From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-10-04 13:47:00 UTC
Subject: Re:emergency kit
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., katharine@n... wrote:
> --- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Lynn Toole" <ltoole@t...> wrote:
> What are the basics for a layperson to have for at home emergencies?
>
> <sigh> Maybe the fourth time I post this will be the charm. I
think
> this would be perfect for the layperson for most emergencies. I
also
> keep things like NeoSporin, eye ointment, etc. on hand.
>
> I keep all of the following information on a 3x5 card on my
> refrigerator (and have the supplies in my house, of course <g>).
> 1. My local vet's number
> 2. After-hours emergency vet numbers
> 3. Poison Control numbers, and
>
> 4. I keep these instruction on the same card:
>
> Hydrogen Peroxide 3% - 2cc to induce vomiting; may repeat in 15
> minutes
>
> Vetwrap - to put pressure on bleeding wounds; to stabilize
> fractures....check for swelling
>
> Benadryl - 1cc for allergic reactions
>
> Kaopectate - 1/2cc up to 2 days for diarrhea (didn't write down the
> frequency????)
>
> Baby Aspirin - 1/2 for pain
>
> Activated Charcoal - 5cc for accidental poisoning
>
> Imodium A/D - 1.25cc every 12 hours for diarrhea
>
> NOTE: It is important to know whether you want to induce vomiting
or
> not. Animal Poison Control can help with that. Hydrogen Peroxide is
> to induce vomiting; the activated charcoal will absorb the poison
but
> you MUST know which is the proper one to administer!!!
>
> The above items can pretty much get you through any emergency
> situation until you can get the animal to the vet. I got this
> information out of either Ferrets or Modern Ferrets magazine over
the
> last year or so.
>
> Animal Poison Control (these all go to the same ASPCA location);
vets
> are there 24/7:
> 888-426-4435 $45 - requires a major credit card
> 800-548-2423 $45 - requires a major credit card
> 900-680-0000 (if you don't want to use a credit) $45 charged to
your
> phone bill
>
> If you call the 800 numbers listed on some products for ingestion
> emergencies, many of them also go to this same ASPCA location and
the
> manufacturer will pay for the assistance. If you want a direct (via
> mail) billing, the fee is $50. Any follow-up calls on the same
> emergency are not charged again.
>
> I have asked for comments from the vets each time I posted this and
> have received none. I don't know whether they all agreed or never
> had a chance to look at it closely. I hope someone will post if
any
> of this is incorrect. I am also unsure how the hydrogen peroxide
and
> activated charcoal are administered and I keep forgetting to ask my
> vet. Do you use a feeding tube? I can't imagine an animal
willingly
> swallowing these quantities.
>
> In addition, I always have a supply of Pedialyte and Lactated
Ringers
> for dehydration. Because of my wildlife work, I also have powdered
> (unmixed) Amoxicillin but would NEVER administer it to my ferrets
> unless a vet directed me to.
Dear Katharine -
I will agree with Sukie in that aspirin is probably not appropriate
for an emergency kit for a number of reasons. IT is not a good pain
releive in emergency cases, and its effects are extremely
unpredictable, expecially in dehydrate patients. Pain relief in
urgent cases is probably best administered by a vet. Masking of pain
can make diagnosis of an urgent condition a tricky affair.
I am not a fan of immodium for diarrhea really in any species. Most
cases of diarrhea arise from the bodies need to move noxious agents,
products, etc out of the body quickly - why interfere with the
process. In only a couple of instances, will I consider the use of
these agents, and then it is usually only if diarrhea is profuse and
dehydrating, possibly as a result of an enterotoxin. Even if stools
are liquid, if the animal is maintaining its hydration, or we can
supplement it with fluids to maintain hydration, I think it is best
to stand back and let the body move everything along at the pace it
feels is best. (The best professor I ever had taught me this nugget,
as we worked together in the wards during the big parvo outbreak of
the early eighties. No one got immodium, everyone "blew mud" every
couple of minutes, we wore out several mops a day, but our survival
rate far exceeded anyone's expections.)
Activated charcoal is given via stomach tube; hydrogen peroxide is
squirted in the back of the throat with a syringe.
With kindest regards,
bruce williams, DVM