Arden Moore demonstrates how to apply a makeshift splint on Kona during one of her Pet First Aid 4U classes. Photo provided
By Arden Moore
Welcome to April. Strange as it may seem, April is designated as National Pickleball Month, National Soft Pretzel Month and yes, National Kite Month.
But as a master certified pet first-aid/CPR instructor and founder of Pet First Aid 4U, I do my best to alert people lucky to share their lives with pets that April is also National Pet First Aid Awareness Month.
It’s a reminder than our commitment to our pets’ health should be every day of the year.
Alas, our pets do not live in bubbles. Without warning, pet emergencies can surface.
Your cat is unable to urinate in the litter box due to a blockage in her urethra. Or your dog gets stung by a swarm of bees that causes his throat to swell, making it hard to breathe.
Your pup scoots out the door and gets hit by a car.
Knowing what to do — and what not to do — in a pet emergency when minutes count could save your pet’s life.
Fortunately, Palm Beach County has far more emergency veterinary hospitals and pet urgent care clinics than it did a decade ago. And, yes, a lot more pets.
The first emergency hospital for pets in the county, the VCA Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists in West Palm Beach, opened more than 20 years ago. It continues to expand its services to keep pace with advances in veterinary medicine. Staff also planned to publicize on its social media outlets that April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month.
“Being attentive and spotting early signs of concern in your pet can make a difference in the pet’s survival,” says Dr. Ellen Gray, DVM, who has practiced emergency medicine at the VCA Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists hospital since 2014. “It’s always better to be a little too early than a little too late. If you think your pet is in trouble, load him up in the car and get to our parking lot. We have people here to help you right away.”
Gray is also a pet parent. Her Boca Raton home includes three Labrador retrievers — Roo, Poco and Princess — a papillon named Leo, an Australian shepherd named Maggie and a bunny named Bun Sauce.
She recalls being on a long walk with her former beloved Labrador named Emma.
“We were in a remote area and Emma was 10 at the time,” Gray says. “She started getting weak and wobbly. I immediately recognized early signs of heat issues — heavy panting, protruding tongue and a wide-eye look. So, we sat under a tree for shade and to rest. I gave her water to drink and eventually, she was able to walk back home.”
Rising in popularity are brachycephalic breeds — dogs with smushed-in faces that are more susceptible to heat issues. In fact, the most popular breed in the United States last year for the first time was the French bulldog, toppling the Labrador retriever, which occupied the No. 1 spot for more than 30 straight years, according to the American Kennel Club.
Brachycephalic breeds include pugs, boxers, bulldogs, and shih tzus, and they “are sensitive to excitement and heat and can develop breathing issues quickly,” Gray says.
She identifies other common reasons pets end up at the emergency hospital:
• Bufo toad encounters. “A common scenario is a pet parent who lets out their dog in the backyard in the morning after a rain. When the dog finally comes back in, his mouth is foamy and he is acting super dazed,” Gray says.
“Bufo toad toxicity is serious. We advise you to use a lightly dripping faucet or garden hose to rinse the dog’s mouth out. Avoid strong hose water pressure because it could cause swallow reflex with water pouring down the airway. Definitely call ahead before driving to the nearest veterinary clinic.”
• Bee stings. Some dogs and cats are allergic to bee venom. Multiple stings, especially to the face, can cause the throat to swell. Gray advises calling a veterinarian who may instruct you to give your pet an oral antihistamine, like Benadryl in gel capsule form that you can puncture open with a safety pin and drip into the side of the pet’s mouth en route to the veterinary clinic.
“The loose rule is 1 milligram of antihistamine per 1 pound of pet, so be on the lookout for signs of facial swelling, panting, agitation or hives or bumps on the coat,” she says.
• Arterial bleed due to a cut or a fight. If you don’t do anything to stop a major arterial bleed, a pet can bleed out in less than five to seven minutes. Gray recommends using your hand to apply pressure on the artery to slow down the bleeding on your way to the veterinary clinic.
One way you can celebrate National Pet First Aid Awareness Month is to be your pet’s best health ally by taking a veterinarian-approved pet first-aid class in person or online. Ask your veterinarian to recommend a class. What you learn in class may just save your pet’s life.
Emergency hospital details
Identify the emergency pet clinic closest to your home and post the info on the refrigerator and store it in your phone.
In addition to the VCA Palm Beach hospital at 3884 Forest Hill Blvd. in West Palm Beach (https://vcahospitals.com/palm-beach-vet-specialists), these are among groups providing emergency and urgent care to pets in Palm Beach County:
• Veterinary Emergency Group is in Boynton Beach at 2246 N. Congress Ave. www.veterinaryemergencygroup.com
• Urgent Vet has a location at 7775 Glades Road in Boca Raton. https://urgentvet.com
• Access Specialty Animal Hospitals is at 10465 Southern Blvd., Royal Palm Beach. www.accessvetsflorida.com
Arden Moore is an author, speaker and master certified pet first-aid instructor. She hosts a syndicated radio show, Arden Moore’s Four Legged Life (www.fourleggedlife.com), and the weekly Oh Behave! podcast on PetLifeRadio.com. Learn more by visiting www.ardenmoore.com.
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