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| MEOW CITYS' | ||
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| FIRST AID FOR CATS' | ||
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| (For a printable version of this page-click on cross) | ||
| This page offers information to help you UNTIL your vet | ||
| is available. |
| NEVER try to replace your vet's knowledge | ||
| and education with your own!! | ||
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| VITAL SIGNS | ||
| FIRST AID MATERIALS: | ||
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| TECHNIQUE INSTRUCTIONS | ||
| 1. Taking the temperature: | ||
| (a) Lubricate a rectal thermometer with water-soluble lubricating | ||
| jelly or petroleum jelly. Insert the thermometer gently into the | ||
| cat's rectum approximately 1/2 to 1 inch. | ||
| (b) Wait two minutes, and then remove and read the thermometer. | ||
| (c) Normal temperature is between 100.5 and 102.5 degrees F. | ||
| 2. Taking the pulse: | ||
| (a) Lay your hand just behind the cat's shoulder blade on | ||
| either side of its chest and feel for the heart beat or.. | ||
| (b) Place your hand in the groin area of the cat's abdomen | ||
| and feel for the femoral pulse. | ||
| (c) Count the beats per minute (e.g., count for 15 seconds | ||
| and multiply by 4). | ||
| (d) Normal pulse at rest should range from approximately 110 to 140 | ||
| beats per minute. If the cat has been recently active or is | ||
| excited, its pulse may be significantly higher. |
| 3. Taking respirations: | ||
| (a) If the cat is lying quietly, watch the chest rise and fall. | ||
| (b) Count the number of breaths the cat takes in a minute. | ||
| (c) Normal resting respiratory rate is approximately 24 to | ||
| 28 breaths per minute. |
| CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION | ||
| (CPR) | ||
| WARNING!!! CPR is a technique of LAST RESORT! When | ||
| the cat shows NO signs of life! If there is ANY evidence | ||
| that the cat is breathing, DO NOT PERFORM THIS | ||
| TECHNIQUE!! | ||
| TECHNIQUE INSTRUCTIONS: | ||
| 1. Lay the cat on its side (and throughout these | ||
| procedures keep the cat on its side). | ||
| 2. Check for breathing by watching cats chest rise and | ||
| fall. | ||
| 3. IF THE CAT IS BREATHING, proceed no further. | ||
| Do not use CPR. | ||
| (a) Establish an airway by removing any debris from the | ||
| cat's mouth or by moving the tongue from the back of | ||
| the throat. Check for breathing by watching the cat's | ||
| chest rise and fall. | ||
| (b) Check for a pulse by placing a hand over the cat's | ||
| chest just behind the shoulder blade to feel the | ||
| heartbeat or by placing a hand in the groin area to feel | ||
| the femoral pulse. |
| 5. IF THE CAT IS STILL NOT BREATHING: | ||
| (a) Cup your hand(s) over the cat's nose and mouth to | ||
| form a seal. Deliver 1 (one) breath into the pet every 2 | ||
| (two) seconds. If the seal is proper, you should observe | ||
| the cat's chest rise and fall. | ||
| REMEMBER A CAT HAS SMALL | ||
| LUNGS! TINY BREATHS FOR TINY | ||
| LUNGS ! | ||
| (b) If after you have delivered 5 (five) breaths the cat | ||
| does not show signs of breathing on its own or signs of | ||
| consciousness, and there is no heartbeat, then have a | ||
| helper place a hand just behind the cat's shoulder blades | ||
| and apply gentle but firm compressions downward | ||
| (compressing 1/2 to 1 inch) at a rate of 1 (one) | ||
| compression every 2 (two) seconds. If a helper is not | ||
| available, alternate delivering 2 (two) breaths then 10 | ||
| (ten) compressions. | ||
| (c) Check for pulse and breathing every 2 (two) minutes. | ||
| If there is no pulse and breathing, continue for up to 10 | ||
| (ten) minutes before giving up. |
| Next Page is a listing of Toxic Plants. | ||
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