5 Things You Need to Know About a Dog’s First Aid

Dog’s First Aid: Dogs, by nature, are curious and have no concept of danger. They get into unsafe situations, explore places that are not safe for them and chew on things they shouldn’t eat. And sometimes, their curiosity can lead to an emergency.

While many emergencies give you enough time to take your pet to the vet, others require a quick response, and that’s when first aid comes into play. Quick and appropriate first aid can prevent a minor injury from becoming a major one. Moreover, appropriate first aid can also help reduce pain, reduce recovery time, and give you peace of mind that you have contributed to your pet’s best.

However, many pet parents lack adequate knowledge about pet’s first aid. But given the significance of first aid, pet parents need to have the proper knowledge and skills about dog’s first aid so they can react in time. For many people, their dog truly is their best friend so, here we share five things you need to know about your dog’s first aid that can save your pet.

1. Recognize an Emergency

The first and most important thing about your dog’s first aid is that you should recognize an emergency. In case of an emergency, do not wait and resort to first aid; instead, without wasting any time, take your pet to the vet.

Some of the situations that are usually considered an emergency include when your dog.

  • Isn’t breathing or is having difficulty breathing,
  • Has collapsed and is unresponsive,
  • Is having seizure/fit,
  • Is having difficulty in moving or coordinating its movements,
  • Has been vomiting or is having diarrhea for over 24 hours,
  • Has eating something toxic and is faint.

Now that you know some of the emergencies for your pet, you can now assess any other situation for your dog and decide whether it’s an emergency or if your pet needs first aid followed by a visit to the vet. Always remember that every time your dog is hurt or sick, even if it’s not an emergency, your dog still needs to see the vet.

2. You Need to Stay Calm

The next most important thing on the list is “you.” Your dog may be hurt or injured, and of course, it is an unusual situation for you, but “you need to stay calm.” Just like your kids, your dogs also look up to you, so if you are anxious or nervous, likely, your injured canine friend would also be anxious, and it can only make first aid treatment difficult for both of you.

Always remember, in case your dog is hurt or injured, make sure you stay calm and composed.

3. Know When Your Dog Needs First Aid

Here are some of the situations when your canine friend has put itself in danger and need first aid right away. Don’t forget to schedule an appointment with your vet, even if you have provided the initial first aid to your dog.

Eye Injuries

Eye injuries can be particularly serious for your dog and can also affect eyesight. If any foreign object such as grass awn or hair can be seen in the eye, try to remove it. Moreover, gently rinse the eyes with tap water or saline solution that is often available with a contact lens. Ensure you don’t let your dog rub eyes with its paws or any other object such as your carpet and furniture.

Burn wounds

Another possibly dangerous situation when your pet needs first aid is when your dog gets burns. Start by cooling the area with plain water for at least 10 minutes. Make sure you do not apply any bandages as they may get stuck to the wound. Moreover, for transporting your pet to the vet, you need to use a clean plastic surface instead of using bedding as it may hurt your canine friend more.

Bleeding Claws

In case your pet’s claws begin to bleed, use an absorbent dressing over the paw and secure the bandage but make sure you don’t secure it too tightly. Moreover, also apply it as far up the leg as possible. If the bleeding doesn’t stop for a considerable amount of time, don’t forget to seek veterinary assistance.

Bleeding Ears

Your canine friend will need first aid in case of bleeding ears. In case of bleeding ears, it may help if you secure the wound with a bandage until you can seek help from the vet.

Choking

If your pet is choking but is still breathing, it may not require your intervention. Most animals are very good at clearing their airways, and you should only intervene if you feel that your canine friend stops choking and is unconscious. Now, this is an emergency, and you should take your pet to the vet right away.

4. Know How to Administer CPR for Dogs

Apart from knowing the situations when your canine friend needs first aid treatment, you must also know how to administer CPR for your dog. If your pet needs CPR, place it on its right side as the dog’s heart is slightly towards the left. Moreover, slightly tilt the head upwards to prevent the tongue from blocking its airway.

Start with five breaths. For smaller pets, you should be able to cover their snout through your mouth. However, for larger animals, hold their tongue outside of the mouth and breathe into its nose. After the first five breaths, switch from 15 compressions and then to two breaths. Make sure you only breathe in enough air to see their chest rise and avoid breathing in too much air. Moreover, you must allow the compression to rise fully before starting another one.

5. Be Prepared

The last thing on the list that you need to know about your pet’s first aid is that you should be prepared. Ensure you always have your vet’s name and other contact details in your phone or at any other safe place around the home. And in case of an emergency, call your vet right away. Moreover, it is also important that you have a pet first aid kit at home so you can deal with situations that require first aid for your dog.

With this handy list of five things you need to know about your pet’s first aid, you can keep your canine friend safe.


by Maria A Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™

Facts About Animal Homelessness:

  1. Only 1 out of every 10 dogs born will find a permanent home.
  2. The main reasons animals are in shelters: owners give them up, or animal control finds them on the street.
  3. Each year, approximately 2.7 million dogs and cats are killed every year because shelters are too full and there aren’t enough adoptive homes. Act as a publicist for your local shelter so pets can find homes. Sign up for Shelter Pet PR.
  4. Approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats.
  5. According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2% of cats and only 15 to 20% of dogs are returned to their owners.
  6. 25% of dogs that enter local shelters are purebred.
  7. About twice as many animals enter shelters as strays compared to the number that are relinquished by their owners.
  8. It’s impossible to determine how many stray dogs and cats live in the United States. Estimates for cats alone range up to 70 million.
  9. Only 10% of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. Overpopulation, due to owners letting their pets accidentally or intentionally reproduce, sees millions of these “excess” animals killed annually.
  10. Many strays are lost pets that were not kept properly indoors or provided with identification.
  11. According to The Humane Society, there are about 3,500 brick-and-mortar animal shelters in the US and 10,000 rescue groups and animal sanctuaries in North America.

Here are a some adoptions for consideration:  puccicafe.com/adoptions