All Pet Naturals Blog

Part IV

As far as preventing infection you can use a natural antibiotic cream such as Goldenseal or an another alternative that works really well  is VIRAFUNGAL FIGHTER from allpetnaturals.com. Another ointment is Calendula cream which is a herbal based. Use tweezers for removing foreign objects or insect stings.

For irritation to the eye, use an eyewash to clean and soothe until you can take your pet into the veterinarian, and an eyewash that is safe is boric acid which needs to be diluted to half strength. In an emergency to flush out foreign material or irritants from the eye, a natural saline based contact lens solution can be used. You can use a rubber bulb syringe such as is used for babies. Eyebright tea or solution works really well for any kind of eye infection or irritation.

For shock or trauma Rescue Remedy is of great benefit. It can be safely used before visiting the vet or after any kind of injury. It will often revive animals that are in shock.  It has definitely saved many animals and is totally safe. Use four drops of the stock bottle to one once glass dropper bottle of spring water shaken up. It is best to make this up immediately before use, as the mixture will not keep too long. Two or three drops of  the mixture can be given into the mouth or onto the gums every five minutes until a response is seen. It can even be sprayed onto the skin or ears with a spray bottle and will still have a beneficial effect.

Another useful remedy that people should have in their First Aid Kit is a homeopathic one called Arnica, of which the potency can be 30 C or 6 C for first aid use. It is typically used for bruises and trauma to the body and helps healing after any kind of surgery or accident as well as helping with shock. It is available in pellets that can be dissolved in water and given by mouth. It works more on the physical body, while Rescue Remedy works more on the emotions.

For diarrhea a little Kaolin with Pectate is useful to give four times a day, and the dose depends on the size of your pet. The human brand is not recommended because it contains aspirin. Instead use a natural herbal remedy that contains Slippery Elm. The does of Slippery Elm is half a capsule twice a day for an average adult size cat.  fFr younger animals, a fourth of a capsule twice daily is better. For larger breed dogs one or two capsules twice a day. The best thing to do is mix the capsule powder with a little water to make it liquid and give it with a syringe. I would recommend taking any animal with diarrhea into the veterinarian to make sure it is nothing serious as they become dehydrated so quickly.

In closing first aid is called first aid for a reason and that’s because its a first measure so it is well worth having your veterinarian examine your pet to make double sure their is nothing else going on.

Be very careful about giving your  pet ANY TYPE OF HUMAN drug because the metabolisms are very different. Regular aspirin for example can be fatal to a cat. Always check with your vet.  Keep the emergency numbers close by and remain as calm as possible in a pet emergency.

Have fun with your pets, and I hope that none of you have to deal with any emergencies, but if you do I trust this article gives you some practical ideas to help you and your pets in a more natural and holistic way.

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Dr. Anna Maria Gardner, MA Vet.MB MRCVS is a holistic veterinarian based in Washington State and is certified in acupuncture and homeopathy. She lives in Spokane with her new husband as well as two dogs, three cats and a crazy parrot, all of whole have helped inspire her as a holistic vet. She runs an entirely house call and phone consultation practice. You can contact her by email or by phone.

drgardner@petsynergy.com or by phone at 1.360.796.3749

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Part III

For injuries bandages are useful.  You can bandage an injured foot or leg, or even an ear using tape to secure it in place – the idea is to stop the bleeding whilst on the way to the vet. For heavy bleeding, such as surface wounds from fighting or other accidents take come cotton and gauze squares and apply pressure for as long as you can to stop the bleeding. you can even improvise a tourniquet by tying pantyhose above the bleeding area, if it is on a leg,  and keep the pressure on for five minutes then release for one minute, unless it is still bleeding excessively.  At this point you should be on your way to the veterinarian or emergency clinic.

Bandages that are useful are gauze, some soft kind of padded bandage, as well as a conforming bandage, which you  can get at some good pet stores or your vet’s office. Please note that YOU MUST TAKE CAUTION! as any dog or cat, however, gentle, will BITE when they are in pain, so just do what you can without injury to yourself and get to the vet as soon as possible.

You will also need some blunt scissors to cut any bandages and tapes with it. Cotton swabs are useful for cleaning wounds, as is hydrogen peroxide. It is best to dilute the 3% hydrogen peroxide using one part of this to nine parts of water, the use this mixture to cleanse the wound. Bandages and swabs can be found at any pharmacy.

Part IV Next

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Part II

To take the temperature it is best to use some lubricating jelly which is applied to the end of the thermometer before it is inserted in the rectum. It is  also best to have someone firmly hold your cat or dog, for obvious reasons since the tube is usually made of glass.

Another useful things to have on hand is a heating pad. This is helpful  if there is any kind of shock, or low temperature, or for general sickness and debility as well. Get one that is designed for animals and make sure the electric wire  is covered and unavailable for chewing.  In an emergency how water bottles can be improvised using empty plastic bottles which are filled with hot but not boiling water.

