Tag: pet first aid

Avoid acorns and conkers this autumn – vet’s warning to pet owners

AUTUMN is upon us! It’s the season for muddy woodland walks and enjoying the delights this time of year has to offer.

The trees will shed, and you’ll find yourself kicking through piles of crunchy golden leaves on walks. Tree seeds will also ripen and fall, and you’ll find heaps of acorns and shiny conkers on the ground.

Although autumnal walks with your dog can be beautiful, it’s important to be aware of the seasonal dangers that could be harmful to them.

PDSA Vet Lynne James says: “Acorns and conkers perfectly signify the seasons changing, and whilst we may enjoy collecting or playing with them, don’t forget that they can be a danger for our pets if they’re swallowed.

“Thankfully, the bitter taste stops most pets eating them, however they can be tempting to play with and some owners enjoy throwing conkers for pets to catch without realising the risks.

“They can easily swallow them, causing tummy upsets or even a potentially life-threatening blockage of their throat or intestines. Not forgetting they do also contain toxins, which can be harmful to pets.

“If your pet is showing signs of choking on an acorn or conker, this is when pet first aid can become a life-saver. We would advise pet owners to download our free pet first aid guide and learn a few very basic steps to help protect your pets.”

What to do if your pet is choking

“A choking pet will usually have difficulty breathing, make choking sounds, might paw at their mouth and you might see their lips, gums and tongue turning blue.

“Although panic can be a natural reaction in an emergency, try to keep yourself and your pet calm. If they are choking and conscious, try to gently open their mouth to look for something that’s stuck. If you can see a blockage in their mouth, you can use tweezers from your pet first aid kit, or a strong pen to remove it. Always take care when putting anything in your pet’s mouth and never use your fingers as they may panic and could bite you by accident.

“If you can’t remove it and your pet is collapsed and unconscious, lay your pet on their side and place both hands on the side of your pet’s rib cage. Then push quickly and firmly or strike the rib cage with the flat of your hand three to four times – the idea is to push air and the object out of their lungs.

“If you are still unable to dislodge the object, call your vet straight away for an emergency appointment.

“Contact the vet even if you successfully remove the blockage or if your pet clears the object but is still coughing.

Acorns

“Acorns contain a toxin that if ingested, can upset your pet’s stomach, and make them sick. Although rare, if eaten in large amounts, acorns can even cause kidney and liver failure. It’s actually unripe, green acorns that are more poisonous than brown ones, but all parts of the oak tree are poisonous if eaten!

Conkers

“Conkers contain a mixture of toxic compounds which may cause signs of poisoning, such as vomiting, diarrhoea and collapse. They do have a bitter taste that puts most pets off from eating a lot of them, however if consumed in large amounts, conkers can cause more serious effects, and in some rare cases, can even be deadly.

“It’s important to know what signs to look out for, should your pet get their paws on acorns or conkers and consume them. Signs of illness will usually show within a few hours following chewing or ingestion, but can be delayed for up to a couple of days. The most common signs include:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Restlessness
  • Collapsing

“Should your pet show any of the above, or other unusual signs, it could be an indication that they are unwell. Always seek advice from your Vet as soon as possible.”

For more guidance on keeping pets safe this autumn, head to PDSA’s website: www.pdsa.org.uk/poisons-and-hazards

Pet first aid becomes lifesaver for seriously injured dog

Two-year-old Labrador Reggie was out enjoying a Sunday evening walk with his loving owner when disaster struck, and PDSA’s pet first aid advice had to be put into practice.

While running through the woods with his canine brother, Ronnie; Reggie sliced his paw open on some broken glass that had been discarded on the ground.

With blood pouring from his cut paw, over a mile from the car and unfortunately no supplies on hand, Reggie’s owner, Jess, utilised her recently learnt pet first aid knowledge to wrap the serious wound with a makeshift bandage.

To help stem the bleeding, Jess ripped off a piece of her clothing and applied pressure to the cut. She then covered it with a poo bag, tied loosely round Reggie’s ankle, to keep it clean while they made their way back to the car.

Once home, Jess unwrapped the bandage to clean Reggie’s paw and realised it was still bleeding heavily. She immediately called the vet, who directed them to head straight to their out of hours service.

After being examined, the vet informed Jess that the deep cut had damaged a major blood vessel and would need stitches under general anaesthetic. Luckily the procedure went smoothly and just a few hours later, Reggie was discharged and able to go home for some well-needed rest and recuperation, while his paw heeled.

PDSA Vet Lynne James said: “It can be extremely worrying when your pet has an accident or gets injured, especially if you’re far from home and you haven’t got your pet first aid kit with you.

“In Reggie’s case, his owner did exactly the right thing and helped stem a potentially life-threatening bleed, preventing further contamination and infection to the wound – thanks to the lifesaving advice learnt from our pet first aid leaflet.

“Our guide covers everything from what to do if your pet is having a seizure, to how to cool your pet down safely if they develop life-threatening heatstroke.

You never know when disaster might strike so it’s very useful to be clued up on pet first aid – it could save a life in an emergency.”

Jess said: “After reading through all of PDSA’s pet first aid advice in the guide, we made sure we had a complete pet first aid kit for the dogs, but I didn’t have it with me on our walk. Despite that, the advice in the guide ended up really being a ‘lifesaver’ when Reggie cut his paw.”

PDSA’s pet first aid guide is available for FREE, you can download your own copy from PDSA’s website: https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-first-aid  

PDSA relies on donations to deliver life-saving treatment to hundreds of thousands of pets through its 48 Pet Hospitals across the UK. To help keep people and their pets together in times of need, the charity is urgently calling on the public’s support.

To find out more about PDSA’s vital work, or to donate, visit www.pdsa.org.uk