Title: Identify common situations and conditions requiring first aid.
Course: Small Animal Care II (18102-II) > Section: Exploring First Aid on Animals

Identification should include

- criteria to determine whether a situation or condition requires first aid and/or immediate veterinary intervention
- common situations and conditions that typically require first aid
  - wounds
  - breathing difficulty
  - hyperthermia
  - bleeding
  - burns
  - poisoning
  - reaction to insect bite or sting
  - seizures
- common situations and conditions that typically require immediate veterinary intervention
  - arterial bleeding
  - seizures
  - respiratory distress
  - injury from an accident
  - attack by another animal
  - prolonged diarrhea and/or vomiting
  - collapse or loss of consciousness
  - swollen or painful abdomen
  - disorientation
  - foaming at the mouth
  - swallowing a foreign object
  - ingesting a toxic substance
- the importance of discussing any abnormality with a veterinarian
- the importance of documenting history and essential information.

Process/Skill Questions:

- What should be the first thing a veterinary assistant does when assessing an animal's condition?
- What signs might be seen in a pet that has been stung by an insect?
- How would an animal with heat exhaustion look?
- What safety precautions should be taken when an animal is having a seizure? After?