DR ABC
Danger
Response
Airway
Breathing
Circulation
Danger
Danger to the responder OR the animal
Assess the situation
animal may be in pain/scared
Always Muzzle (unless breathing problems)
Response
Ask: Is the animal conscious?
If recumbant it may still bite
Any injury beside a road NEEDS to be treated as a spinal
Airway
Clear airway (may have foreign body or tissue obstruction) Care not to get bitten
Upper airway problem
- Long breath IN
- Short breath OUT
Upper Respiratory Problems
- Long breath IN
- Short breath OUT
Breathing
Is it breathing, no? = Apnoea
Check pulse –> CPR –> mouth/snout
Adequacy of Ventilation equation
Adequacy of Ventilation equation (effort and rate) = Respiratory rate x Tidal Volume
Dyspnoea
Subjective experience of breathing discomfort
- head and neck extended, limbs abducted
- blue tinge to mucosal membrane (cyanosis)
Circulation (4)
(RRAT)
- Rate
- Rhythm
- Amplitude = Pulse pressure (systolic - diastolic)
- Tone
2 main places to check pulse
1) Femoral
2) Dorsal pedal
Mentation
Mental state
Normal -> Stuperous -> Comatose
Disability (5)
1) Head Trauma
2) Seizures
3) Pain
4) Fractures
5) Haemorrhage - Arterial vs Venous
Head Trauma
Elevate head above the heart 15-30 deg.
Seizures (4)
1) True seizures
2) Partial seizures
3) Status Epilepticus
4) Cluster seizures
Status Epilepticus
Continuing for longer than 5 minutes
What can Status Epilepticus cause (3)
1) Lung Oedema (water build up)
2) Cerebral Oedema
3) Hyperthermia - effects all organs
What to do during a seizure?
- animal may become aggressive because they dont know who you are
- remove children from situation
- if persistent seizure, place cool damp towel on animals limbs
- If clustering, GO to veterinary clinic
- 3-5 minutes seizure –> 20 minutes later seems okay -> ask veterinarian for advice
Do animals swallow tongues during seizures?
No
What not to do during seizures?
Do not place hands close to mouth
Do not hit, spray, startle animal out of the seizure, let them come out themselves
Signs of Pain and Fractures
Guarding pain Reluctance to handle Agression Prayer position Trembling Hypersalivation
Trauma
BDLD effect
(Big dog Little dog) effect
Iceberg effect: May look small from the surface but have crushing injuries, torn blood supplies, ruptured gut, ruptured bladder, collapsed lung, etc.
What causes vomiting - at home products (5)
1) Washing Soda Crystals - 1cm^3 per 20kg
2) 3% H2O2: 2.2mL/kg, repeat 15 minutes later
3) Dishwashing liquid: 3tbs in 1 cup water
4) Syrup of Ipecac: 1-2ml/kg (dog), 3ml/kg cat
5) Table salt: ONLY if needed, may induce salt toxicity
Poisoning in small animals (7)
1) Prescription medications
2) Flea and tick products
3) Over counter meds - Paracetamol, ibuprofen
4) Pet medications
5) Household items - ratbaits, snail pellets
6) People foods - chocolate, grapes/raisins, macadamia nuts, alcohol
7) Recreational drugs - marijuana
Heatstroke
Life Threatening
Body temp >40
Body temp >43 severe organ damage
Rare in cats
