Camping First-Aid for Pets

Camping First-Aid for Pets What can you do if your pet develops a health problem when you’re on a camping trip?  Keep a level head and do what you can to help your pet recover.  If it doesn’t show signs of a full recovery within fifteen minutes, get it to a veterinarian as quickly as you can. Heat – You’ll know your pet is suffering from the heat if it starts to pant, goes limp, or starts turning red.  Your first objective is to cool it down without shocking its system.  Move the animal into the shade and put something wet (a towel or bandana) over its body.  It the animal is awake, give it some water to drink.  Never force water on an unconscious or unresponsive animal.  You can create a light breeze by waving a fan across its body. Cold – Shivering and lethargy are both signs of hypothermia.  If you’re worried that your pet might be too cold, get it next to your body (inside your coat or shirt).  Your body heat should help it warm up.   Poison – Try to figure out what your pet ate and take a sample of that with you to the vet right away.  This will help the vet decide what treatment to use.  Antifreeze, fertilizer, pesticides, car oil, and household cleaners are all potentially dangerous for pets.