Have you ever found yourself in a distressing emergency situation with your pet? According to Dr. Melissa Meehan, "Not knowing what to do could be the difference between life and death". In this short clip Dr. Melissa offers her advice on first aid techniques and actions we can take when common medical emergencies occur.

Video Transcription

Dr. Melissa Meehan: Imagine finding yourself in a distressing emergency situation with your pet, not knowing what to do. It could be the difference between life and death. 

If cuts are superficial, they can be flushed out and cleaned with a little bit of dilute Betadine. If you need to bandage the leg – to stop bleeding for example, apply a bit of pressure and then pop the bandage on.

But make sure it’s not too tight so that you don’t cut-off blood circulation. Of course, always take your pet to the vet after you’ve done this just to make sure that it doesn't’t need any stitches or antibiotics.

Insect bites can be nasty if swelling blocks the airways. Most cases require veterinary treatment with anti-inflammatories. 

And of course, dogs love to share our food, but not all of it is safe. Common household toxins include: grapes and sultanas, macadamia nuts, onions, peanut butter and candies or other items containing xylitol, and of course – good old coffee and chocolate. 

A handy little trick if you want to make your dog vomit in a hurry because you think they’ve eaten something they shouldn’t have, is to mix salt with water and make up a paste. You then give it to them like you would a tablet and that will make them vomit pretty quickly, but then get them to the vet ASAP.

These are just some of the medical emergencies that can occur to any dog at any time.

Fortunately all levels of HIF Pet Insurance cover accidental injury.