First Aid for your Dog

First Aid is exactly what it says it is,the first aid given prior to seeking medical help. It is to supposed to help stabilize the situation as you make your way to the help you need.

The very first thing you want to do is remain calm. If you remain calm your dog will remain calm. Your dog will most likely be very frightened and staying calm will help everyone involved. Talking to your dog in a soothing voice is key.

Before we get into some first aid tips let's talk about some preparation. You can never be completely prepared all the time but having a kit together can help a great deal. There are certain things that are helpful to have on hand that will help in emergency situations.

First Aid Kit

• Roll bandages- for wounds and for making a muzzle
• conforming bandage
• non adhesive absorbent dressings
• sticky tape
• gauze
• gloves
• rectal thermometer
• oral syringe
• ice compress
• tweezers
• tongue depressors
• nail trimmers
• Antibiotic ointment
• disinfectant(for example: Betadine)
• hydrogen peroxide
• activated charcoal
• Blunt end scissors
• eye dropper
• Eye wash
• Towel
• KY jelly
• Animal Hopital phone numbers/ Emergency clinic number
• Animal poison control Number

Other items that are a good idea to have on hand:

• ipecac syrup
• anti gas tablets(Gas-X)- Dosing: small dog-1/4 adult dose, medium dog- 1/2 adult dose, large dog-1adult dose
• Peptobismal-Dosing: 1 teaspoon per 20 pounds
• Benadryl 25mg -Dosing: 1 mg per pound
• Buffered aspirin- Dosing: < 10 lbs-1/2 baby aspirin, 10-30lbs-1 baby aspirin, 30-50lbs- 1/2 regular aspirin, 50-100lbs- 1 regular aspirin, >100 lbs- 2 regular aspirin
• Elizabethan collar

Always keep a pen and paper/pad in with your first aid supplies. This way you will be able to note down any instructions given from the Animal Hospital.

When dealing with a hurt dog, even your own, it is a good idea to put a muzzle on them. If you have a soft muzzle that can be used or you can make one using rolled gauze.

To make:

Make a noose by tying a very loose knot in the middle of a strip of gauze, leave a large loop.

Try to quietly approach dog from behind and slip loop over dogs snout pulling it taut halfway up nose.

Tie ends under the chin then carry ends around neck and tie behind ears.

To move an injured dog:

Find something sturdy to slide under the dog to keep them stabilized. Bind the dog to the this to keep them still and quiet for transport. you can use a sheet or towels to do this. If you do not have a sturdy board you can use a sheet or coat to slide under the dog and carry like a hammock. For a small dog you can scoop them up in a towel and put into a box for transport. the idea is to transport the dog safely and move them as little as possible.

Bleeding:

Apply direct pressure to wound using a sterile dressing. If bleeding is not stopping you can use pressure points to stop the bleeding, groin, armpit, neck, jaw or tail base. Apply a tourniquet only as a last resort.

To apply tourniquet:

Wrap gauze around twice on dog's limb or tail but don't knot it, place a stick on top and tie it in place loosely. Turn the stick in one direction until bandage is just tight enough to stop bleeding. Loosen every 5 to 10 minutes for a few seconds to let blood circulate.

Get Veterinary Hospital immediately.

If a wound is superficial, stop the bleeding, wash with soap and water and apply antibiotic ointment.

Poisoning:

Signs of poisoning include seizures, burns around mouth, fast heartbeat, trouble breathing, foaming at mouth, drooling, bleeding from mouth, nose or anus, erratic behavior, loss of consciousness.

Call your Veterinary Hospital or Animal poison control.

DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT POISON WAS INGESTED.
If you need to induce vomiting you can use hydrogen peroxide, pour  some 3% hydrogen peroxide into a cup and use an oral syringe to give 3cc per 20 lbs of body weight. Wait 10 minutes, if no vomiting, repeat, if still no vomiting then take dog to Veterinarian immediately.

Shock:
If a trauma has occurred, such as being hit by a car, your dog will be in shock. Signs of shock will be weakness, cold to touch, pale or gray gums, rapid breathing. Make sure to control bleeding and keep dog warm while you get dog to Animal Hospital immediately.

