| Sure, you may be a master of human First Aid. But do | | | | to the veterinarian for treatment. Treatment usually |
| you know what to do in a dog health emergency? | | | | consists of more cold water, drugs and observation. |
| Approaching Dog Health Emergencies: Two Steps | | | | Emergency 4: Dog Poisoning |
| In any dog health emergency, stay calm and think. | | | | Warning signs: Look for muscular twitching, vomiting, |
| Approach the dog cautiously. The dog may become | | | | bleeding, convulsion or collapse. 1. Have someone call |
| aggressive because of fear or pain. You can't help the | | | | the vet. 2. Follow the vet's advice. Different poisoning |
| dog if you're hurt yourself. | | | | cases sometimes have to be treated differently. 3. If |
| Dog Emergency 1: Traffic Accident: | | | | you cannot reach the vet, try to induce vomiting. Salt |
| If possible, do not to move the dog. Call the nearest | | | | and mustard in water usually will do the trick. 4. If you |
| Humane Society or ASPCA office. If the animal | | | | know what the poison is, take some of it with you to |
| workers can't or won't come and you must move the | | | | the vet's office. |
| dog, slide a blanket under the animal. Lift the animal to | | | | Emergency 5: Dog Choking |
| safety with the help of another person. Check for a | | | | Open the dog's mouth carefully and try to see what is |
| heartbeat and bleeding. Try to stop the excessive loss | | | | causing the problem. It could be anything: a small ball, |
| of blood by holding a clean cloth or pad over the | | | | bone, stick, meat wrapping. Pump the chest by |
| wound and securing it tightly with a makeshift bandage. | | | | pressing down on the ribs and releasing immediately at |
| Take the dog to the nearest vet, calling ahead to | | | | 5-second intervals. If this doesn't dislodge the object |
| prepare them for the emergency. | | | | within a few moments, rush the dog to the nearest |
| Dog Healthcare Emergency 2: Burns: | | | | animal hospital to have the foreign object removed |
| 1. Immerse the burned body part in cold running water | | | | under anesthetic. |
| for as long as possible. 2. If the burn is from a caustic | | | | Dog Emergency 6: Drowning |
| substance, wash it off. 3. Call the vet. | | | | Remove the dog from the water. Try to get the |
| Canine Health Emergency 3: Heat stroke | | | | water out of the dog's lungs as soon as possible by |
| Warning signs: The dog is overheated and without | | | | pumping the chest as for choking (see above). Take |
| sufficient air. The dog might be panting, vomiting, | | | | the dog to the vet to be checked out. Hopefully, you |
| frothing at the mouth, or already collapsed. 1. Remove | | | | will never have to handle any of these emergencies. |
| the froth, 2. Place or douse the dog with cold water to | | | | But if you do, you have the dog health advice that you |
| lower body temperature. 3. Take the dog immediately | | | | need. |