Answer: First aid is term for the care and the treatment given to an individual in an emergency before professional help is available following a serious injury (accidental or otherwise) or the sudden onset of illness. Just as in man and other animals, the principle aim of the first aid in the cat is to preserve the life of the animal. The other objectives of first aid are the reduce pain and discomfort, and to lessen the likelihood of the injury resulting in some permanent disability or disfigurement by preventing further damage to already injured tissues.
To be successful in these aims usually required treatment to be given promptly after the incident. There are signs (described here in order of priority) which necessitate immediate treatment to save the cat’s life: the absence of breathing severe bleeding and signs of severe shock (weakness to the point of collapse, panting, pale lips and gums, coldness and trembling). Signs which may have equally serious consequences are unconsciousness with or without convulsion and signs indicating poisoning.
It is imperative that the treatment of these life-threatening signs receives priority; always leave the cleaning of wounds and other noon-essential procedures until later and concentrate on saving the animal’s life.
As we have seen in the section on handling, a vital preliminary to the first aid treatment of the cat is the approached to, restraint of the injured animal, although animals which are very seriously injured are usually those least likely, or able, to offer any serious resistance.
In virtually all emergency situations the help and advice of a veterinarian is essential, and this assistance should be obtained as soon as possible. Make the initial contact with your vet by telephone to avoid any possible confusion about the reception of the injured animal.
The first aid measures described on the following pages are therefore designed to precede, not to replace, proper veterinary attention. Even though a vet might later advise that euthanasia (putting to sleep) of an injured cart would be the most human course of action, it is not for the first aider to make this decision, and all effort should be directed towards keeping the animals alive until a professional opinion can be obtained.
