Emergency Book for Your Pet
Waupaca Small Animal Hospital
780 Bowling Lane
Waupaca, WI
54981
715-258-3343
Monday – Friday 7:30 am to 5:30 pm
Saturday 7:30 am – 12:00pm
After hours emergency:
Fox Valley Animal Referral Center (open 24hrs a day and
holidays)
4706 New Horizons Blvd
Appleton, WI 54914
920-993-9193
Central Wisconsin Animal Emergency Center (open 24hrs on
weekends and holidays, 5pm to 8am Monday – Friday)
1420 Kronenwetter Drive
Mosinee, WI 54455
715-693-6934
Animal Poison Control Center
1-888-426-4435
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Vital Signs
Heart Rate :
You can either place your hand or a stethoscope on their chest right
behind their elbow, or you can also feel their pulse on their inner thigh toward the top of
the leg (groin area). It’s a good thing to try sometime so not only do you know where on
your pet is easiest for you to find the heart rate, but also get a feel out what is a normal
heart rate for your pet.
Normal resting heart rates:
Cats
Puppies
Small Dogs
Med to Large Dogs
130 - 220 beats per minute
120 - 160 beats per minute
100 - 160 beats per minute
60 - 100 beats per minute
Breathing Rate:
Normal breathing rate at rest
Dogs
Cats
Temperature:
Normal Temp:
Dogs
Cats
10 – 30 breaths per minute
20 – 30 breaths per minute
The most accurate temperature is using a digital rectal thermometer.
100 – 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit
100 – 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit
Remember that these are only general guidelines for cats and dogs. Things like exercise
and ambient temperatures can cause variations in a pets vitals. These are guidelines so
you as a pet owner have an idea of what normal is and it’s a good idea to see what is the
normal rate for your pet, so you have a baseline to go off of. It is best to call a
veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns.
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Pet Emergencies
Abdominal Pain:
Symptoms- Whining, restlessness (can’t get comfortable), arching back,
vomiting, diarrhea, bloated or distended belly, or lethargy.
What to Do – Do not give your pet food or water. Let your pet rest and call a
vet as soon as possible. Abdominal pain can be very serious and can be life
threatening if not addressed.
Allergic Reactions:
Symptoms – Hives, swollen face, scratching, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, chewing
on feet or difficulty breathing
What to Do: Call a vet as soon as your see signs (especially facial swelling or
breathing problems). Some reactions can be mild, but can escalate into
emergencies if medication is not given to stop the reaction. Sometimes
medications can be given at home for mild allergies (see Pet First Aid Kit)
Bite Wounds:
What to do: The biggest problem with an animal that is injured is that they are
scared and hurt and may unwittingly strike out at you. Approach the animal
slowly and calmly. Muzzle or hold the animals head while examining the
animal’s bite wound. Make-shift muzzles can be made from a leash or a bandana
to keep you and the animal safe for the exam and if you have to pick them up.
Check for punctures and remember that there can be damage and bleeding under
the skin even if there isn’t an open wound. If you can not get to a vet
immediately, rinse the wounds out with saline and wrap wounds in a non-clinging
material (do not use tourniquets or tape to stop bleeding). Use firm pressure to
help stop the bleeding. Take the animal to a vet as soon as possible for treatment
and to prevent infection.
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Burns:
What to Do: There are many different kind of burns from chemical burns to
thermal (heat) burns to sun burn. If you can not get to a vet immediately, flush
area with cool water for 5 minutes (do not use ice packs directly on skin because
this can cause further skin damage). Then apply a cool compress or towel
wrapped ice pack to burn area. Then call a vet immediately for treatment and to
prevent shock.
Cardiac (Heart) Emergencies:
Symptoms: Collapse, blue/gray gums, rapid/slow heart rate, respiratory distress,
or weakness
What to Do: Call a vet IMMEDIATELY. Cardiac emergencies are very
serious and should be treated as soon as possible. Limit the animals activity ,
carrying them when needed. If the animal stops breathing, begin CPR (see back
of this booklet).