Broken or Fractured leg:
If bone is protruding, cover with sterile bandage and bring to Veterinarian.
If broken or fractured below knee you can splint with magazines, rolled newspaper, ruler or any thing sturdy. Wrap material around and tie to keep in place.
If above knee, place dog on flat surface, secure, and transport to Animal Hospital.
The general idea is to move the dog as little as possible.

Snake Bite:
Bleeding wound on legs or head, pupils dilated, drooling, trembling, vomiting, collapse.
Keep dog as calm and still as possible. DO NOT lance bite or suck out poison. Get dog to Veterinary Hospital immediately.

For Burns:
First and second degree burns---- apply cold water or ice immediately then apply antibiotic ointment.
Third degree burns--- apply ice at once and keep dog warm to prevent shock. Cover and take dog to Veterinarian immediately.

Heatstroke:
If you notice your dog panting excessively, dehydrated, drooling, glassy eyed, having trouble breathing, raised temperature, vomiting, gums red, rapid or irregular heartbeat this could be heat stroke. This can happen from being outside in the heat for extended periods and running around. Some breeds just wont quit chasing that ball so we need to monitor them closely. Dogs with pushed in faces like pugs are also susceptible to heat stroke.
Immerse in cool, NOT ICY, water. Offer water to drink, and get them into an air conditioned room. Take to Veterinarian.

Drowning:
Many dogs love the water and it is important to watchful.
You can suspend dog by hind legs and gently swing them to help drain water out of lungs. If too heavy then let front feet rest on ground. then lay your dog down with a blanket under it's back to so that the head rests slightly lower than the body to help water drain.  If needed preform CPR.

Choking:
Gasping, coughing
Lift up back legs like dog is a wheelbarrow and give a good shake to hopefully dislodge object.
Heimlich maneuver--- Wrap arms around dogs belly just under rib cage, give one quick forceful squeeze to expel object. If your dog is small you can pick them up and use both hands to squeeze and expel object.
If dog is unconscious lay them on their side and feel for the last rib. Place both hands palms down just behind bottom rib and press down forcefully. If dog has stopped breathing or has no heartbeat preform CPR.

How to preform CPR and mouth to nose:
Open the airway by swiping back of throat with index and middle finger. Extend the head back and pull the tongue forward. Make sure to check that the nostrils are unobstructed. Hold dogs mouth closed and place your mouth over their nostril and blow into them so that the chest rises.
Lie dog on side on a hard surface. Place the heel of your hand on their ribs over the heart. Place the other hand over the first and  push down rhythmically and with reasonable force 15 times.
Then blow into nostrils and then repeat chest compressions.

Thank you for reading, I hope this was helpful.
Teri
Have a great week and hug your dog. 🐕🐾💗

Next week How to do a quick home check up on your dog.

Mosquitos and Heartworm

Mosquitoes are one part of the life cycle of heartworms. They are an important part that makes the cycle complete.

Life cycle of heartworm

Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes that are infected with baby heartworms called microfilaria.

1. A mosquito picks up the microfilaria when it bites an infected dog.
2. Microfilaria mature into larvae in the mosquito. This takes 7-10 days.
3. After the microfilaria mature into larvae they are transmitted to a dog when the mosquito feeds.
4. These larvae then migrate through tissue and into the bloodstream. Larvae take 6 months to mature into adults. They will migrate into the pulmonary vessels of the heart and lungs.
5. Adult heartworms will mate and the microfilaria will make there way into the bloodstream of the dog and be transferred to a mosquito when the mosquito bites. This effectively starts the process again.

Symptoms of a possible heartworm infection

1. Coughing
2. Exercise intolerance
3. Trouble breathing
4. Loss of consciousness

If you notice these symptoms your Veterinarian will look for these signs as well.

1. Abnormal lung sounds
2. enlargement of the liver
3. Fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity

Heartworms can cause much damage to the heart, liver, lungs and other organs if not treated.

