Types of bleeding can be identified by the kind of blood vessel that was severed.
Arteries – bright red and pumping- Veins – darker red and not pumping
- Capillaries – oozing
Often bleeding stems from a mixture of these, and it may be external or internal. External bleeding can be by treated by four rudimentary methods.
Direct Pressure – put your finger or hand directly on the bleeding wound.
Pad and Pressure – use anything clean you can find, such as a towel, a piece of clothing, et cetera, but preferably sterile gauze, if you have it nearby.
Compression of Pressure Points – cut off hemorrhage
at the point where the arteries are supplying blood to the wound. The average person won’t know where to apply this type of pressure, though.
Tourniquet – use elastic bands, belts, scarves or any tying material to stop bleeding. Tourniquets are dangerous, though, as they can cause the permanent loss of a limb or other body part if circulation is cut off too long. Never leave a tourniquet on for more than thirty minutes.
See Bandaging for more information. Needless to say, get your pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible for any major injuries or internal bleeding.