Cold Emergencies (Hypothermia/Frostbite)
Symptoms: Shivering, weakness, lethargy, blue/gray areas of skin, inability to
use limbs
What to Do: Bring the animal inside and start to slowly warm them. Take a
rectal temperature to get a baseline (remember normal is 100- 102.5 degrees). To
warm the animal warm/dry blankets and/or warm water bottles wrapped in
towels( you can warm the blanket/towels in the dryer first). DO NOT use electric
blankets or heating pads because these can cause even more skin damage or even
burns. The key is to slowly warm the animal and transport them to a vet for an
exam/treatment.
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Diarrhea
What to Do: There are many causes of diarrhea from stress to food changes to
more serious conditions like internal parasites or disease. Make sure that the
animal keeps drinking to avoid dehydration. You can make a bland diet made of
boiled hamburger or boiled chicken and white rice. This a very bland/easy diet
for them to digest and can help sometimes with mild cases. If the diarrhea
continues for more than 24 hours or the animal becomes lethargic or stops eating,
it should be seen by a vet.
Eye Emergencies
Symptoms: Squinting, discharge (watery or yellow/green), redness, different
sized pupils, swelling
What to Do: If there is a laceration or foreign object in eye, seek veterinary
care immediately for treatment. Do not try to pull foreign object from eye,
especially if it has pierced the eye. If the animal has dirt or has been exposed to a
chemical irritant, you can flush the animal’s eye with sterile saline and then call a
vet. Eye infections and eye injuries can get worse quickly, so it is important to
have the eye looked at soon after you notice a problem.
Fractures
Symptoms: Not using limb, limb looks bent or swollen, whining, dragging or
scooting across floor, unable to walk, bone protruding
What to Do: The animal will most likely be in pain, so be careful moving them
(you may have to muzzle them to be safe). If there is any bleeding, apply
pressure with a towel, but try not to move limb. Try to stabilize limb with a stiff
material like cardboard or rolled newspaper. Call a vet to have animal seen as
soon as possible.
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Heat Emergencies (Hyperthermia)
Symptoms: Excessive panting and drooling, lethargic, unable to stand,
vomiting, diarrhea, bright red gums
What to Do: Move animal to a cool area as soon as possible, keeping them
calm. If there is water nearby, have animal stand of lay in cool water, but do not
give them a cold bath (rapid cool down can cause more damage or cause them to
go into shock). Cool compresses or wet towels can be used between legs and on
chest. Call a vet to have pet seen for any addition supportive care.
Lacerations
What to Do: Be careful when approaching animal and examining wound. Look
closely for wounds (may be hard to find under fur) and bruising. Flush
lacerations with sterile saline and control any bleeding with bandaging or wraps
and non-sticking gauze. Apply firm pressure when wrapping. Transport animal
to a vet to have further treatment. It is important to have lacerations treated
immediately to avoid infection and so they can be sutured (if needed). Older
wounds may have to be treated with medication before being repaired and may
require more than one surgery to remove infected tissue.
Neurologic Emergencies
Symptoms: Inability to use limbs, unable to stand, circling, head tilt, dragging
limbs or “knuckling” where they will stand on the tops of their feet
What to Do: If these symptoms are seen, call you vet to have the animal seen.
If the animal is having a hard time walking, you can use a towel looped under
their belly to help them walk.
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Poisoning
Symptoms: Vomiting, seizures, retching, excessive drooling, disorientation, pale
gums
What to Do: Call a vet immediately. If you know the source of the poison, keep
the package and have it handy when you call. Do not make the animal vomit until
you consult the vet, because certain poisons can burn the throat and mouth on the
way back up. It you are instructed to make the animal vomit by the vet, give a
shot glass worth of hydrogen peroxide every 5 minutes until they vomited up the
poison. If the source of the poison is not known, take the animal to a vet
immediately so anti-toxin treatments can be started. The sooner they are treated,
the less poison is absorbed. Many times by the time you wait to see symptoms
like seizures, or disorientation, it is too late.
Animal Poison Control Center 1 -888-426- 4435
ASPCA website (poison lists)
Respiratory Emergencies
Symptoms: Collapse, weakness, blue/gray gums, labored/rapid/shallow
breathing
What to do: Call a vet immediately. There are many things that can cause
difficulty breathing from allergic reactions to foreign bodies to trauma. If you can
see a foreign body in the animals throat/mouth, only remove it if it is completely
obstructing the breathing. If they are still able to breath around the object, leave it
be since removing it may cause more damage, or it many move farther down the
airway.
