Pet First Aid

On Saturday, I attended/completed the Red Cross Pet First Aid class. The information I took away was so valuable, I highly recommend anyone who owns a cat or dog, or works with cats and dogs, to take this course.

We learned CPR, the ABCs of CPR, seizures, poisoning, choking, broken bones, bandaging, how to take the pulse and breathing rate, and how to deal with an eye popping out of a short snouted dog, plus more. We learned so much more than I had anticipated.

Here's something you can do now, to keep on hand incase of emergency:
Have a current picture of each of your pets, with their personal information on the back. This information is vital, because what might be normal for most dogs/cats, might be different for one of yours. Having this information available will help whoever is administering first aid know what is normal for that particular animal. The information should include:
Name:
Normal Pulse Rate:
Normal Breathing Rate:
Normal Body Temperature:
The rates and temperature should probably be taken a few times to get a good average, and also do it about an hour after dinner once they've settled down.

Here is another good tip. There are poison control centers that charge for their help. For instance, if you call a particular center for help, they will take your credit card information first, and then proceed to help you. Here is a number you can call in Washington State that is free of charge: (206) 222-1222. It is Poison Control Center for Washington, most of which is to serve humans, but 7-10% of the calls are animal related. Good to know!

Again, I highly recommend taking this course, or one like it. To get a first aid book and reading it just isn't the same as hands-on training. And when it comes to saving the life of your best furry friend, it's worth the time and effort!

Letting the Cat Fend for Himself Over the Weekend?

I was recently asked if it's okay to leave the cat extra food and water, with access to the outdoors via a cat door, and let the cat fend for himself while away for a weekend. That's an excellent question! With cats being independent creatures, and knowing how your cat would be in a circumstance like this, it would probably be okay. However...

Here are some things to consider that might make you want to have a pet sitter for even a weekend get-away:

- If there is a malfunction in the home, such as a water pipe busting, or the cat knocking something off a shelf that could cause danger, it's good to have someone stop by at least once a day to make sure that everything is up to par. If there is an emergency, the pet sitter can deal with it.

- The cat, with or without access to the outdoors, could possibly get injured. That is something a neighbor or passerby would never notice. With a pet sitter stopping by, they can get the cat to the vet as soon as possible.

- The cat might get sick from something it ate, or start showing signs of a blocked urethra (something that doesn't make itself obvious until they are experiencing it), which if not dealt with immediately could be fatal. A pet sitter would notice this and get medical care immediately.

- If your house has a pet door without magnet locks, it's possible that other animals can come into the house, cause ruckus, or simply eat all your cat's food, leaving the cat hungry. A pet sitter would make sure that there is always enough food, and deal with any unwanted guests.

- Speaking of unwanted guests, burglary is another possibility. Having a pet sitter come to your home gives the house a lived-in look, deterring would-be thieves. And if someone should break-in, the pet sitter would be able to notify the police immediately.

- And lastly, even though cats are by and large independent creatures, sometimes they don't appreciate being left alone, and will sometimes leave "protest poops" as a way to let you know. A pet sitter would provide fresh food, as well as lots of love and attention, in your absence!

Pet sitters provide many benefits, even for weekend jaunts!