When pet people head out to the cottage or take a vacation with a furry family member, they may suddenly be confronted with a medical emergency at the wrong place and the wrong time. Usually, they would contact their local vet and make an appointment for the health issue. When the expert is out of reach what can you do?
Preparation is Everything.
Plan a discussion ahead of time with your vet. Ask about specific health problems such as allergies and skin problems, and what you can have on hand. Make sure you have enough of any chronic medications to get through the vacation, with maybe a bit extra just in case. An examination may be required, so take that into account in your timing. Update vaccines as appropriate for your pet and the area you will be going to. Get copies of vaccination certificates. Get your vet’s contact info (phone number, and email at a minimum).
What are the Most Common Problems to Happen While on Vacation?
Small Injuries
Cuts and scrapes from excited zoomies and unexpected dangers are common. The old advice is still the best. Wash out small cuts that have stopped bleeding thoroughly with clean water (not lake or river water!), then disinfect. Look closely for any sign of residual material in the wound and remove anything with tweazers, then monitor closely every day to check for infection. Keep the area clean and dry until it is healed. This may be difficult with dogs that are swimming, so ideally the swimming would stop for the time required to heal. If not practical, the injury can be disinfected after each swim. Antibiotic ointment can be applied to the injury as well, after it is cleaned and dry. An infection may make the wound swollen, the skin discoloured, and cause a smell or fluid discharge. An injury that shows these signs, or that continues to bleed more than a few spots or a few minutes should be checked by the vet.
For Bleeding Injuries, Wounds More than Skin Deep
Until you can get to the vet, place a clean towel or cloth over the wound and apply enough pressure to stop the bleeding. Bandage material may be very helpful for wounds that are bleeding. Wrap snugly with some form of packing material such as cotton, or fabric (small towel or washcloth for instance), or even feminine hygiene products. The first mistake most people make with bandaging a leg is to leave the foot out of a leg bandage. It should be included to avoid compromise to venous blood flow and swelling of the foot. Remember scissors, and medical tape, and medical gloves may come in handy, too. Any injury slow to stop bleeding, or requiring a bandage should be seen by a veterinarian.
Ticks
Groom daily, then run your hands over the whole body to find ticks. Look closely around the face and ears, but ticks can attach anywhere. Take a tick removal device with you, but if you don’t have one, a very small pair of tweezers can help. Just DON’T squeeze the body of the tick in the process of pulling it out. Grasp the head parts BELOW the body, and pull it out slowly and steadily from the skin. Then kill it, don’t throw it away into the bush or water. They don’t die easily! Call a local vet for assistance if you see skin swelling and redness or pain around the site of tick attachment at any point.
Hives
Being in a strange place may increase the chances of a reaction to insect bites, pollens, or noxious plants. Check with your vet as to whether an antihistamines might be safe to use, and write the dose, duration and frequency on the bottle.
Vomiting, Diarrhea
Swallowing lake water, eating garbage or dead fish can all cause digestive upset. Provide fresh, bottled or tap water to reduce the desire for “wild” water. Consider giving a probiotic with their food before diarrhea starts. It can help prevent a problem. Call the local vet for specific treatment. They will assess the need for a visit, and they will likely know of any typical problems in the area, like the parasite Giardia.
Heatstroke
Pets and people spending a lot more time than usual out in the sun, or in non-airconditioned cabins can develop life-threatening overheating. Pets actually get heat stroke more rapidly than people. They have heavy coats and less ability to sweat. Again, provide ample water, and shade. Cool them down with damp towels, and seek veterinary help if you have any suspicion of overheating.
Ear Infections
Frequent swimming may allow excess moisture in the ear, which provides a breeding ground for infections. After a swim, they have a good shake to get rid of water, then gently dry the ears with a clean soft towel. Don’t go any further into the ear canal than you can see with towels, cotton or q-tips. If you see the ear canal is redder than usual, or if it has a smelly discharge, call for veterinary professional care.
Other animals
Remember to keep your dog on leash if there is a chance of dangerous wild animals such as coyotes or bears, or even snakes. It is polite, and likely required anyway, if you are at a campsite, or near other people, to have your dog under close control and supervision. Any bite should be seen by a vet locally.
Be aware of the precautions needed in your area, whether that be Bear Spray, an air horn, or other safety precautions or avoidance strategies.
If your pet is bitten by a snake go to the nearest veterinary hospital immediately. Don’t waste time trying to use a home remedy. If it can be done from a safe distance take a quick photo of the snake but DO NOT attempt to capture or kill it. The only native truly venomous snake in Ontario is the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake. Watch for puncture wounds, sudden swelling or bruising, and intense pain. As the venom circulates it can cause numbness or tingling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, abnormal bleeding and shock. Don’t apply a tourniquet. Don’t use ice. Don’t attempt to suck out the venom.
Make sure all vaccinations (including Leptospirosis, a waterborne bacteria) and parasite preventives are up to date.
True Emergencies
Preparation holds true here, too. Make a list ahead of time of the closest animal hospitals and any veterinary emergency clinics along with addresses and phone numbers. For the GPS deprived a map is helpful.
When is Emergency Veterinary Care Needed?
Serious injuries
Excessive bleeding
Signs of infection
Eye injuries
Exposed muscle or bone
Severe burns
Fractures
Skin torn from underlying tissue
Pain or distress
If you have internet access, you can perform a query on our website “Pet Health Checker” to be sure when you need professional help; https://chippawavet.com/pet-health-resources/pet-health-checker/
Essential Supplies for Any Emergency
Just in case you don’t have internet, take along a pet first aid book in your kit. There’s lots of them available.
An ideal pet emergency kit should sustain your pets for at least 3 days. Keep it accessible in the house when you aren’t on vacation, in case of emergencies like fire, flood, or power outage. Include food and water, a pet carrier with bedding, leash, collar, harness, photo ID (of your pet), medical records (summary is fine), vaccination history, microchip numbers, and your vet’s contact information. And don’t forget the poop bags!