of buster collars to prevent wound interference > Monitoring and checking wound sites
No one can tell exactly what will happen in the future and the sad fact is that accidents happen. All you can do is put as much protection as possible in place to ensure that your animals remain in good health. Vaccination and parasite control are an obvious way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. This is especially relevant if you have a lot of animals close together as infection and parasite infestation can spread fast if uncontrolled. A large part of preventing accidents depends on the security of your kennels and runs. Animal that escapes can run across roads, get in fights or injure themselves in many ways. Keeping them in a safe and controlled environment is an excellent way of maintaining their safety. Consider also that the pens themselves should be in good condition, any protruding nail, piece of wood or metal can cause a nasty injury. The training of your handlers is vital also to protecting your animals. Ensure that each handler knows animals that can and cannot be socialised, protocol for entering runs to prevent escape, correct methods of handling and grooming dogs and cats to prevent injury, and basic signs of illness. Consider a system of behavioural analysis to be recorded and displayed by each animal to inform an unfamiliar member of staff normal traits for specific animals, for example cats that only like specific flavours, combinations or consistencies of foods, or who will only eat at night, or dogs that will finish a bowl of food in world record timing! Specific Toys or blankets that are popular and normal reaction to human interaction. All this information is extremely valuable when attempting to assess if an animal is unwell. Finally, ensure you have a protocol for cleaning kennels that is used on a day to day basis, to ensure that health and hygiene is maintained. In addition to this, a “lock down” protocol to be implemented in case of an outbreak of infection. This should include thorough cleaning and disinfection of each infected kennel and good barrier nursing techniques.
Internal Bleeding Bruising is the most common type of internal bleeding and in most cases is non serious. It is caused by capillaries in and below the skin rupturing and a pooling of blood occuring. Most bruising will heal itself. Internal bleeding may occur following surgery or trauma, when the blood pressure rises and additional pressure is put on the ties and ligatures. Patients must always be observed in recovery. Bleeding is not always obvious, the signs to look out for are: Pale mucous membranes (gums, eyes) Slow capillary refill time Collapse Low temperature An animal that is bleeding internally will eventually go into shock. This is the body prioritizing blood supply to the life preserving organs, which can cause permanent damage to organ function. The signs of shock are: Low temperature – animal will feel cold ands therefore shiver Shallow rapid breathing Pale mucous membranes Collapse Severe shock, if not treated can lead to coma and death. First aid treatment is vital for shocked patients and does save lives. This would include: WARMTH Insulate the dog, wrap a towel, blanket or foil blanket around them to prevent any further loss of heat from the extremities. (Do not use direct heat such as a heat pad as this can burn the animal) FLUIDS The animal will need to replace any lost fluids. If you are able to get the animal to a veterinary surgeon the they will require intravenous fluids. If not, supplying some water to drink (not too cold) KEEP CALM The animal must remain (or become) calm. Increased heart rate, blood pressure and adrenalin output makes shock worse and should try and be corrected as much as possible Control any bleeding External Bleeding This will be obvious and is, by definition, a break in the skin. If the wound is superficial, such as a graze, blood will ooze from the capilliaries in the area. Such wounds are often not too serious and will stop bleeding without intervention. Should a wound be deeper sometimes blood vessels can be damaged. Venous blood is dark in colour and produces a steady stream, arterial blood is bright red and will spurt forcefully. Bleeds such as these will not stop of their own accord. In a first aid situation the following steps should be taken; Call for help (if possible) Restrain the animal appropriately and be aware that the may be unpredictable due to the circumstances. Try to keep yourself and the animal calm, to reduce blood pressure and heart rate. Apply direct pressure over the area using what ever you have available. A sterile cloth or other absorbent material is preferable (if possible) but in reality, anything will do. Foreign bodies puncturing the skin are excellent at stemming blood flow deeper in the tissues. Apply pressure around the object until you are able to, either see a vet or have more people and equipment on-hand to cope with any potential serious bleeding when it is removed.
