Tips to Care for Sick and Injured Dogs and Cats

Tips to Care for Sick and Injured Dogs and Cats

Anyone who is owned by a dog or cat should have some basic first aid supplies on hand at all times.  Often you can take care of simple problems on your own.  You can buy commercial first-aid kits from pet supply stores and catalogs.  These kits contain the basic care items.  You can also put together your own.  Here are some of the things you should have on hand just in case…..

• ·        Information Card with your veterinary emergency clinic phone number and the local or national poison control number

• ·        Information Card with your pet’s base-line temperature and weight

• ·        Muzzle or length of fabric to make one

• ·        Bandaging Materials – Sterile gauze pads in various sizes, 1 to 2” rolls of stretchable and non-stretchable gauze, elastic (Ace) bandage, plastic wrap such as Saran Wrap to seal wounds, bandage tape, blunt scissors for bandaging and to trip fur away from wounds, duct tape or other heavy tape to immobilize your pet on a firm surface, bubble wrap for splinting, blunt-tipped tweezers or hemostats to remove splinters and other foreign objects, electric clippers to trim fur around wounds, needle-nose pliers to remove foreign objects, large needless syringe or eyedropper to give liquid medication, rectal thermometer, clean towel or blanket to restrain your pet, keep him warm or to use as a stretcher, ready-made cold packs and hot packs, or a washcloth and a hot-water bottle, and antiseptic liquid soap

Some human medicines are also effective for dogs and cats, though the dosages are usually lower.  Be sure to give your vet a call before administering any human medicine just to verify that it’s safe for your pet and will work on his condition.  Here is a list of medicines that vets recommend most often:

Here is a list of medicines that vets recommend most often. 