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Seizures
Symptoms: Shaking, paddling, loss of bowels or bladder, tremors, chomping
mouth
What to Do: Do not attempt to hold the animal down during the seizure. Make
sure to move any thing away from them that could injure them, and keep the room
quiet and turn lights down. Seizures are an electrical storm in the brain, and
outside stimulus (petting, noise, etc) actually adds to the electrical signals already
going on in the brain and can actually prolong the seizure. It is also important to
stay clear of the animal while it is seizing to keep yourself safe from accidental
bites. If seizure lasts more than 10 minutes, animal should be taken immediately
to a vet for medication to stop the seizure. Many times animals will act out of it
or groggy after seizure and just let them rest. Call a vet to have animal examined,
have the seizure logged, and do blood work if needed.
Urinary Emergencies
Symptoms: Frequent urination, straining to urinate, whining/crying while
urinating, lethargy, vomiting
What to Do: Symptoms can come from infections, crystals, or even urinary
obstruction. If your pet has been straining to urinate and not producing any urine,
or becomes lethargic, animal should be seen immediately to make sure it’s not
blocked (urinary obstruction). This is a very serious condition, and should be
seen as soon as you note the symptoms because this condition can lead to death.
If the animal is still urinating, call a vet to have animal seen and if possible, catch
a urine sample for analysis.
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General Information
Nail Trims: If you trim the nail too short and it starts to bleed there are two ways to get
it to clot. One is use an over the counter styptic powder or you can use flour and/or corn
starch to pack the end of the nail to stop the bleeding. Even though it may look bad, they
won’t bleed to death and you just need to get them calmed down so the nail can clot.
Sprayed by Skunk: There are over the counter shampoos like Skunk Off that are great
at getting rid other the smell, but if you can’t get somewhere to get the shampoo, there is
a at-home recipe that works too.
1 quart Hydrogen Peroxide (3%)
¼ cup Baking Soda
1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid soap
This solution will fizz once mixed so don’t be surprised. Bath the animal
in it (make sure it doesn’t go in the eyes or mouth) and let the mixture sit on the skin for
10 minutes. Rinse well and repeat as needed.
Mild Allergies:
Sometimes you may be instructed to give a dog Benadryl
(Diphenhydramine) for either an allergic reaction or for seasonal allergies. The dosing is
1 mg per pound of body weight every 8 – 12 hours (unless otherwise instructed). So if
the dog is 50 pounds, you can give 50 mg of Benadryl every 8 – 12 hours as needed.
Another common seasonal allergy problem is water/red eyes. You can try rinsing their
eyes out with sterile saline to flush any pollen out. If the animal continues to itch, swell,
or the redness gets worse, call a vet to have the animal seen.
Bland Diet:
If you are instructed to feed a bland diet and want to fix it at home, this is
the recipe
1/3 part boiled chicken or boiled hamburger
2/3 parts white or brown rice
It is important to not fry the meat only boil. Boiling gets rid of most of the fat
making it milder for digesting.
Traveling:
When traveling with an animal, make sure to have a copy of their vaccine
records. If you are having someone watch your animal, contact your vet to let them know
that you, the owners, are ok with having the pet-sitter bring your animal to be seen while
you are gone and any special instructions. Never leave an animal in a vehicle in hot
weather even for a short time especially if muzzled or kenneled.
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First Aid Kit
Tools
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•Benadryl Dosing (1mg per lb) for dogs
every 8 – 12 hours
(Example – A 50 lb dog
gets 50 mg every 8-12 hours)
Rectal thermometer
Pen light or small flashlight
Scissors
Tweezers
Needle nose pliers
Medication
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Antibacterial scrub (chlorohexidine or betadine if possible)
Triple antibiotic ointment/cream
Rubbing alcohol
Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
Sterile Saline (or bottle water for flushing)
Bandaging Materials
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Non stick gauze pads
Rolled gauze
Rolled bandaging material (or an Ace bandage)
A bandana or towel (for padding/wrapping)
Leash (can also be used to make a muzzle)
Styptic powder
Muzzle
Emergency Numbers
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Waupaca Small Animal Hospital – 715- 258- 3343
Fox Valley Animal Referral Center – 920-993-9193
Central Wisconsin Emerg. Center – 715- 693- 6934
Animal Poison Control Center – 1 - 888 - 426 - 4435
10
Common Household Toxins
Antifreeze: This sweet tasting liquid is very dangerous. If you suspect an
animal of ingesting antifreeze (even a very small amount) call a vet
immediately to have it seen. If you wait and watch for symptoms
(staggering, seizures, excessive drinking, lethargy) it may be too late.
