April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month, and as the weather warms up and our Coloradan hearts long for the outdoors, it is important to be prepared in case anything bad should happen on those long hikes or distanced camping trips.

One of the most important ways you can prevent accidents and emergencies is by being aware. Keep your eye out for any potential dangers, such as cliff edges, river rapids or plants that could be poisonous. In addition to this, make sure your pet is constantly supervised, if not leashed.

If an emergency does occur, make sure your pet is safe and breathing, stop any profuse bleeding and then call for help. It is always a good idea to keep some sort of pet first aid kit in your car. These can be bought online or at pet supply stores, but you can also configure your own. Here is a list of some of the supplies that should be kept on-hand:

• Paperwork – medical records, emergency phone numbers, a picture of your pet
• Bandaging – gauze, non-stick bandages, adhesive tape
• Rectal “fever” thermometer – regularthermometers may not reach high enough temperatures to gauge fever in pets
• General supplies – tweezers, leash, scissors, hot and cold packs, syringe

If you would like to know more about emergency preparedness and pet first aid, go ahead and give us a call at (970) 674-5105. You can also download this free app created by the American Red Cross to help you prepare for those emergency situations