TL;DR
In this episode, Dr. Sarah Ramsey shares her extensive experience in veterinary medicine, discussing the importance of specialized care for pets, emergency preparedness, and essential first aid skills for pet owners. She emphasizes the need for proper veterinary care, including routine check-ups and vaccinations, while also providing practical advice on creating emergency kits and knowing when to seek professional help. Dr. Ramsey's insights aim to empower pet owners to take proactive steps in ensuring their pets' health and safety.
Guest Bio:
Dr. Sarah Ramsey, originally from West Sussex in the UK, graduated from The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh in 2006 and also holds a degree in Parasitology from Glasgow University. She has practiced acupuncture since 2007, is a member of the ABVA, and earned her Certificate in Small Animal Medicine from the University of Liverpool in 2016, later achieving Advanced Veterinary Practitioner status in 2022. With a special interest in feline medicine, oncology, pain management, and end-of-life care, Dr. Sarah has held senior roles including Clinical Director of a two-site practice in the UK and Head of Medicine at a London small animal hospital. She relocated to the UAE in 2021 with her husband, two children, and a growing rescue family of cats, alongside her Bedlington Whippet, Snowy, and a tortoise named Taco. Beyond veterinary medicine, she is a passionate runner, ultramarathon finisher, yoga practitioner, and stand-up paddleboarder, with recent adventures in aerial gymnastics and a goal of completing a triathlon within the next year.
During This Episode:
- Understanding veterinary specializations and what they mean for choosing the right care for your pet
- Emergency preparedness for pets, and why having a plan matters before you ever need it
- Essential items for pet emergency kits, both at home and on the go
- First aid skills every pet parent should know, including checking breathing and pulse
- Essential first aid techniques for pets, covering wounds, bleeding, and immediate response steps
- Handling toxic ingestions and heat stroke safely
- Real-life emergency scenarios and how preparedness makes a difference
- Understanding snake bites and prevention
- Customizing first aid kits for different pets and chronic conditions
- When to seek veterinary help, even when a wound doesn't look serious
- Routine veterinary care and vaccination schedules
Takeaways:
- Dr. Sarah Ramsey has nearly 30 years of experience in veterinary medicine. Her background spans general practice, advanced small animal medicine, and clinic leadership in the UK and UAE.
- Understanding veterinary specializations helps in choosing the right care for pets. Knowing the difference between a general practitioner, advanced practitioner, and specialist matters when a pet needs more complex treatment.
- Emergency kits for pets should include saline, gauze, and vet wrap. These three alone can handle most cuts, wounds, and sting situations before you reach the vet.
- Basic first aid skills can save a pet's life in emergencies. Knowing how to check breathing, gum color, and pulse, and how to perform rescue breaths if needed, makes a real difference.
- Knowing when to seek veterinary care is crucial for pet health, even for wounds that don't look serious at first glance, since bite wounds especially can hide deep tissue damage.
- Routine veterinary check-ups are essential for early detection of health issues. A full exam covers every body system, not just vaccinations.
- Vaccination schedules may vary by region and should be discussed with a vet. UAE law requires annual vaccination, which differs from titer-based schedules common elsewhere.
- Pet owners should be aware of their pets' specific health needs and risks. Brachycephalic breeds, for example, overheat faster and show fewer obvious signs of heat stroke.
- Regular blood work can help monitor chronic conditions in pets and gives your vet a healthy baseline to compare against if something changes.
- Creating a customized emergency kit for pets is important for preparedness. Chronic conditions, known allergies, and breed-specific risks should shape what you carry.
Emergency Kits:
At-Home Emergency Kit
- Gloves (latex or nitrile) – to keep your hands clean and safe.
- Saline pods/pipettes – safe for cleaning wounds and eyes.
- Sterile gauze – apply pressure and stop bleeding.
- Vet wrap (self-adhering bandage) – to secure gauze/dressings (sticks to itself, not fur).
- Muzzle or strong tape for a makeshift muzzle – for safety if your pet is in pain.
- Tick hook – safe removal of ticks without leaving parts behind.
- Tweezers – for removing thorns, splinters, or foreign bodies.
- Cotton buds – useful for cleaning small areas, like removing grass seeds.
- Styptic powder - to stop bleeding from nails, ears, or tails.
- Elizabethan collar (cone) – to prevent licking/ingesting toxins or cleaning wounds.
On-the-Go / Walk & Travel Kit (Mini Version)
- Saline pod – for quick wound or eye cleaning.
- Sterile gauze – for immediate coverage of cuts or stings.
- Vet wrap – to hold gauze in place.
- Muzzle tape – lightweight safety option.
- Antihistamines (chlorphenamine / “Piriton”) – especially if your dog has known allergies (4mg tablet for medium/large dogs, ½ tablet for small dogs/cats; expect drowsiness as a side effect).
- Water bottle – for flushing wounds, burns, or helping with heat stroke.
- (Optional for hikes/desert walks: extra antihistamines, spare bandage, tick hook.)
