Friday, January 19, 2018

Canine First Aid By Passionate Pet Vet

By Roger Morgan


Pet owners should expect their pets to face emergency situations once in a while. The situations regarded as emergencies include involvement in accidents, swallowing poisonous substances or even suffering from heat stroke, among others. Basic knowledge of canine first aid will save your friend from escalating danger and even preserve his or her life. Here are basic procedures and tips by experienced vets on how to handle such situations.

Observe the behavior of your pet and collect all the information possible. Since you need to act fast, the vet will need you to update him on what you observe. Note any signs of weakness, depression, breeding or difficult with breathing, among other symptoms. The vet expects you to provide him with this information on phone when you finally make the call. Note if your dog is exhibiting signs of pain and where the pain is emanating from.

First ensure that you are safe and other people around are also safe. Animals in distress tend to be aggressive and will bite anyone who tries to touch them. Maintain your calm and assess the situation. If you panic, the animal will pick up the same reaction and may turn violent and be impossible to control.

Contact your vet first before taking any action. You should always have the phone number of your vet at hand. Make a call and be ready to provide as much information as possible based on your observation. While the vet might not always be available, staff at the clinic may suggest intervention measures that will calm down the situation. Have a pen at hand and a writing pad in case you are asked to write down some instructions.

Check whether there is a risk of biting. This always depends on the nature of emergency. You should muzzle the dog and fasten the straps at the back of the ears. Avoid this action if your dog is displaying signs of difficulty with breathing. Small sized dogs can be restrained using a thick towel. It works as effectively as a muzzle and will restrain your pet until the vet arrives.

Human medicine should not be administered to dogs. Even medicine whose use is unknown should not be administered. Only a trained vet has the permission to administer medicine. Any other person or medicine must be avoided. Further more, medicine for bee sting is different from when an animal is injured in an accident. You should only administer medicine when directed by a qualified vet.

Avoid moving your dog too much until the veterinary doctor arrives. This may escalate the danger. For instance, if there are broken bones, the fracture is likely to worsen. This will make it even more difficult to handle. Cold treatment also works in canines like it does on human beings. Get to the vet as quickly as possible to prevent the situation from escalating.

A first aid kit for the dog is required around the house at all times. Include such substances as bandages, a thick towel, scissors, Elizabethan collar, sterile absorbent gauze and surgical tapes among other first aid items. After providing emergency care, you must rush to the clinic in the shortest time possible.




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