Slug/Snails baits: Symptoms include nervousness, hyper excitability,
drooling, tremors, rapid heart rate, and seizures
Chocolate: There are many kinds of chocolate and depending on the variety
and the animal’s weight, the toxicity levels are different. White chocolate
has the lowest toxicity, while baker’s chocolate is the highest. Symptoms
can range from mild GI upset to tremors, rapid heart rate, and seizures.
Cocoa bean mulch also contains the toxic chemical.
Rodent Poison: Depending on the variety, rodent poison can cause internal
bleeding to severe neurological damage. That is why it is very important to
have the packaging if possible to determine the treatment plan.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol): Though toxic to dogs, it is VERY toxic to cats.
It causes red blood cell and liver damage.
Plants: There are a lot of plants that are toxic to animals with symptoms
ranging from GI upset to severe organ damage. Some of the common toxic
plants include Easter lilies (actually bulb plant/flowers are all dangerous),
mistletoe, rhodendron, and rhubarb. For a full listing or toxic and non toxic
plants see the ASPCA site www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/
Food: Alcohol, coffee, tea, garlic, raisins, grapes, mushrooms, onions, pear
or apple seeds, plum pits, tomato leaves and stems, and any compost. Also
keep any garbage covered and secure to keep them out of food that my have
spoiled and any chemicals or choking hazard items.
11
CPR and Artificial Respiration
This information is to help you if you are in a situation where a vet is not
readily available. It is always best to consult a vet and have the animal taken
to an animal hospital. Remember, check for a heart rate and breathing
before starting these procedures. Do not assume that if they collapse that
their heart has stopped.
Artificial Respiration
First, check for any foreign objects in the airway. Then hold the
animal’s mouth closed, using your hands to seal the lips and mouth.
Forcefully blow air into the animal’s nose, giving 4 – 5 rapid breathes, then
check to see if the animal starts to breathe again. If the animal does not start
to breath again on its own, continue procedures until you arrive at the animal
hospital.
CPR
First, do not assume when your pet is not breathing that they don’t
have a pulse. Check for a pulse first and DO NOT start chest compressions
if there is a heart beat.
CPR for small dogs and cats: Lay the animal down on its right
side, with the chest on your side. Place your hand where the elbow rests on
their chest, placing the other hand on the opposite side of the chest. Then
compress the chest between your hands about ½ - 1 inch , doing 5 chest
compressions for every breath. Continue with 3 cycles (5 compressions and
one breath) and then check for a pulse. Like before if there is no pulse
continue the cycles until you arrive at the animal hospital.
CPR on medium to large dogs: Lay the animal on its right side, with
the chest towards you. Place both hands over the area on the chest where the
elbow rests. Compress the chest 1 – 3 inches repeating 5 compressions for
every breath. Do the cycle 5 times, then check for heart beat.
12
Book Summary
Vet clinic info and after hours numbers
Page 1
Vital Signs
Page 2
Abdominal Pain
Page 3
Allergic Reactions
Page 3
Bite Wounds
Page 3
Burns
Page 4
Cardiac (Heart) Emerg.
Page 4
Cold Emergencies (Hypothermia/Frostbite)
Page 4
Diarrhea
Page 5
Eye Emerg.
Page 5
Fractures
Page 5
Heat Emerg.
Page 6
Lacerations
Page 6
Neurologic Emerg.
Page 6
Poisoning
Page 7
Respiratory Emerg.
Page 7
Seizures
Page 8
Urinary Emerg.
Page 8
General Info
Page 9
First Aid Kit
Page 10
Common Household Toxins
Page 11
Artificial Respiration and CPR
Page 12
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