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.