To diagnose Heartworm disease your Veterinarian will likely use the following tests.

1. Blood test/antigen test.... Looks for the presence of proteins excreted by sexually mature female heartworms
2. Filter test... looks at blood under a microscope to see if there are any microfilaria.
3. Other routine bloodwork including a chemistry panel and a complete blood count. These will tell your Veterinarian if there is problems with other organs and if there is an infection present.
4. X-rays.. will allow your Veterinarian to see if there is damage to heart, liver, lungs etc.
5. Ultrasound.. can sometimes see the heartworms on an ultrasound and it is also can tell your Veterinarian more information on how badly compromised the organs are.

If your dog is diagnosed with Heartworm Disease your Veterinarian may prescribe the following prior to treatment.

1. Anti-biotics.. Because as heartworms die they release a bacteria into the bloodstream which can cause an immune response and worsen the heartworm disease and the inflammation in the lungs and kidneys.
2. Monthly Heartworm preventative... To kill the smaller larvae before initiating treatment to kill the adults.
3. Steroids for inflammation

The treatment for the adult heartworms takes 60 days to complete. It consists of a series of injections with an organic arsenic compound to kill the adult heartworms. The compound is injected into the lumbar(back) muscles of your dog. On injection days your dog will have to stay at the Animal Hospital under observation.

One of the VERY important parts of the heartworm treatment will be keeping your dog calm and quiet. Activity level must be limited during treatment and for several weeks following. The reason for this is because fragments of dead worms move and block blood flow through the pulmonary vessels and cause or worsen the inflammatory response. Too much strenuous activity increase blood flow to blocked areas causing capillaries to rupture. This will increase the likelihood of complication and damage to organ and could result in death.

Surgery will be an option if worms are found to be in the large vein called the vena cave located between the heart and liver.

Your dog should be re-tested for heartworm after treatment and again 6 months later. If a positive result after 6 months then treatment will need to be repeated.

Heartworm has been reported in all 50 states. The cost of diagnostic tests and treatment could be up to $1000 or more.

Heartworm prevention is KEY! Prevention is the most cost effective option. A yearly blood test for heartworm can be done at your annual visit to the Veterinarian. A six month supply of heartworm preventive will cost around $50-$60 dollars.

Using heartworm preventative year round is recommended. There are many very good choices of heartworm preventative out there. Many of them help control other parasites such as roundworms and hookworms. Your Veterinarian will help you choose which one is best for your dog based on your needs and where you live.

Puppies 6 months and under can start heartworm preventative prior to being tested. A dog that is older than that should be tested if they have never been on heartworm preventative. It takes 6 months for a dog to test positive after being infected.

Mosquito Repellents

Deet is a popular mosquito repellent used in OFF! and other brands. It is HIGHLY toxic to dogs if ingested. It is not recommended to use on dogs because there is such a high probability of them liking at their fur and ingesting it.

K-9 Advantix spot on repels mosquitoes and Veterinarian recommended.

Natural Choices

Repel uses lemon eucalyptus oil

Biteblocker uses geranium and soybean oil

Citronella sprays and candles help keep mosquitoes away.

I hope this general information was helpful.

Thanks for reading.😀🐶

Teri

Next week: Some First Aid Tips

Have a great week..... hug your dog🐶🐾

The Importance of Spaying and Neutering

First let's define those two words:

Spay -- Removal of the females ovaries and uterus

Neuter -- Removal of a males testicles

Both are done so that they can not reproduce.

I believe that it is very important to have your dog spayed or neutered. There are many reasons to have it done.

The benefits:

• will prevent unwanted litters
• Will be good for the community as there will be less strays that will wind up in a shelter.
• Fights pet overpopulation
• It is more cost effective to spay or neuter.

Benefits for the female:

• will prevent uterine infections
• risk of mammary gland tumors, ovarian and uterine cancers are reduced or eliminated.
• no heat cycles
• live longer healthier lives

Benefits for the male:

• low to no risk of prostate cancer
• Eliminates risk of testicular cancer
• Less desire to roam
• Decreases aggressive behaviors, such as fighting and urine marking.
• Live longer healthier lives

Let's talk about some of the reasons I've heard for not spaying or neutering your dog.

