What to do if your pet shows signs of distress?

If your pet cuts its paw, go home quickly and avoid chemicals. At home, clean the paw with an antiseptic like hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate, or chlorhexidine. If there’s a lot of bleeding, put a tourniquet above the cut, then bandage the wound after applying an antibacterial ointment like levomecol.

Don’t use cotton wool in the wound because it can stick and cause more bleeding when removed. A hemostatic sponge is better for stopping deep cuts and is good to have at home.

After bandaging, take your dog to the vet. The vet will decide if surgery or other treatment is needed. Wounds should be stitched within 2-4 hours. If more than 6 hours have passed, the wound might need special treatment before stitching, which can be painful and require general anesthesia.

During walks, your pet might slip or fall, causing lameness or reluctance to step on its paw. If this happens, take your pet to the vet without checking the injury yourself to avoid causing more harm.

If your pet is very patient, watch for signs like how it gets up, sits, sleeps, jumps, and its mood. Frequent licking of a sore paw is a sign to visit the vet for an X-ray.

In spring, cats might fall out of open windows. If this happens, carefully place the cat in a box with a hard bottom and take it to the vet. If you can’t go immediately, keep the cat still and monitor its breathing, mucous membrane color, and urine. Blood in the urine or no urine can indicate a serious condition needing urgent vet care.

In winter, trim your dog’s nails regularly to prevent injuries.

References Winter. Advice from an experienced veterinarian - ZooMedVet.