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Dog First Aid

Applying Dog First Aid In Emergencies

Familiarize Yourself With A Little Dog First Aid Before Confronted With Emergencies

Will you be prepared for any emergency situations requiring your prompt and precise action using first aid knowledge? As a dog owner there may be times you will be faced with emergencies when a veternarian isn't available. If you have the knowledge to help your dog, and understand some dog first aid, then the care, treatment, and prognosis for your pet will improve significantly. Remain calm and seek medical attention from animal emergency centers if emergencies happen in the off hours. Have their phone numbers handy - one for your veternarian and one for the after hours emergency center.

Has Your Puppy Swallowed Foreign Objects Or Possible Poisons?

Should your puppy swallow any sharp objects such as razor blades, pins, or other obstructional objects:
 - CONTACT your veterinarian immediately! For more info with other types of emergencies requiring dog first aid, visit the Pet Center.

Should puppy ingest poisonous substances:
 - CONTACT ASPCA - Animal Poison Control Center or your veternarian immediately!

Pet First Aid Hardshell Kit

Basic Dog First Aid Supplies Gauze pads Gauze roll Thermometer Tweezers Antibiotic ointment Q-tips First Aid Instructional Booklet

HANDLING AN INJURED DOG
During emergencies an injured dog in pain or fear can bite. In the abscense of a muzzle, one can be made using a roll of gauze. Take the gauze and make a loop over the nose, and then tie it behind the ears. Restrain your pet for its safety as well as your own. If you are accidentally bitten, get medical attention. Bites can get infected quickly! If using a muzzle, be sure to put it on from behind to avoid being bitten. Below are a few basic emergencies you may come across during your lifetime and what you can do to help a dog in distress:

HEATSTROKE
Heatstroke most commonly occurs when a dog is left in a car or outdoors without shade, ventilation or water. The signs of a heatstroke are panting, vomiting, diarrhea, raised temperature, collapse and coma. Never leave your dog unattended in a car on hot day with the windows cracked open. If you see this incident, break those windows... rescue the puppy or dog, then call for emergency! Sadly, pets are lost every year when left in a car with windows cracked down for only a few hours.

Temperatures inside a car can quickly rise over 100 degrees even on an 80 degree day. If an incident like this occurs, quickly put the puppy or dog in a cool or shady area and soak with cold water from a hose. If available, immerse your dog into an ice bath to get its temperature back to normal. Gently towel dry and massage the body and legs until reaching a veternarian's office or pet emergency center.

SHOCK
Oftentimes, when dogs have been hit by a car they can go into shock. The signs of shock will be weakness, collapse, coma, unconsciousness, and pale color of his mouth, lips and eyelids. He may experience a weak but rapid pulse as well as rapid respiration. His eyes may be glaring with dilated pupils. You can treat a dog in shock in the following ways (call your vet as soon as possible):

Remain calm Keep your dog horizontal Keep airways open Give artificial respiration Wrap your dog in a blanket or towel to conserve body heat If dog is unconscious, keep head level or lower than body Take and record his pulse and breathing rate Make any notations of bleeding No fluids or food if unconscious, vomiting, or convulsing Gently massage legs and muscles, unless suspecting broken or fractured

EYE INJURY
Penetration to the eyeball or laceration of the eye itself can be serious. Place a damp cloth over the injured eye and quickly get to a veternarian or pet emergency center. Do NOT try to rinse the eye or remove any foreign object as you may cause more injury than there already is.

ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION
You can give artificial respiration to your dog in the following way:

Remove the collar Open dog's mouth, remove any obstruction Wipe away any mucus or blood Grasp the tongue and pull it forward Wipe away any mucus or blood If not breathing due to a drowning, hold upside down by rear legs for 15-30 seconds Close mouth, place your mouth over the nose and exhale to force air into the lungs via the nose Watch for chest to inflate Remove your mouth and repeat this cycle 6 times per minute until breathing

POISON INGESTION
If you suspect your dog has eaten poison, take immediately to the veternarian or emergency animal hospital. Let your veternarian professional handle this situation, but get your dog to see the vet immediately.

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Please Note:  Always consult your dog's veterinarian before making any dog health care decisions. Your veternarian will be able to help you decide the best course of action when it comes to caring for your dog.

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