What to Do if Your Pet Gets Electrocuted

What to Do When Your Pet Gets an Electric Shock!! During the Christmas season, we often see photos or video clips of cats climbing up the Christmas tree, or dogs running into the tree and knocking it over on themselves. These images might look cute and funny thanks to their playful mischief, but in reality, they hide a real danger -- the risk of your pet getting an electric shock. Today, we have some basic first-aid tips for when your pet gets shocked.

Symptoms When a Dog or Cat Gets an Electric Shock

• Burn marks on the skin from the shock
• Wounds around the mouth, since pets may bite through a wire and get shocked
• Weight loss, since mouth wounds may make it harder for them to eat (owners should remember to check inside their pet's mouth)
• Stiffening, seizures, and shock/loss of consciousness
• Difficulty breathing
• Irregular heartbeat
• Stopped breathing

Basic First Aid Steps

• Do not touch your pet directly
• Cut off the power source as quickly as possible, such as flipping the circuit breaker and unplugging the device
• Check your pet's breathing -- if they've stopped breathing, perform CPR as quickly as possible
• After performing CPR, bring your pet to the vet as quickly as possible

Dogs and cats are just like children who can't tell us where it hurts. If your pet gets playful and ends up getting an electric shock, don't take it lightly. Even if you don't notice any visible abnormal symptoms, it's best to bring them to the vet right away for a thorough examination to rule out any underlying issues. And most importantly, remember to keep electrical wires out of reach of your mischievous pet, or store them somewhere high up where they can't chew on or play with them, for your pet's safety.