Pets in Spain

Animal First Aid for the Accident-Prone

Our pets usually aren’t as accident-prone (read: clumsy!) as we humans are, but it’s not uncommon for Boo Boo to get a boo-boo now and then. If a wound isn’t serious—then we will further explain how to determine the extent of the injury—you can easily treat minor cuts, scrapes and abrasions at home.

CUTS

As a general rule, if the cut is smaller than a half inch in diameter, you usually won’t need to seek professional help. By following our step-by-step treatment plan, you should begin to see improvement in a couple of days:

* Carefully clip the fur around the wound. Electric clippers are recommended, if you have them.
* Thoroughly flush out the wound with warm salty water (add 1 teaspoon of salt to two cups of water) or saline solution. If you’re unable to prepare the salt water solution, warm water is fine. Just be sure to remove all dirt and debris from the cut. You may need to use tweezers to remove larger pieces of debris.
* Apply an antibiotic cream
* Seek veterinary help if the cut becomes larger or doesn’t show signs of healing after several days.

ABRASIONS

Your pet’s fur offers increased protection from abrasions, which occur when the top layers of skin are scraped away. Abrasions smaller than a half inch in diameter can be treated in the home:

* Carefully clip the fur around the wound.
* Thoroughly flush out the wound with warm salty water or saline solution. If this isn’t practical or possible, wash the affected area under running water.
* Apply antibiotic cream or a soothing first-aid cream.
* If the abrasion is on a part of your pet’s body that will get rubbed or must bear weight, such as the foot, you may want to apply a bandage for further protection.
* Call your vet if you see pus forming on the wound, or if you don’t notice any improvement after a couple of days.

ME-OUCH!

When assessing the condition of your pet’s wounds, it’s okay to be overly cautious. If you notice excessive bleeding, very deep wounds, or if your pet seems to be in pain, call the veterinarian immediately. If you notice a foreign object in the wound, such as a piece of glass or other object imbedded in a paw, it’s best to call the vet first.
Minor Pet Injuries vs. Heavy Bleeding

In cases of deep wounds, or wounds with severe bleeding, apply direct pressure to the wound and head straight for the vet. As excessive or frequent handling of the animal or manipulation of the wound can cause further injury, it is recommended that you keep the animal as stable and still as possible.