Pharmacy
An injured paw caused by broken glass or splinters, a torn claw, diarrhea or an infected tick bite - as a cat owner, you are familiar with these minor medical emergencies. Fortunately, with a little practice and a well-stocked first-aid kit, you can often treat minor injuries yourself. It should always be right at hand and equipped with the necessary contents. Here you can find out what should always be in your pet's first-aid kit.
CHECKLIST
Checklist for your pet pharmacy
First aid kit (wound disinfectant, wound ointment, bandage scissors and bandage material such as padding or bandage cotton, gauze bandages, self-adhesive bandages, sterile gauze compresses, etc.).
- Traumeel ad us. vet.
- Disposable gloves
- Isotonic saline solution (0.9% NaCl) for cleaning/rinsing wounds, nose or eyes
- Tick tweezers and flea comb
- Clinical thermometer with flexible tip (insert carefully and only when your pet is calm enough)
- Tweezers to remove foreign bodies such as stones or splinters that have entered a wound
- Remedies for diarrhea (e.g. probiotics)
- Remedies for mild gastrointestinal upsets
- Insect repellent (caution: cats do not tolerate all products approved for dogs. Ask your vet for the best remedy for your pet).
- Cream to care for chapped, irritated skin or superficial wounds, such as on the paws (e. g. Ichtho Vet Derma Cream)
- Brushes and combs for coat care
You should regularly check the shelf life and usability of your cat's pet pharmacy and replenish it.
Good to know
Would you like to be even better prepared for an emergency? Many veterinary practices offer first aid courses to train pet owners in dealing with minor emergencies or wounds. There you will learn, for example, how to apply bandages correctly or what you need to bear in mind when treating wounds.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Helpful tips for cat owners
Here are a few practical tips that can be helpful for first aid:
- In the case of a paw injury, baby socks or paw pads are handy to protect the wound.
- You can use rounded scissors (so that your cat cannot injure itself with sudden movements) to remove longer hair from the edges of the wound to treat the injury.
- Abrasions and cracked paws can be treated very well with an iodine ointment or with light-colored sulfonated shale oil (e.g. Ichtho Vet Derma-Cream). Please always make sure that your cat does not lick ointments.
- A rescue blanket is also useful in the veterinary pharmacy in case of hypothermia or a drop in body temperature due to other illnesses (diarrhea, vomiting, blood loss). A blanket can also be useful for transportation to the vet.
- Disposable plastic syringes (without needles, of course) are practical if you need to give your cat liquid or a dissolved medication directly into its mouth. Wounds can be rinsed well with disposable syringes in sterile packaging.
- Caution with diarrhea: If diarrhea is severe or persistent, you should definitely consult a vet.
If you are unable to assess whether your cat needs veterinary care, call your veterinary practice or clinic. The teams there will help you make an assessment and discuss the best course of action with you.
Heel Vet
If you want to support your cat, consider the natural veterinary medicines from Heel Vet.
