Accidents can happen anywhere, and will most likely result in an injury. This applies both to humans and animals. The way people seek love and tenderness when hurt, is the same feeling animals have when they are injured. The good news is that people can save injured animals if they take care of them properly. Here are five tips to consider if you want to change the course of life for one of the little souls.
1. Cautiously Approach the Animal
An injured animal is likely to get frightened and may consider you as an additional threat. Therefore, trending carefully to examine the type of injury of the animal is very important. This should be done slowly and with care to avoid agitating the animal. One Green Planet claims that a frightened animal can easily hurt you. In case you consider the animal to be a threat, it’s wise to contact the animal control team for assistance, or seek help from someone around. To avoid being injured yourself use caution and common sense when handling injured animals.
Sometimes we have the feeling that we should comfort the injured animal by hugging or caressing him. This is likely to be your first impulse because it’s in the human nature to try to comfort someone who is suffering. Try not to think about this as most of the times the animal might actually feel more pain and its mental condition may get worse.
2. Go to a Professional
Any wounded animal should be taken to a professional. A visit to the veterinary hospital will determine the cause and treatment of the injury thus saving the animal. The professional will first inspect and then clean the animal. After the treatment, it’s possible that the veterinarian will provide treatment plan and medication. If the veterinarian advises you to encourage your dog to exercise more, there are a lot of popular dog treadmill options to choose from. If it’s the case of taking medicines, then you should make sure that the puppy takes its pills on a regular basis, at the indicated hour. In addition, make sure to provide the full dosage and feed him only the indicated foods to avoid future problems.
3. Inspecting and Handling the Animal
Before getting to the professional, some treatment at the place of the accident will do a lot of help. Gently wrap a towel or blanket around the animal, and use it to scoop the animal up. A muzzle can come in handy. However, if you see the animal choking, don’t consider it as an option. In case there is bleeding, the first thing you need to do is stop it by applying a clean towel on the bleeding area, agily pressure and get the patient to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
4. Transporting the Animal
When carrying the animal to the veterinary hospital, try to keep it confined in a small space to avoid more injury. A pet carrier can be of great help, but if not available, a box or container, with adequate ventilation will do the trick. For the comfort of the injured animal, try using some towels or newspapers. For bigger animals, a crate can work fine. Make sure you transport the pet to the vet in the safest conditions possible, otherwise he will end up being even more frightened than before.
Knowing how to act in times of emergencies can make a difference between life and death for any kind of animal. It is our human responsibility to take care of injured animals every time we have the occasion to do so. By following the above five tips you are very likely to save the animal fighting for recovery. Do not hesitate to ask for professional advice, make sure you approach, inspect and carry the animal properly, and at the end of the day, you will feel more than grateful because you managed to save a life.
Guest Author: Deborah Hurst
Co-Founder of ToyPetReviews.com
Image source: Google Images (labeled for reuse)