Shock can be seen due to serious injury or medical problems such as acute diarrhea, hypoglycemia, blood loss, poisoning and many serious internal problems that might not be evident without x-rays or blood tests. If your pet shows any of these signs seek medical help  as soon as possible. In general the smaller the animal the more rapidly they will go into shock and the more urgent the medical attention is required. This applies especially to young kittens and puppies, who are very susceptible to chills as well as hypoglycemia.

The next useful thing to have is pediolyte, or another dehydration fluid. This is basically water and electrolytes and is essential if your animal is having diarrhea or any signs of shock such as low temperature, cold extremities, pale gums and weakness. You will need a syringe to administer the pediolyte and a five or ten cc syringe usually works well, you  can give one or two syringes of this into  the mouth every hour until they are looking better, depending on the size of the animal. To check for signs of dehydration is is best to take  the skin at the scruff of the neck and raise it up between your finger and thumb then let go. If it goes immediately back to normal they are not dehydrated. If it stays up a few seconds, then are starting to get dehydrated and need to be given oral rehydration fluids immediately as described above. another useful thing to start giving, especially to puppies and young animals of any type is a little honey and  water, or even glucose. The honey needs to dissolved in a little hot water then some cool water added to get it into a solution which  can be given with a syringe. Toy breeds, such as chihuahua’s are particularly prone to hypoglycemia and low blood sugar, especially as puppies, so this is well  worth doing in an emergency, when you are not exactly sure of the cause.

Part III – Coming Next

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January 2010, reproduced with permission.

FERNDALE: Every pet owner knows the importance of having a first aid kit around their house, but not everyone knows what should be in it or how to use it. This article is designed to give you some practical suggestions as to what sort of  things maybe useful and how  to  use them. When your pet is sick, or there is an accident or emergency it is  not always possible to get to the vet right away. There are some things that can be done with a basic first aid kit that can help your cat or dog or if serious increase the chance of survival.

The first thing to have on hand is a thermometer, and if your pet seems to be not eating, depressed, to have diarrhea, or any  respiratory symptoms then it is worth taking their temperature as soon as possible, to see if they have any sign of a fever, indicating an infection. Equally important to be aware of  is when  the temperature is too low.  This indicates that shock may be starting. For example if they are getting dehydrated, or losing blood somewhere, although there are many other causes too. The normal  temperature for  cats and dogs should be on average 101 to 102 degrees Fahrenheight.  Below 99 is too low, and a sign that the animal is too chilled or going into shock. And above 103 degrees is usually fever.

End of PART I

Here is our recommended First Aid Kit for Pets:

• Thermometer
• Lubricating Jelly
• Pediolyte
• Honey
• Syringes
• Heating Pad
• Hot Water Bottles
• Bandages
• Medical Tape
• Cotton Gauze Squares
• Cotton Swabs
• Bandage Scissors
• Tweezers
• Bulb Syringe
• Eyewash
• Eyebright Solution
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Rubbing Alcohol
• GoldenSeal or  Calendula Lotion
• Rescue Remedy
• Arnica
• Kao-Pectate
• Slippery Elm

Also always have on hand …

1. Your local vets telephone number (2)Emergency clinic number (3) Numbers for the animal poison hotline  & poison control for pets (1.800.548.2423)

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Dr.  Gardner can be contacted at www.petsynergy.com.

PO Box 81 Brinnon
WA 98320
Phone Number is 360-SYNERGY(360-796-3749)

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Handy Home Guide To Your Pet’s Health

Temperature

The normal temperature for a dog falls between 101 and 102.5 degrees. The normal temperature for a cat is between 101 and 101.2 degrees, slightly less. If your pet’s temperature falls below these levels, please take your pet to a vet right away.

Gums

Another way you can tell pet health is by checking the gum colour. Lift your pet’ lip and look at the gum colour. It should be moist and pink, not pale white, bluish or dark red in colour. Now press your finger into the gum and let go. The surface should blanch and return to the normal colour within 2 seconds. Thios is called the capillary refill time. If the colour doesn not return, and it takes longer than three seconds, your pet could be ill. Contact your veterinarian.

Hydration

This is rather important these days during the hot weather. The way you check to see if your pet is properly hydrated is to lift the skin at the nape of the neck, then release it. Normally, the skin should return to its original position. If the skin remains “tented,” your pet may be dehydrated.
Respiration

Dogs should usually breathe 10 to 30 times a minute, but can have up to 200 pants per minute. Cats
take 20 to 30 breaths per minute, and can pant up to 300 times per minute. If vigorous panting persists for more
than a few minutes, contact a veterinarian.
Heartbeat

The best places to feel for a pulse are on the inside of your pet’s rear leg, or on the chest, just behind the front elbow. Listed below are the normal pulse rates for animals:

• Cats: 150-200 bpm
• Small dogs: 90-120 bpm
• Medium dogs: 70-110 bpm
• Large dogs: 60-90 bpm

Source: The Real Safety Guide to Pet Health

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