Domestic Pets

Injury Guide

BREATHING EMERGENCIES

DROWNING

Cases of drowining are rare in cats and dogs, as these animals are generally good swimmers. It does sometimes happen to puppies, old & sick animals, or those which have been injured and fallen into the water or hurt while swimming

CAUSES

DROWINING IN THE SEA: Falls from gangways and landing stages and especially in rough water

DROWNINGS IN LAKES, PONDS OR RIVERS: Particularly those with eddies or strong currents

SWIMMINGPOOLS & LOCKS: These are potentially dangerous because once the animal has fallen or jumped in, it will need help to get out. Otherwise it is likely to drown when it becomes exhaused

ASSESSMENT

SIGNS OF MOVEMENT: Once the animal has been taken out of the water, check whether it shows any movement

If the animal seems completely MOTIONLESS - see whether it is still alive by CHECK for a HEARTBEAT & BREATHING <<click here to see Emergency Treatment>>

If it is still breathing, you may find it will cough heaviliy an breathe in & out with difficulty

TREATMENT

QUICKLY REMOVE WATER FROM LUNGS: Act quickly and try to remove the water from the lungs

HOLD ANIMAL UPSIDE DOWN: Ideally you should hold the animal UPSIDE DOWN. Raise it by its hind legs and hold it around the thighs

HEAVY DOGS: Which are hard to lift up, may be held on their side with their head lower than the chest e.g by hanging them over the edge of a step or a table

ABNORMAL BREATHING: If normal breathing movements are absent, repeatedly apply manual pressure to one or both sides of the chest for a few seconds at a time. To reduce the lung volume and force the water out of the throat

ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION: If after removal of most of the water, there are no signs of the animal resuming normal breathing, you must resort to ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION << click to see EMERGENCTY TREATMENT>>

BREATHING OBSTRUCTED

BY FOREIGN BODIES

The main cause of choking in cats and dogs - is an ingested foreign body blocking the airway. Foreign bodies may lodge at various points

They will stop the Pharynx if they are too big for swallowing

Smaller ones may enter the Larynx (Voice box) going as far down as the Windpipe and Bronchi

CAUSES

LARGE OBJECTS: Stones,rubber balls, bottle tops and other large round objects are the most likely to obstruct

EARS OF CORN: Also more rarely, bits of wood or bone can pass into the Larynx,Windpipe or Bronchi and although they need not completely obstruct the passage of air, they will make breathing difficult

ASSESSMENT

SIGNS OF CHOKING: If the Pharynx or Larynx obstructed by an object that almost completely blocks the passage of air - it will produce CHOCKING

In this condition breathing is very difficult and the animal will extend its neck and open its mouth in order to breathe more easily

MUCOUS MEMBRANES TURNS BLUE: If the mucous membranes TURN BLUE or the animal BECOMES UNCONSCIOUS, the situation is VERY SERIOUS !!!

COUGHING & RECURRENT CHOKING: Foreign bodies lodged in the Windpipe or Bronchi usually produce repeated forceful coughing or recurrent choking

EXAMINATION OF ORAL CAVITY: You may be able to see foreing bodies in the Pharynx if the mouth is opened wide - and the togue is pulled forward

SHINE LIGHT SOURCE DOWN THROAT: It is a good idea to do this near a good source of light or to shine a torch into the mouth

TREATMENT

EMERGENCY: It is important to INTERVENE AT ONCE if the animal FINDS BREATHING really difficult

EXTRACTING THE FOREGN BODY: If the object has been located in the Pharynx and can be seen at the back of the mouth, try to remove it with your fingers

DISLODGE OBJECT: If this fails, or if you cannot see the foreign body

Seek help to suspend the animal HEAD DOWN

Holding it by the hind legs and

SLAP the side of the chest with your hand. Often this will DISLODGE the foreign body

If this move fails - repeat the procedure and

If necessary, compress the two sides of the chest rapidly by hand simultaneously

CALL VET AT ONCE: Try to avoid causing undue distress to the animal and always call a vet at once

SMOKE INHALATION

CAUSES

This usually results from an animal being trapped in the vicinity of a fire.Smoke inhalation can damage the Epithelial lining of the Respiratory System and cause severe Bronchitis or Pneumonia

TREATMENT

In severe cases ,follow the procedures listed under artificial respiration and external heart massage emergencies

Then take your pet to a veterinarian

Even though the animal responds well to initial treatment, it may later suffer serious effects as a result of permanent damage to its lungs

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