First Aid Tips…………… by Dr Deepa Katyal

What must you do as a volunteer if u see …………….

A dog/cat with maggot wound ( on body other than eyes, ears and mouth).

If the dog is not manageable then directly pour choloroform or spray d’mag etc or powder with anti maggot property .This will atleast kill all the wound producing maggot or fly larvae, ensure that the product is applied as much as on the skin surface, you can cover .

If it’s a big wound dressing may be required twice a day or atleast once a day till the wound heals completely, Maggot wounds required to be redressed as the wounds attract flies to deposite repeated rafts or eggs, along with demaggot sprays it is equally important to identify and remove fly eggs or rafts. Oozing wounds attract flies to keep depositing their eggs on the wound discharge, it is therefore advisable to retreat the wound repeatedly especially if it is big one.

Once the maggots are dead, it is also important to remove the dead maggots with the help of forceps to prevent pus formation.

Basic antibiotics such as Cap Baxin, tab pentid or tab augmentin can be given under veterinary guidance.

A dog/cat with maggot wound (on eyes, ears and mouth).

Wounds in other parts should be carefully treated by putting ivermectin in liquid form either injectable or oral preparations as available, Such areas are very sensitive and anti maggot agents other than these can create other side effects esp. coloroform can cause severe side effects is used on or over eye wounds, inside the ears or within the, mouth

Oral ivermectin tablets can also be given if it can be made available. Human preparations are also easily available at regular chemists.

It is basically recommended that the dog be admitted if the wound is very big and regular treatment of the wound dressing cannot be done as maggot wounds can become very difficult to treat if not controlled in time.

Dressing of regular wounds Scratch , dog/cat bite or tear wounds

Such wounds can be dressed with povidone iodine solutions, calendula tinchure cleaning the wounds as well as removal of dead scabs should be done, to allow the wound to breath, if the dog is easily manageable cutting of hair around the wound is a must, especially in complying dogs. It is often advisable not to apply cream based antiseptics, as the dogs can lick the wounds and create additional complication. Bandaging the wounds must be done only if it possible for the volunteer to redress the wounds. In wounds that have pus like discharge cleaning should be complemented with use of Neosporin powder or antibiotic based creams or other agents (preferably use agents that are safe when licked, under veterinary guidance).The products are best effective if used after wound cleaning.

Essential tips

• Wounds can be as a result of external parasites eg. Fleas, louse and Mites unless the primary source is not taken care, severe itching can lead to repeated self inflection and therefore a wound, and later on even maggoted if not addressed on time .It is therefore important to use specific medicines to control the external parasites first. A traditional home remedy of eucalyptus oil can be used against treatment of fleas and louse. Mite treatment may require veterinary attention apart from ivermectin tablets which help treating scabies as well as demodectic (mange).

• Dressing a wound in the street dog depends on the temperament of the canine if the dog submits easily then it is possible to clip/cut the hair around the wound before dressing, if the dog is not very complying then the necessary wound dressing such as pour the demaggot sprays to kill the maggots or pouring the anti septics for other wound should be done at first before additional attention is to be given.

• Oral tablets should be complemented in suppurating wounds depending on the severity antibiotics can be given at regular interval.
• Using concentrated dettol, kerosene, petrol on wounds can lead to burning of skin tissue and delay of wound healing.

• Use of turmeric powder on superficial wounds can be done provided it doesn’t interfere in healing of big wounds which require to breath. Turmeric helps keep flies away but excess powder can delay ound healing.

• Prophalactic antirabies inoculation must be taken by all volunteers before handling stays.

Essential first aid for volunteers

1. Cotton roll
2. Povidone iodine as well as tinchure iodine
3. Calendula tinchure (liquid) homeopathic medicine called mother tichure, aids in healing on repeated use on wounds.
4. Spirit.(antiseptic)
5. Guaze(for bandaging)
6. Ivermectin tabs or injectable if possible, choloroform , dmar or doline spray (veterinary anti maggot sprays)or even negasunt powder ( bayer product that is anti maggot )
7. Mouth muzzle or simple home use nadas
8. Scissors as well as forceps if possible.

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Dr Deepa Katyal is a small animal practitioner involved in animal welfare work. A Double masters, from Mumbai Veterinary College as well as Second Masters from Australia and Working both for pet animals as well as street animal work since the past 11 years, Working as a trustee for People for Animals and involved in various bird as well as wild life rescues etc. Is a firm believer of the fact that “All creatures big or small have the right to share space with humans with diginity on the surface of the earth ”.