When your senior pet is injured, your likely instinct is panic. However, keeping calm and acting quickly and confidently can mean a  more favorable outcome for your greying pal. The minutes between an injury and emergency veterinary care are essential, and what you do with them can be critical. Instead of freaking out, take a deep breath, and use these first aid tips to stabilize your senior pet until you reach your family veterinarian or an emergency hospital.

#1: How to control excessive bleeding in your senior pet

Pets get into all sorts of scrapes, but if your senior pet has a wound bleeding excessively, you’ll need to minimize blood loss until you reach a veterinarian for emergency care. Use a clean towel or gauze to apply firm pressure to the wound for at least three minutes, and then gently lift the cloth to see if the bleeding has slowed. If your pet is still bleeding, maintain pressure while someone drives you and your pet to the nearest veterinary hospital. Avoid wiping the wound; you do not want to wipe away a fresh clot.

#2: How to help your seizuring senior pet

Watching your pet have a seizure is scary; your first instinct may be to hold and calm them. However, any stimulation, including light, touch, or sound, can intensify the seizure. First, give your pet space by moving any nearby objects, ensure they cannot fall off furniture or down the stairs, and then monitor their seizure. Although most seizures last less than one minute, any seizure lasting longer than five minutes requires immediate veterinary care. After a seizure, your pet may be confused, anxious, or temporarily blind. Keep them calm and prevent them from falling or stumbling into walls. Once your pet has fully recovered, head to your family veterinarian or an emergency hospital to determine the cause of the seizure.

#3: How to stabilize your senior pet’s broken leg

Broken bones are most commonly caused by a traumatic accident, which can cause bleeding. Focus on controlling your pet’s bleeding first since blood loss is a more imminent concern. Once the bleeding has stopped, place your pet on a flat, sturdy board for transport, if possible, and wrap a blanket around them and the board to limit movement. Although you may be tempted to splint your pet’s broken leg, an improperly placed homemade splint can do more harm than good, so leave bandaging to the professionals. You may consider muzzling your pet before handling them, as broken bones are extremely painful, and your ordinarily calm pet may bite.

#4: How to limit toxin absorption in your senior pet

Although toxin ingestion is common in curious puppies and kittens, older pets may accidentally eat toxic food, plants, or medication. If your pet has ingested a poisonous substance, immediately call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) for advice. Veterinary toxicologists on duty will tell you exactly what to do and will assign your pet a case number that you can relay to your veterinarian for further case management. Never try to induce vomiting in your senior pet unless instructed by a veterinarian.

#5: How to calm your senior pet’s allergic reaction

Insect bites and stings most commonly cause allergic reactions but can also stem from vaccines, medications, and chemical exposure. Allergic reaction signs include:

* Hives on your pet’s face or body

* Itching

* Redness

* Vomiting

* Difficulty breathing

If an insect has stung your pet, remove the stinger by firmly running a flat object, such as a credit card, over it. Do not grasp the stinger with your fingers or tweezers, as you can squeeze more venom into your pet. Immediately call your veterinarian, who may instruct you to administer an antihistamine, such as Benadryl, before treating your pet. 

#6: How to transport your senior pet who suddenly cannot walk

Senior pets suddenly lose the ability to walk for various reasons, from worsening arthritis to a back injury. If your senior pet does not seem painful, you can place a rolled-up towel under their abdomen and gently lift them to their feet. If they require help only to rise, they may be able to walk to the car with your help. If your pet cannot support their weight, treat them like a pet with a broken bone and transport them on a makeshift stretcher to your family veterinarian.