Cruisin’ with Captain & Morgan
[dropcap]W[/dropcap]e love summer, mostly because we like to vacation with our family, chase lizards and search out land crabs. But whether you travel by boat or see the sights by car or plane, scratches, scrapes and minor illnesses tend to happen when you are away from home – we are kind of like children in that way. With that thought in mind, Morgan and I thought this would be a good time to inform everyone of some items that would be great to have in a first aid kit. Check with your veterinarian before travelling and ask if he or she can provide you with some of the items we use. Your veterinarian can also assist your owner in customizing a first aid kit that meets your personal needs.
If you are going on a beach vacation – like us – sand can get into your eyes. Personally, I love to dig in the sand, lay down in it and roll around and cool off. Eventually that sand will get into your eyes and they become red, inflamed and itchy. Our dad carries some antibiotic/cortisone drops in our first aid kit and we use a drop or two to relieve the discomfort.
Morgan and I love to swim. We have access to the water and spend time chasing the minnows and swimming across the canal to visit our friends. As a result, our ears tend to stay wet which can lead to infection. A good ear cleanser as well as an ear medication with antibiotic, antifungal and anti-inflammatory ingredients will get your ears feeling better in no time. Trust me, I know!
Digging through coral rock after those pesky crabs tends to cut our feet and scratch our faces in the process. Last year, Morgan ended up with a claw on her lip that was very painful! Be sure your owner includes a topical cream and antibacterial soap to help with any minor irritation. If any of your body parts begin to swell or look infected, you may want to ask your owner to take you to a veterinarian. If a veterinarian is not nearby, using a broad spectrum antibiotic might help until you can be seen by a professional.
A change in water or food can often bring on the dreaded diarrhea. Ask your owner if your veterinarian can supply you with some medications to help make you feel better should the occasion arise. Eat lightly for a day or two. Our mom boils up hamburger meat and white rice for us. It’s tasty and helps to bind us up.
We always carry some bandaging materials with us to dress those minor cuts and scrapes or minor sprains and strains. We hope you will never have anything more than a minor injury; however, if your injury or illness needs more attention than your owner can provide, most islands have a veterinarian available. If your travels find you in Freeport on Grand Bahama Island, Dr. Wildgoose, (yes that’s her real name), is terrific and she’ll patch you up.
Summer is the time to relax with family and friends, meet new people and explore new sites. We hope you have a wonderful summer and we will be back with more travel tips soon!
—Captain and Morgan
Dr. Diamond is located at Animal Care Extraordinaire, Stuart, FL
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