Special Additions / Situational Items
- Chronic condition meds – e.g., seizure medication for epileptic dogs.
- Burn care – clean water only (never dressings).
- Heatstroke care – water, shade, portable fan, cooling jacket/towel (used correctly).
- Allergy-prone pets – antihistamines carried at all times.
- Snake bite care – saline for flushing, never tourniquets.
Relevant links mentioned in the episode:
Dr Well Website, Instagram
Timestamps to relevant points within the episode:
[00:00]-Intro
[02:04]- Understanding Veterinary Specializations
[03:57]- Emergency Preparedness for Pets
[10:03]- Essential Items for Pet Emergency Kits
[15:59]- First Aid Skills Every Pet Parent Should Know
[23:40]- Essential First Aid Techniques for Pets
[25:31]- Handling Toxic Ingestions and Heat Stroke
[29:47]- Real-Life Emergency Scenarios and Preparedness
[31:31]- Understanding Snake Bites and Prevention
[33:34]- Customizing First Aid Kits for Different Pets
[36:39]- When to Seek Veterinary Help
[40:01]- Routine Veterinary Care and Vaccination Schedules
FAQ
What should be in a pet's emergency first aid kit?
A basic at-home kit should include gloves, saline pods for cleaning wounds and eyes, sterile gauze, self-adhering vet wrap, a muzzle or muzzle tape, a tick hook, tweezers, cotton buds, styptic powder for nail bleeds, and an Elizabethan collar to prevent licking.
What should I carry in a smaller kit for walks and hikes?
For walks, carry a saline pod, sterile gauze, vet wrap, muzzle tape, and a water bottle. For hikes or if your dog has known allergies, also carry antihistamines like chlorphenamine (Piriton) in case of insect stings.
Can I use human antiseptics like iodine or Dettol on my dog's wound?
No. Products like iodine and TCP can be toxic if a pet licks the wound afterward and may cause stinging, so saline is a safer choice for cleaning cuts and wounds at home.
How do I stop my dog's nail from bleeding after a bad trim?
Apply styptic powder directly to the nail and hold pressure, since nail, ear, and tail wounds tend to bleed heavily and steadily despite looking dramatic.
What is the correct way to treat heat stroke in a dog?
Move your dog to shade, wet them down with cool water, use a fan to increase airflow over the wet coat, and offer small amounts of water to drink. Never cover them in dry towels, which trap heat rather than releasing it, and always seek veterinary attention afterward.
Why are French Bulldogs and other flat-faced breeds more at risk during heat stroke?
Brachycephalic breeds like French Bulldogs have narrower airways that make it harder for them to cool themselves through panting, so they can overheat faster and show fewer obvious warning signs before a serious heat stroke occurs.
What should I do if my dog gets bitten by a snake?
Flush the bite area thoroughly with saline, never apply a tourniquet, and get your dog to a vet as quickly as possible, while trying to avoid walking dogs off-leash near vegetation at dusk when snakes are most active.
How often should my dog see the vet for check-ups?
A healthy, low-risk adult dog typically needs an annual check-up, but dogs aged six or seven and older, or those with chronic conditions, should generally see the vet twice a year with more frequent blood work as needed.
About the Author: Mariska Nell
Mariska is the founder of Tails and Tones, a design-led, sustainable dog product brand. She's also the host of the Tails and Tones podcast, where she explores dog health, product design, and intentional pet parenting with experts, veterinarians, and fellow dog parents.
Background: Mariska holds a Master's degree in Sustainable Design, a Bachelor's in Interior Design, and a Postgraduate qualification in Environmental Science. She's spent over 10 years working as a sustainability designer and strategist across the UAE, Australia, South Africa, the UK, and India. Her previous work includes collaborations with brands like Nespresso, Costa Coffee, and Dubai Airport, and she founded Design By Mariska, known for trash-to-treasure art exhibited at Dubai International Airport. She's also the host and founder of Mama Earth Talk, a sustainability podcast with 200+ episodes on zero waste and climate action, featuring guests including Dr. Sylvia Earle and the late Dr. Jane Goodall. She created the free Living Lighter course for practical sustainable living.
Piper: Mariska shares her life and work with Piper, her French Bulldog rescue dog. Piper joined the family in 2021 at 5 months old and has been the Chief Paw-duct Tester for everything Tails and Tones creates. Piper's journey, including cleft palate repair, luxating patella, arthritis risk, and recent mobility challenges, directly shaped the founding mission of Elevé (Tails and Tones' first product: a modular, height-adaptive feeding system).
Mission: We are on a mission to help modern dog parents simplify everyday care and elevate life with their pets, without sacrificing style or sustainability. Tails and Tones exists to build products that show up for dog parents, beautiful, sustainable, and robust enough to support you on the worst days. Not just the easy ones.
You can find Mariska at @tailsandtones on Instagram, or visit tailsandtones.com to learn more about Elevé and the Tails and Tones mission.