Poisoning of pets can be a complicated subject. It is important to know the type of poison so that the correct treatment can be administered. Search the area for any packaging, or uneaten poison that may give clues. Dogs are likely to eat anything, and therefore, the poison is usually directly ingested. Cats are less likely to do this, but can ingest poisoned prey or lick poison off their coat or feet while grooming. It is vital that the source is removed from the vicinity (if it is still there) to prevent further ingestion. If the cat is covered in a substance and is trying to lick it off, apply a buster collar, if available, or cover the area with a towel, t-shirt, cling film or anything you can find. If ingestion is recent (within 20 minutes) and corrosive substances such as petrol products strong disinfectants and/or acids are not suspected then induce vomiting to prevent further absorption. Do not cause vomiting if the animal is unconscious. Washing soda crystals, hydrogen peroxide solution salt solution or mustard can be effective in inducing vomiting. PLEASE NOTE.. Dogs very often will try and eat their vomit, so swift removal will prevent the dog re-poisoning itself. If possible, phone a vet, a pharmacy or if you are dealing with a specific substance, the manufacturer for advice. Reserve any packaging for reference. It may be useful to feed an adsorbent substance such as activated charcoal to further remove any remaining toxins in the stomach. Use of demulcents (stomach lining substances) can be helpful in cases of corrosive poisoning as they help line the gut wall. Egg or milk beaten with a spoonful of sugar can be effective in soothing the tissues. As most poisons are metabolised in the liver a conscious patient should always be encouraged to drink. This will also help by diluting any toxin ingested.
It can be very dangerous to try and separate two animals that are fighting and you will most likely come away with some sort of injury yourself if you are not careful. A bucket of water or hose is the easiest way to separate dogs and cats that are fighting, the shock to them will stop them long enough to separate them. This is best done by two people. Bites are nasty puncture sounds that leave a pocket of tooth bacteria at the bottom. As the small surface wound heals, the bacteria remains deep in the tissue and can multiply, causing a nasty infection or abscess. This is the same for humans, so if you are bitten by a dog or cat, you should seek medical attention. All wounds need to be thoroughly flushed with a saline solution to remove as much bacteria as possible before it has a chance to multiply. This should be repeated regularly while the surface wound is healing. Bite wounds are usually best left open to drain as they will almost always be infected. The patient will also benefit from a course of antibiotics if you are able to see a vet.
Fractures of the limbs are generally extremely painful. This should be a major consideration in deciding a first aid plan. There is generally a large amount of swelling around a fracture site and angulations of limbs may also be apparent. Fractures of deep structures such as the pelvis and spine are common consequences of road traffic accidents and falls from heights. It’s reasonable to assume that any animal which is showing signs of pain following an accident has a fracture and should therefore be treated as such. There is controversy about whether some support should be provided for limb fractures while the animal is being transported. A judgement is to be made as to whether supporting a fracture with a dressing is likely to cause more distress than moving the animal carefully. In cases of severe or angulated fractures, the limb must be splinted and a chemical restraint will be necessary, which must be administered by a veterinary surgeon. More simple fractures can be treated with strict rest. Bones heal in around 4-6 weeks. STRICT rest but be implemented to prevent movement in the fracture sight, which will slow the healing process.
When an animal has a low core body temperature is below the normal range. Generally the animal’s extremities (paws and ear tips) will feel cold as the blood supply is concentrated to the major internal organs. Take steps to control any haemorrhage There are many causes for this but animals that have suffered trauma, blood loss, shock or collapse, generally suffer a drop in body temperature When treating an animal with hypothermia, increase the environmental temperature and insulate the animal to prevent further heat loss by wrapping it in blankets or towels. NEVER use a direct heat source onto the animals skin, this will encourage the blood supply to the surface removing it from the circulating volume to the vital organs. In extreme cases, a warm rectal lavage may be used to increase the body temperature. This should be done with a small amount of tepid water. When dealing with a hypothermic patient, warm them SLOWLY and regularly check the temperature to monitor progress. Infants and geriatrics are particularly susceptible to hypothermia and fast changes in body temperature so extra care should be taken for these.
