The first aid tips for cats can teach you what to look for before a catastrophe.
The difference between life and death in a cat emergency may depend on what you do. Until you can take your cat to the vet, basic medical treatment can keep him comfortable. There, he can get the quick care he needs to fully recover. Before you consider enrolling in a pet first aid course, consider the following advice to get you started.
Understanding the Common Behavior of Your Cat
If you lay your cat down on his right side, you can feel his heartbeat at the point where his left elbow touches his chest. You may feel the pulse by gently caressing the inner thigh after lying your cat down on his side and carefully separating the upper hind leg from the lower leg. Place two fingers as high as you can at the spot where the inside of each leg and the body meet. The centre of the leg has a depression where the pulse can be felt. A cat’s final heart rate should be between 160 and 220 beats per minute.
If you have a thermometer on hand, take your cat’s temperature, which should be between 102.5°F and 100°F. Check to see that your pet is breathing 20 to 30 times each minute as well. Lift the lower or upper lip of your cat to inspect the mucous membranes; they should be pink. Light yellow, white, brick red, cherry red, brown, or blue should not appear because they all signify an emergency.
When you gently tap your finger on the gums, they should briefly turn white before quickly reverting to pink. If this capillary refill time is prolonged or if the color returns too rapidly, your cat needs to see a vet straight away.
Burns
First-degree burns, which are superficial burns, show indications of red skin, irritation, agony, swelling, and singed fur. Second-degree burns are more serious and exhibit signs like blisters, redness, pain, swelling, and fur loss. Because they impact the blood vessels and all skin layers, third-degree burns are quite harmful. Third-degree burns are characterized by shock, non-responsive skin, loss of skin, epidermal edema, black, leathery, or white skin.
Wash the impacted areas as soon as you can with cool water. You can also use a sterilized nonstick pad, a moist, clean towel, or a cool compress on the burns. Never use butter, petroleum jelly, or ointments on burns. Instead, take your cat to the veterinarian immediately away. Brush off the powder before applying water to a chemical burn that has been caused by powder.
Dehydration
Dehydration can be brought on by vomiting, diarrhea, fever, aversion to food or drink, exposure to excessive heat, and an increase in urine production. A few signs include excessive thirst, dry mouth and gums, sunken eyes, a loss of skin suppleness, and modifications in urine patterns. To determine whether your cat is actually dehydrated, gently lift the skin between its shoulders and behind its neck.
The skin should return to its normal place in no more than two seconds. If your cat slowly reverts to its original position, it means that it is dehydrated. In particular if your cat is really elderly, very thin, or overweight, feel the gums to check for stickiness or dryness, which is an indicator of dehydration as well.
You should take your dehydrated pet to the doctor right away, especially if he is vomiting and not eating or drinking. The doctor will be able to give intravenous fluids to instantly rehydrate your pet. Take your pet to the doctor even if you’re not sure whether or not he’s thirsty.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia develops when your cat’s body temperature falls dramatically. Your pet will undoubtedly exhibit shaking, a slow heartbeat, pale or blue mucous membranes, dilated pupils, a weak pulse, and low body temperature (below 95 degrees Fahrenheit). This is a medical emergency, so you must take your cat to the doctor right once, but in the meanwhile, you should do the following actions.
Cover your cat with a blanket and remove him from the chilly place. Warm water bottles that have been wrapped in towels should be placed next to your cat as you drive him to the clinic to keep him warm. Again, if a cat experienced hypothermia, taking a course in pet first aid would be beneficial because you would learn how to identify the signs of shock, how to treat them, and how to provide CPR if necessary.
