e-Dog-Training
| Canine First Aid |
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| Featured Article |
For minor injuries or for immediate treatment before bringing your pet to the vet, your Canine First Aid Kit should include: Bandages Roll of sterile gauze Sterile gauze pads Roll of self-adhesive gauze (Vet Wrap) Surgical tape Antiseptic cleansing wipes Blunt tip scissors Saline eye flush solution Instant ice pack Antibiotic Sting treatment Kennel leash Betadine Tweezers Latex gloves Blanket or large towel Water Collapsible bowl If your pet is seriously injured or ill, you will need to take him to a veterinarian; but what immediate steps should you take in an emergency situation? Here are a few guidelines: • When in doubt, contact your vet. Keep his phone number handy so that you can easily reach it in an emergency. Also keep the phone number of your local emergency animal hospital handy encase you are unable to reach your regular veterinarian. • Keep Calm! You must keep calm so that you can think clearly and drive safely. • If there is any risk that your dog will bite you during your attempts to aid him, be sure to muzzle him or wrap gauze around his muzzle to secure your safety. • Never give human medicines to a dog – many will do more harm than good. Do not offer food or drink in case anesthetic is needed. Call your vet if you believe it could be an emergency! Here are some guideline on how to tell whether something is an emergency - though never hesitate to phone your bet and ask for advice. If any of the below apply you should definitely phone your vet: Your pet is bleeding (and your pet is not a female who is in heat) Your pet has been in a fight with another dog and suffered an injury Your pet has been in an automobile accident Your pet seems weak, convulses, or is reluctant to get up You pet has trouble breathing or coughs continually Your pet vomits continually Your dog appears to be in severe pain Your pet is shaking or shivering Emergency Situation Responses Bleeding Do your best to keep your dog as calm and as quiet as possible. Put a tight bandage on the wound. If you can't place a tight bandage on the wound, put pressure on the wound with a gauze pad and hold it in place. Most importantly, get your dog to the vet as soon as possible. Automobile Accidents Your first concern if your pet is involved in an automobile accident needs to be for your own safety. You can't be of help to your pet if you are injured in the process. Be careful of the cars on the road and be very cautious approaching your own pet. Talk slowly and gently as you approach. Avoid sudden movements. Try to put a muzzle on your dog first so that he won't instinctively bite you if you accidentally cause him pain. Also try to get a leash on him as he may be in shock and try to run as soon as he can. Take your dog to the vet immediately even if you don't see any injuries. There could be internal injuries that are not visible. Cover your dog with a blanket on the way to the vet to reduce heat loss and to lessen shock. Burns and Scalds Run cold water over these for at least five minutes, and then contact the vet. Keep a cool compress on the burn while on your way to the vet's office. Poisoning Try to find packaging from the substance swallowed and have it with you when you phone the vet. If chewing plants is suspected, try to find out the identity of the plant. Call the vet immediately. Do not cause you dog to vomit unless the vet says to do so. Swollen Belly If this happens suddenly, treat it very seriously. It could mean there is a life- threatening twist in the stomach. Phone the vet immediately – do not delay. Coat contamination If a substance such as paint or tar has got onto the coat or paws, prevent the dog from licking, as it may be toxic. Use an E-collar if you have one. You may be able to clip off small areas of affected hair. Never use turpentine or paint removers on your dog. You can sometimes remove paint and other substances by bathing the dog, but if a large area is affected, see the vet right away. Heat stroke If on a warm or hot day your dog is panting heavily and is distressed and especially if the dog is short nosed, overweight ,or has been playing or exercising, think heatstroke! Put the dog somewhere cool. Wet the coat with tepid water (cold water contracts the blood vessels in the skin and slows heat loss) and phone the vet immediately. You can also offer a small amount of water. Seizures If your dog experiences a seizure, do not try to hold or comfort the dog, as this provides stimulation, which may prolong the seizure. Darken the room and reduce noise. Remove items, especially anything electrical, away from the dog so they cannot cause injury. Pad furniture with cushions. Call the vet immediately! Eye injuries If the eye is bulging out of the socket, apply a wet dressing, prevent rubbing or scratching and immediately take your dog to the vet. If chemicals have got into the eye, flush with water repeatedly (preferably from an eye drop bottle) and call the vet. Drowning NEVER put yourself at risk by attempting to rescue a dog from drowning. When your dog is safely on shore, wipe away material from the mouth and nose. Hold the dog upside down by the hind legs until the water has drained out. Give artificial respiration if breathing has stopped. Even if your pet seems to recover, always see the vet as complications afterwards are common. Stings Pull out the sting below the poison sac, then bathe the area in water, or a solution of baking soda, or sting treatment from your pet first aid kit, if available. Applying ice will help to soothe. If the sting is in the mouth or throat, contact the vet as it may swell and interfere with breathing. |