First Aid For Dogs – The Basics
As with human first aid, the most important thing to remember when your pet is hurt is to stay calm and not panic. Panic causes mistakes and the sensation of fear spreads to others so quickly that it will make your head spin. First, find out as much information about the emergency as possible and as fast as you can without either waiting too long or rushing through it too quickly. If your dog is injured, try to find out how it got the injury. Likewise, if the dog is poisoned, try to find out what and how much of the poison it consumed. In any emergency situation, both a cool head and the proper information can make a world of difference.
The same rule of staying calm also applies to the dog, and you should make every effort to try and keep the dog calm while you administer first aid; your efforts will hopefully come to having the dog allow you to treat it. The presence of the dog’s owner can often be a calming influence in an emergency situation. Acting as if you’re calm and collected can also help injured dogs stay calm.
In a similar vein, it’s a mistake to assume that you can provide all the medical attention injured or poisoned dogs need on your own. Contact a veterinarian as soon as possible. Since most veterinarians don’t make house calls, the odds are good that you’ll have to start preparing the dog to be moved to a clinic. This requires that you place the injured dog somewhere where it won’t be shaken as the traveling vehicle moves. A large, flat board is the ideal place to lay an injured down during transportation, though anything that can stabilize the dog’s movement can be used.
Early preparation is a godsend, and easier to achieve than you might think. A first aid kit for humans will have more than a few items vital in treating dogs, so keeping a first aid kit in your home helps you, your dog and anyone else you may know that needs emergency care. Knowing when your dog may face a threatening situation can also help. If you’re feeling that a situation might be dangerous for your dog, err on the side of caution and prepare for the worst.
When injured, some dogs become violent or aggressive, requiring that they be restrained with a muzzle to keep them from biting others or resisting treatment. Creating a makeshift muzzle is possible using two to three feet (or 60 to 90 centimeters) of strong cloth. Using the cloth, bind the dog’s jaws together and then tie it behind the dog’s ears. Don’t worry; while your dog may protest noisily by snorting and drooling, it can certainly breathe through its nose despite the wrapping. Other restraints should be used more cautiously, and in emergencies, use only restraints that are absolutely necessary.
Your goal, in an emergency situation with your dog, is to keep it comfortable, stable and alive until a professional veterinarian can apply the proper treatment. This may sound simple, but a hurt and frightened animal can turn your beloved pet into a dog that you can barely recognize, making your job more difficult. Researching possible accidents and how to apply first aid is a responsible way to care for your pet and may just one day save its life.
Pets Editor
Dog Fancy Magazine – Dog Fancy Magazine is dedicated to the care and enjoyment of pet dogs. Each issue features articles about canine health, dog nutrition, dog behavior and dog breeding.
