First Aid in the Shop

First Aid is exactly that, the initial care given to an injury. It may be followed up by more extended care given by a professional, or it may be all that is required. In either case, all employees should be trained to administer appropriate first aid in case of emergency.

As pet care professionals, it is important to be prepared for any emergency that might occur when dealing with animals in your business. Keeping a well-stocked first aid kit on hand as well as knowing some basic first aid skills will help you deal with any situation that arises.

First Aid kits should be readily available and nearby. How many kits you have will depend on the size of your facility. Pre-packed kits are available, or you can tailor make your own. Be sure to consult your veterinarian on what he or she thinks you should have on hand. If you are a veterinary clinic, providing first aid becomes much easier and the supplies are more readily available. Any area not near these sources of supply such as a kennel area or grooming area should still have kits.

What should go into these kits? First, a good first aid book for dogs. There are several good ones on the market. Make sure all employees read it. Employees should be trained in pet and human CPR (the principles are the same, just the heart and respiration are different) and basic first aid procedures.

Stock your kit to cover the worst-case accident or injury scenario you can imagine. Even though most emergency situations are unlikely, it is best to be prepared for anything. Have the phone numbers for the police, hospital, and ambulance near each telephone, as well as the local veterinarian. Make sure you have a good working relationship with your veterinarian, and arrange to go to him or her should you ever have an emergency.

• First aid book
• Flexible Bandages
• Gauze pads
• Styptic powder
• Nail cauterizer
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Medistyp or supersealer
• Self-adhesive bandages
• Cloth tape
• Gauze rolls
• Benadine
• Wirecutters
• Thermometer
• Petroleum jelly,
• Alcohol wipes
• Emergency blanket
• Boric acid
• Antiseptic ointment
• Rubber or latex gloves
• Tongue depressors
• Antihistamine
• Eyewash
• Tweezers or hemostats
• Cotton swabs
• Bandage scissors

Accidents can occur even in shops with the most stringent safety procedures. Dogs, groomers, even clients can become injured or ill. A dog might fall or jump off a table and possibly become injured. Have gauze and self-adhering flexible bandage (such as Vetrap) available to splint a leg. Know what you will use for splints (magazines are good). Dogs can have a nail quicked, an ear nicked, or a pad cut, especially if they fidget during nail trimming or scissoring. Have styptic powder or gel, a cauterizer for badly quicked nails, hydrogen peroxide, clotting agents such as Medistyp, Super Sealer or powder to stop minor bleeding, gauze pads for pressure bandages, self-adhesive bandages, cloth tape, as well as rolls of gauze for bandages to quickly deal with minor cuts and nicks.

Prolonged exposure to excessively hot dryers can cause heat exhaustion. Keep instant cold packs handy to cool down dogs quickly. These packs activate when snapped and are convenient and easy to store. If a dog should get shampoo in its eyes, have eyewash available to soothe irritation. Tweezers or hemostats and magnifying glasses are good to have for removing ticks, burrs or splinters from the outer layer of skin.

Stock up on a disinfectant solution such as Betadine, gauze roll and gauze pads, cloth tape and Vetrap to clean and bandage wounds caused by dog bites. Unfortunately, pets can find unusual ways to get themselves in trouble. In the rare instance that a dog gets a collar or tags caught in a crate, X-pen, grill or rack, have a set of wirecutters handy. A few snips should quickly release the dog before he gets injured from struggling to get free.

Extremely nervous or stressed pets can sometimes go into mild shock. Have a thermometer, petroleum jelly, alcohol wipes, and an emergency "space" blanket ready to treat shock symptoms. Although these events are unlikely, it is best to be prepared and ready to act fast if needed.

These are some other items to consider when deciding what to put in your kit. Boric acid or an eye ointment can be used to protect dry and irritated eyes. Antiseptic ointment will protect and disinfect minor open wounds. Rubber or latex gloves will ensure safe handling of infected bodily fluids, and protect you when applying medications or removing ticks. Tongue depressors are useful to check for mouth injuries or objects lodged in the throat in the event of choking. On small pets, they can even double as splints. Cotton swabs or rolls of fluffy cotton are great to clean ears and apply topical medications. Muzzles will help safely restrain animals during treatment. Also keep a small pair of bandage scissors available to remove bandages and dressings.

Groomers can get bitten or scratched by a dog or cat, or they can cut themselves on sharp scissors or dematting rakes. They can slip and fall on wet floors or on icy pavements outside. They can get airborne debris such as animal hair or flying nail clippings in their eyes. To be prepared for injuries to groomers or clients, also add band-aids along with gauze bandages, cloth tape and antibiotic ointments, human eye washes and ointments, and aspirin for minor aches, pains and muscle fatigue.