Dog First Aid Articles | Dogs

By: Admin

Learning a few simple basic first aid priniciples for dogs could very well save the life of your beloved pet in an emergency situation. Your actions could speed recovery time and even mean the difference between a complete recovery from injury as opposed to your dog being left with a permanent disability or with lasting complications. It is therefore well worth the effort it takes to master a few of the basic first aid techniques that can be applied in the event of an injury. Lets examine a few few of these first aid treatments suitable for your dog.

Shock
Any severe trauma (burns, bone fractures, deep cuts, even a fight with another dog) can cause shock in a dog. A typcal and very common symptom of a dog in shock is a semi-oblivious yet nervous and anxious state. The dogs nervous system becomes depressed, sometimes to the degree that ir causes complete immobility. However, in comparatively few instances, the dog may exhibit a quite opposite affect of nervous agitation. In all cases, when a dog goes into shock it will exhibit slow weak heart rate, and shallow breathing. Dogs recuperating from shock will frequently acquire a rapid heartbeat and high body temperature.

The best treatment for dogs in shock is to quickly cover the animal in a effort to get the temperature back up to a normal level. You could also give the dog a stimulus, such as coffee, to bring up the heart rate, and keep the animal calm so that it rests. Gentle caressing and talking softly will generally help to instill a relaxed state. It could take 1 or 2 hours before a full recovery is achieved.

Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is a very common problem and while most dogs are susceptible to it, it is far more common in bulldogs and overweight dogs. In sumertime it is a good precation to clip your dog if he/she has a thick/dense coat in order to protect them against the increased heat.

Panting is a normal way for dogs to bring down their body temperature, however if you notice sharp and continuous panting this cold indicate your dog is suffering from heat stroke. The tongue can become purplish and the dog will appear unable to catch its breath.

If your dog is exhibiting symptoms of heat stroke, you must lower the body temperature of the animal. The way a dog cools itself is by evaporating water but you can help speed up this process with a simple first aid technique. First lay the dog on a flat surface and pour water all over him till his coat is totally soaked. If you can, turn on an electric fan and aim a gentele air stream directly over the dog. Add more water over the dog as it evaporates. Measure the dog’s temperature from time to time until it gets down to 101 degrees Fahrenheit, which is normal. This simple first aid procedure should lead to a 5-7 degree drop in temperature in about 30-45 minutes. Once the dog’s temperature comes back to normal, dry him off and keep him out of the heat.

If an electric fan isn't available, immerse the dog in a bath of cold water.

Hit by a Car
If a dog is struck by a motor vehicle, the best thing you can do is restrain him and begin treating the poor dog for shock. You can check the color of the gums to see if he is losing blood too rapidly. If the gums have a grayish or white appearance, the dog may very likely have injured an vital organ and be bleeding internally. If this is the case, then stretch the dog out and get somebody to help you by holding the front and back legs. Wrap long strips of bandage (torn from a bed sheet or similar fabric) around his trunk tightly in a girdle or corset-like manner. Continue to wrap until you've produced a secure firm supportfor the dog. Be sure the binding lies flat against the dog’s body and doesn’t bunch together when he moves. The bandages must create a long cylinder which holds the internal organs motionless. Keeping the organs immobile will aid in letting a blood clot to form and slow or stop the internal bleeding. Do everything you're able to keep the animal still till a vet arrives. Do not move the dog from the accident scene if there are any signs of internal bleeding. A dog can bleed to death very rapidly.

Knowing how to administer dog first aid before you find yourself in a situation where you need it can save the life of your pet. Preventing situations that may cause your dog to be injured is even better.