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Suspected Ingestion of Poison

  1. Call one of the folllowing immediately:
    • Your pet's primary veterinarian
    • A 24-Hour Emergency & Critical Care Hospital:
      • Red Bank Veterinary Hospital Tinton Falls: 732-747-3636
      • Red Bank Veterinary Hospital Linwood: 609-925-5300
      • Red Bank Veterinary Hospital Hillsborough: 908-359-3161
      • Red Bank Veterinary Hospital Cherry Hill: 856-429-4394
    • ASPCA Animal Poison Control: 888-426-4435 (A $55 consultation fee may be charged)

  2. If recommended by your veterinarian or Poison Control, hydrogen peroxide can be administered using a dosing syringe or a turkey baster to induce vomiting. Do not attempt this without professional advice since some poisons should not be vomited. Doing so may cause additional damage to the pet's mouth and esophagus as the poison passes through these areas again.

  3. If your pet has swallowed an object such as a sock or a toy, do not induce vomiting without consulting a veterinarian first.

Preparing A First Aid Kit For Your Pet
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Dosing syringe or turkey baster
  • Antibacterial soap
  • Grease-cutting dish detergent (such as Dawn)
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Thermometer
  • Diphenhydramine (such as Benadryl)
  • Steptic pencil
  • Tick remover or tweezer
  • Saline (for contact lenses)
  • Leash or carrier
  • Muzzle (or length of cotton rope or cloth belt)
  • Water -based lubricant (such as KY Jelly)
  • Triple antibiotic ointment (such as Neosporin)
  • Sterile gauze pads
  • Cotton balls
  • Bandage tape
  • Bandage material
    • Cast padding
    • Ace bandage
    • Gauze wrap
  • Cotton swabs
  • Ear cleaner
  • Hemostat
  • Vaccination records
  • A recent photograph of your pet
    (in case your pet is missing)
  • ASPCA Animal Poison Control # 1-888-426-4435
  • Primary veterinarian #
  • Emergency veterinarian #
  • Local shelter #
  • Local police department #

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Greasy Substances on Feet or Hair Coat
Apply liberal amounts of a grease-cutting dish detergent, avoiding contact with the eyes, nose, and mouth. Rinse and wash off thoroughly.

Heat Exhaustion
In the hot summer weather, pets who are outside for extended periods of time or engage in outdoor physical activity can easily overheat and suffer from heat stroke. The most common symptoms are heavy panting, difficulty getting up and walking, and feeling very warm to the touch. If you think your pet is overheated, use a thermometer to take your pet's rectal temperature. If the temperature is 105°F or higher, wipe the pads of the feet with rubbing alcohol, wrap your pet in a towel soaked with cool water, and get your pet to a veterinarian immediately. If your pet's temperature is 103°F or higher, call your veterinarian for further instructions. Be aware that dogs and cats have body temperatures that are higher than our own, so don't be alarmed if their temperature is reading in the 100°F to 102°F range. This is normal for them.

Vomiting/Diarrhea
If your pet has vomited, withhold food and water and call your veterinarian. If your pet has diarrhea, withhold only the food and call your veterinarian for instructions on feeding your pet a bland diet.

Allergic Reactions (Hives, Swollen/Itchy Eyelids)
This is a very common year round occurrence. If you feel your pet is experiencing an allergic reaction, call your veterinarian for the appropriate dosage of diphenhydramine. If you think that your pet is experiencing breathing difficulties due to the reaction, seek veterinary care immediately.

Injuries
If your pet is in pain or frightened, it is in the best interest of both you and your pet to use a muzzle before administering treatment. A cloth rope or belt can be used to gently tie the mouth shut.

  1. For eye irritations or squinting of the eyes – rinse with saline solution.
  2. For abrasions – wash gently with very dilute antibacterial soap or rinse with saline solution and apply topical antibacterial ointment.
  3. For deep lacerations or puncture wounds – rinse well with saline solution, apply a water-based lubricant on the puncture or directly in the laceration, cover with gauze and a bandage and seek veterinary care.
  4. For fractured/broken bone – minimize movement. If bones are visible through a break in the skin, rinse with saline solution, gently cover wound with a bandage and seek veterinary care immediately.

Pedicures
When cutting your pet's nails, you may accidentally cut one too short causing it to bleed. Bleeding can be minimal to excessive. Apply the steptic pencil to the end of the nail with firm pressure for one minute and blot with a tissue. You may have to repeat this process several times before bleeding stops. Corn starch and water made into a dry paste can also be applied to the end of the nail with firm pressure until bleeding stops.