APRIL IS NATIONAL PET FIRST AID AND ANIMAL ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

NATIONAL PET FIRST AID MONTH

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOUR PET WAS HIT BY A CAR? OR SUFFERING FROM

HEATSTROKE?

EVERY PET OWNER SHOULD ACQUAINT THEMSELVES WITH BASIC FIRST-AID TECHNIQUES TO USE IN AN EMERGENCY. WHILE FIRST-AID IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR VETERINARY CARE, BASIC INFORMATION CAN HELP UNTIL YOU CAN TRANSPORT TO THE VET.

KEEP PHONE NUMBERS FOR YOUR VET, FOR AFTER HOURS VETERINARY CLINICS AND FOR A POISON CONTROL CENTER ON FILE. HAVE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE AT YOUR FINGER TIPS -YOUR PET'S SPECIES, BREED, AGE, SEX AND WEIGHT.

DESCRIBE THE PET'S SYMPTOMS - VOMITING, DIARRHEA, MUSCLE INCOORDINATION, BLEEDING, ETC. IF EXPOSED TO A POISONOUS SUBSTANCE -THE NAME AND STRENGTH, THE AMOUNT INGESTED, THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT, AND THE TIME LAPSE SINCE THE EXPOSURE.

ON-LINE PET FIRST-AID TRAINING IS AVAILABLE AT www.petfirstaidonline.com or www.petco.com.

"THE PET LOVERS GUIDE TO FIRST AID & EMERGENCIES" (SAUNDERS, 2005) IS ANOTHER RESOURCE FOR OWNERS.

AREA AFTER-HOURS EMERGENCY CENTERS:

DAYTON CARE CENTER: 937 -428-0911

DAYTON EMERGENCY VETERINARY SERVICES: 937-293-2714

CINCINNATI CARE CENTER: 513-530-0911

THE ASPCA ANIMAL POISON CONTROL CENTER HOTLINE: 888-426-4435

THE PET POISON HELPLINE: 800-213-6680

NATIONAL ANIMAL ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

ABUSE CAN TAKE MANY FORMS: PHYSICAL, WITHHOLDING FOOD AND WATER, AND NEGLECT (UNSAFE LIVING CONDIDITONS, NO VETERINARY CARE, ETC). ANIMALS CANNOT REPORT THEIR OWN ABUSE. WE ARE THEIR VOICE. IF YOU KNOW OF SITUATIONS WHERE AN ANIMAL IS AT-RISK FOR ABUSE AND/OR NEGLECT, PLEASE MAKE A REPORT WITH THE LOCAL ANIMAL PROTECTION AGENCY.

IN WARREN COUNTY, CALL THE WARREN COUNTY HUMAN ASSOCIATION AT 513-695-7611.

IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, CALL THE GREATER DAYTON HUMANE SOCIETY AT 937-268-7387.