• A&D Ointment — Antibacterial ointment for scrapes and wounds.
  Dogs & Cats: Apply thin coating 3-4 times a day for 7-10 days.
• Anbesol — Topical anesthetic for mouth pain.
  Dogs: Dab on liquid with cotton swab once or twice a day for up to 2 days.
  Cats: Do not use more than one time.
• Aveeno Oatmeal Medicated Bath — For soothing itchy skin.
  Dogs & Cats: Use as bath rinse as often as 3 times a week.
• Benadryl — Antihistamine.
  Dogs & Cats: 1 mg per lb every 6-8 hours.
• Betadine Skin Cleanser — Antiseptic liquid soap for cleansing on or around wounds.
  Dogs & Cats: Use full strength to wash affected area.
• Betadine Solution — Antiseptic solution for flushing or soaking injured area.
  Dogs & Cats: Dilute with distilled water to the color of weak tea, and then apply.
• Bufferin — Pain reliever.
  Dogs: 10-25 mg per 2.2 lb two or three times a day.
  Cats: DO NOT USE.
• Burow’s Solution — Topical antiseptic.
  Dogs & Cats: Moisten cotton ball and apply to wound.
• Caladryl — Soothing topical lotion for pain and itching.
  Dogs & Cats: Paint on sore area.
• Cortaid — Anti-itch cream.
  Dogs & Cats: Apply once or twice daily as needed.
• Desitin — Soothing ointment.
  Dogs & Cats: Rub on affected area.
• Dramamine — For car sickness, nausea.
  Dogs: 2-4mg per lb 3 times a day.
  Cats: 1/4 of 50-mg Tablet (12.5 mg) once a day.
• Dulcolax — For constipation.
  Dogs: 5- to 20-mg tablet once a day or 1/2 to 2 pediatric suppositories (10 mg) once a day.
  Cats: 5-mg tablet once a day or 1/2 pediatric suppository once a day.
• Epsom Salts — Soothing soak for irritated, itchy skin.
  Dogs: 1 cup per gal of water, then soak affected area.
  Cats: 1 cup per 2 gal of water, then soak affected area.
• Hypo Tears — Eye lubricant.
  Dogs & Cats: Apply 4-12 times a day.
• Iodine — Topical antiseptic.
  Dogs & Cats: Paint on wound.
• Ipecac Syrup — Emetic to promote vomiting.
  Dogs: 1 tsp per 20 lb, up to 3 tsp.
  Cats: DO NOT USE.
• Kaopectate — For diarrhea.
  Dogs: 1/2 – 1 tsp per 5 lb, to a maximum of 2 Tbsp every 8 hours.
  Cats: 1/2 – 1 tsp per 5 lb every 4-8 hours for 1 day only.
• Lanacane — Topical anesthetic.
  Dogs: Apply to sore area with gauze pad.
  Cats: DO NOT USE.
• Massengill Disposable Douche — Odor neutralizer for skunk spray, body odor.
  Dogs & Cats: Mix 2 oz per gal of water, use as a soak for 15 min, and then bath as usual.
• Metamucil (unflavored) — For constipation.
  Dogs: 1 tsp per 10-25 lb, mixed in food.
  Cats: 1/2 tsp (small cat) to 1 tsp (large cat), mixed in food.
• Mylanta Liquid — For digestive upset, gas.
  Dogs: 15 lbs or less — 3 Tbsp; 16-50 lbs — 4 Tbsp; 51 lb or more — 6 Tbsp.
  Cats: DO NOT USE.
• Neosporin — For preventing wound infection.
  Dogs & Cats: Apply 3-5 times daily as needed.
• Pedialyte — For dehydration.
  Dogs & Cats: Mix 50/50 with water, offer as much as dog or cat wants.
• Pepcid AC — For vomiting.
  Dogs & Cats: 5 mg per 10 lb once or twice a day.
• Pepto-Bismol — For diarrhea, nausea, indigestion, vomiting.
  Dogs: 0.5 ml per lb or 1/2-1 tsp per 5 lb, to a maximum of 30 ml or 2 Tbsp up to 3 times per day, or 1 tablet per 15 lb up to 3 times per day.
  Cats: DO NOT USE
• Phillips’ Milk of Magnesia — For constipation.
  Dogs: 2-4 tsp per 5 lb every 6 hours.
  Cats: 1/2-1 tsp once a day.
• Preparation H — For sore anal area.
  Dogs: Apply up to 4 times daily.
  Cats: DO NOT USE.
• Robitussin Pediatric Cough Formula — Cough suppressant.
  Dogs & Cats: Ask your vet.
• Solarcaine — Topical pain reliever and anesthetic.
  Dogs: Apply to sore area once or twice a day for up to 2 days.
  Cats: DO NOT USE.
• Tylenol — Pain reliever.
  Dogs & Cats: Ask your vet.
• Vicks VapoRub — For congestion.
  Dogs & Cats: Smear a small amount on your pet’s chin for easier breathing.
• Witch Hazel — Astringent/topical antiseptic.
  Dogs & Cats: Dab on affected area.

Some human drugs are dangerous when given to pets.  But because many human medicines contain the same active ingredients as the pet versions, you can often relieve your dog or cat’s symptoms with first aid using the right choices from your own medicine chest.  But please get the OK from your vet first.

Another home remedy is to give canned pumpkin (pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling) to your dog or cat if they are constipated. They love the taste and it works wonderfully.  A little tip – get some plastic ice cube trays.  Fill each space with some of the pumpkin, wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze it.  When you need some, just pop out a cube and defrost.  

For dogs that are vomiting or have an upset tummy, boil some white meat chicken and white rice and feed it to them.  It’ll help settle their tummies and make them feel so much better.  BUT constant vomiting needs to be checked by your vet.  The dog could have a blockage and only an x-ray will tell you that. 

There is a great book with many tips that you can do either instead of or before taking your pet to the vet.  The book is The First Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats by Amy D. Shojai.  I highly recommend this book.  Not only does it have this list of human meds safe for your pets, but it has information on when to see your vet immediately or when you can wait, what you can do at home, information on over 150 accidents and emergencies and different symptoms to watch for.  I have several dogs and a cat and have used it many, many times.  It has saved me more trips to the vet than I can count and a lot of money.