Emergency / First Aid for Your Pet

 

Please contact us so that we can give you over-the-phone advice.

 

Who to call:

 

Mon-Fri 8am-7pm Sat 8am-12noon

 

Vital Vet:  (08) 6296 - 7711

 

Emergency Hospitals (Open 24 hours):

 

Balcatta Veterinary Hospital Pet Emergency : (08) 9345 - 4644

 

Murdoch Pet Emergency Centre : 1300 652 494

 

 

Additional First Aid Information:

 

CPR:

Small Dogs, Puppies & Cats:

1. Lay your pet on their side with their right side down.

2. Extend their neck.

3. Check that the airway is clear: gently pull tongue out of the way so that you can check the throat is clear and is not obstructed by vomit or mucous (see picture 1 & 2)

4. Place your palm on their chest over their heart (see diagram).

5. Give ten compressions.

6. Place your mouth over their mouth and nose and give two breaths. Check to ensure that their chest rises as you give a breath.

7. Repeat (while someone transports you and patient to a vet)

 

1. Large Dogs:

2. Lay your dog on their side, right side down.

3. Extend their neck

4. Check that the airway is clear, gently pull tongue out of the way (see picture)

5. Place both hands clasped over the widest part of their chest.

6. Give ten compressions

6.          Place your mouth over your dogs nose and give two breaths.              Watch to ensure that their chest rises as you give the breaths.

7.        Repeat and get to a vet immediately. 

 

 

First Aid Tip: Check your pet’s gum colour

1. Healthy gums (pictured right above) should be a bright pink colour and if you press them, the pink colour should refill quickly (within two seconds).

 

1. 2. Pale white gums (pictured right below) can indicate that your pet is in shock, has a lack of oxygen or is unwell. Seek veterinary advice immediately. 

2.  

3.  

4. Snake Bite:

 

1. Ensure your safety first.

2. Do not get bitten trying to kill or identify the snake! While it helps to know what snake bit your pet it is not essential as there are combination anti-venom treatments available.

3. Keep your pet as calm as possible. It is important that they are still and quiet, carry them instead of letting them walk.

4. If you can see where your pet was bitten (on a limb) apply a 

           pressure bandage over the wound and up your pet’s leg.

5. Get your pet to a vet immediately so that treatment and / or 

           anti-venom can be administered.

 

 

Rodenticide Poisoning (Rat-Bait ingestion)

 

It is important to get to the vet as soon as possible, even if your pet seems fine. The vet will usually induce vomiting within one hour after ingestion. Symptoms will often not appear for a few days sometimes even up to 3 weeks after ingestion. Rat bait stops your pet’s blood from clotting, and symptoms include lethargy, bruising, bleeding, blood in the urine, abdominal pain, vomiting / diarrohea. It is important to treat the poisoning early before damage is done.

 

Snail-bait Poisoning

 

Snail bait is extremely dangerous and can cause vomiting, diarrohea, twitching, seizures, salivation (drooling) and coma followed by death. Diarrohea or vomit can be a bright fluorescent blue or green colour (from the coloured dye in the pellets). Symptoms usually occur as soon as 15 minutes after ingestion and if untreated it can kill your pet in 12 to 24 hours. Get them to a vet straight away so that treatment can be administered.

 

If you know the brand name or have the packet of the rat bait / snail bait please bring it with you to the vet.

 

 

More information coming soon!

Please click on the respective logos below to be taken to the website of

Balcatta or Murdoch Emergency Vets.

(This dog is under anaesthetic). His tongue is moved gently to the side and you can see his airway is not obstructed by vomit or mucous.

Common Snakes in WA: Tiger snake (above) and a Dugite (below)