"My dog will feel less of a male"

----Dogs have no concept of a sexual identity.

"I want another dog just like the one I have"

----Genetically there is no guarantee that any of the puppies will be exactly like the dog you already have. They all have their own unique personalities.

"Cost"

------It is more cost effective to spay or neuter than to potentially have unwanted litters that no one may want. There are also many areas that have low cost spay/neuter programs that can help with the cost.

"I will find homes for them"

------That is a hard task to take on. You have no way of knowing if the homes will be good homes. Also it is way harder than you think to find homes for a litter of up to 10 or 12 puppies.

"I want to teach my child the miracle of birth"

-------There are many books and videos to help you teach the miracle of birth to your child. Teach your child the importance of rescue and adopting.

Millions of dogs are euthanized every year in the US because they are unwanted,please be a responsible dog owner and spay or neuter your dog.   

Thanks for reading

Teri

Next week: Mosquitoes and Heartworm

Happy National Pet Day

Happy National Pet Day from my crew.....
Buster, Baxter and Jilly 🐩💙💚💖

Check back tomorrow for my weekly post.

Let's talk Fleas and Ticks........Ewwww.....

Fleas and Ticks.... not a fun topic but an important one.

Fleas

• Small flightless insects
• consume blood of their hosts
• A female can live for several weeks on a host and lay up to several thousand eggs during her life span.
• They thrive in warm, moist environments
• They have 4 main life-stages......Eggs, Larva, Pupa, Adult
• Cycle ranges from a couple of weeks to several months depending on the environment
• Your dog can get tapeworm from ingesting a flea, watch for small rice like specks around your dog's anus and sometimes in their stool.
• Some dogs are severely allergic to flea saliva and when they get bit they have a reaction causing them to scratch and bite until their skin is raw.
• Check for flea dirt, which will be red or black and fleas on your dogs rump. There is a good amount of hair there for fleas to hide.
• A good flea comb is essential

Adult Fleas

• Very flat with three pairs of legs
• They are jumpers
• Live on host

Eggs

• Will fall off animal onto carpets, bedding, soil, floorboards

Larva

• Will live in carpets and bedding
• Stage lasts 5 to 8 days... then spins cocoon and pupates

Pupa

• Emerges from cocoon in 3 to 5 days
• Last stage before adult

Fleas are troublesome little insects that are tough to get rid of. Your best defense against fleas is a good offense. By that I mean prevent them from ever becoming a problem. Treat your dog with a Veterinarian recommended flea and tick treatment. There are many out there, sprays, topicals, pills, collars. All of them are great to use. some dogs may have sensitivity to one or another of them but discussing it with your Veterinarian will help you choose the bast one for your dog. Vacuuming daily is suggested as well as washing your dogs beds and blankets once a week. All of these things in combination will help you to keep fleas away.

Ticks

• Ticks are arachnids, which means they have a body segmented into two regions and have eight legs.
• They carry and transmit some dangerous diseases including Lyme, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tick paralysis, encephalitis and hepatozoonosis.
• Will grab on and burrow into the skin to feed.
• Check your dog everyday for ticks

Removing Ticks

• Remove quickly, it takes 24-72 hours before disease transfer
• Wear gloves
• Put a little rubbing alcohol on tick to make it pull out a little
• Grab tick near the head with forceps, tweezers or a tick removing tool.
• Make sure you have the whole tick
• Drop in rubbing alcohol to kill
• Disinfect the area with a cleanser such as povidone/iodine
• Wash your hands

Many of the products that are used to control fleas are also for ticks. Ask your Veterinarian for what will work best for your dog.

Keeping your yard clear of leaves, sticks and extra debris and foliage will help to reduce where ticks can hide. Mowing your yard regularly will also help.

That's it for fleas and ticks....

Thanks for reading

Teri

Next Week... Why spaying and Neutering is important.