•  Arterial bleeding is a serious situation. Arterial blood is bright red and bleeds in “spurts”.  It’s hard to stop and requires immediate veterinary help.
• For any type of bleeding, place a clean cloth or sterile gauze over the injured area.
• Apply direct pressure for at least 5 to 7 minutes to stop bleeding.
• Don’t apply a tourniquet unless absolutely necessary.

 Vomiting

• Examine vomit for blood or other clues as to cause.
• If poisoning is suspected, bring a sample of the suspected poison, preferably in its original packaging to the veterinarian.
• Gently press on stomach to detect any abdominal pain.
• Withhold all food and water until a veterinarian has been consulted.
• Abdominal pain, enlarged stomach and unproductive vomiting are serious signs. Call your veterinarian immediately.

 Bee or Wasp Sting

• Neutralize bee stings by applying baking soda. Neutralize wasp stings by applying vinegar or lemon juice.
• Apply cold pack and antihistamine cream
• In case of severe swelling or difficulty breathing, transport to veterinary clinic immediately.

 Choking

• Gently pull tongue forward and inspect mouth & throat.
• If a foreign object is spotted, hold mouth open and attempt to remove it by hand, with tweezers or with a pair of small pliers. Take care not to push the object further down the animal’s throat.
• If animal is not breathing, see “CPR”.

 Heat Stroke

• Place pet in cool or shaded area.
• Immediately bathe animal with cool water.  Do not use cold/ice water or allow the animal to become excessively chilled.
• Monitor rectal temperature.  When it drops to 103 F, dry pet.
• Continue monitoring temperature and transport animal to clinic.

 Limping

• Attempt to localize injury through gentle inspection.
• Once localized, examine affected area to check for pain, heat, injury and swelling.
• If a fracture is suspected, gently stabilize limb for transport.
• Cover any wounds with a clean cloth. See “Bleeding.”