puppy&dog safety

Recognizing an emergency and knowing what to do can save your dog’s life.
Dr. Jennifer Gyles, a veterinarian specializing in emergency care, offers practical advice every dog owner should read.

Dog emergencies

Breathing difficulties
Characterized by laboured breathing, coughing or gagging. The animal may be restless and anxious. Major causes are foreign bodies (e.g. bone, rawhide, small toy) that obstruct the upper airway, paralysis of the larynx and tracheal collapse.

Diarrhea and vomiting
Signs of gastrointestinal emergencies include diarrhea that is watery, malodorous, black and tarry or soft with blood, alone or in combination with vomiting, weakness, failure to eat, and lethargy. Affected animals may become dehydrated and should be examined by a veterinarian.

Urogenital emergencies
Straining to urinate, urinating small amounts frequently, painful urination, passing blood in the urine (except in intact female dogs in heat), or pus from the vagina all require immediate veterinary consultation.

Neurological emergencies
Changes in pupil size (especially if dilated and poorly responsive to light), changes in consciousness or responsiveness, tremors, facial twitching, sleepiness, paralysis or seizures may signal a neurological emergency due to head or spinal cord injuries or other causes. Do not attempt to put your hand in your pet’s mouth during a seizure as you may get bitten.

Musculoskeletal emergencies
May be seen as lameness, pain in the joints, difficulty rising or going up and down stairs, inability to bear weight on a limb or only partially weight-bearing on a limb.

Allergic reactions to an insect bite or sting
Seen as facial swelling, usually around the eyes and muzzle. There may be small raised bumps on the skin (more difficult to detect in animals with longer coats) and severe itchiness. Antihistamine and corticosteroid should be administered by a veterinarian.

Other emergencies
Foreign bodies in the ear or eye, fractures, hemorrhage, collapse due to an accident or illness and fever (normal body temperature is 38.0 – 39C) all require urgent evaluation by a veterinarian.

What to do
Stay calm: Resist the urge to panic; stay calm and in command of the situation. If your pet has been hit by a car and is bleeding, having difficulty breathing or is crying in pain, be cool, think rationally, and act quickly. If available, designate another person to call your veterinarian or local veterinary emergency clinic for advice. If possible, have someone drive you to the clinic/hospital while you stay with your pet and continue to talk to it in a calm, reassuring manner.

Understanding pain in your pet
Acute pain can be manifested as increased respiratory rate, vocalization, unwillingness to move and/or aggression. Chronic pain may result in lethargy, a poor appetite or complete loss of appetite, reluctance to go for walks or to play. Animals with back or abdominal pain may adopt a hunched-back appearance or a praying position. Animals with neck pain may tremble, be reluctant to bend over to eat or drink, or will turn their entire body rather than the neck. Some animals in pain may become unusually quiet and less interactive.

Restraint & Transportation
An injured puppy or adult dog is usually in pain, or in shock and frightened. Use slow, deliberate movements and speak in a calm, soothing manner. A small dog may be moved in a carrier, basket or box. An injured medium-sized animal should be moved by lifting into the handler’s body with an arm around the front of the forelimbs and another arm around the hind limbs. A larger dog may be lifted by two persons onto a blanket placed beside the dog. Then the dog is gently slid onto the blanket and the corners of the blanket lifted by 2 to 4 persons. It may be necessary to apply a muzzle, by using a leash, a bandana, or scarf. If you are unsure about head injuries or trauma, support the head and neck and keep the head slightly elevated. If you are unsure about spinal cord injury or back fractures, place your dog on a flat board or makeshift stretcher. Fractures can be stabilized by wrapping a towel around the limb.

Stop the bleeding, deal with shock
Excessive blood loss is a life-threatening emergency. Control bleeding by pressure with a finger or bandage. A scarf, bandana or handkerchief is used as a tourniquet to slow the bleeding only in extreme circumstances with arterial bleeding (bright red blood that spurts) and should not be left on for longer than 30 minutes.

Shock may develop following excessive blood loss, vomiting and diarrhea, heart failure, or other diseases. The animal becomes very weak, lies on its side, and is unresponsive. Immediate treatment by a veterinarian is urgently needed.

Artificial respiration (CPR) for dogs
Respiratory arrest can be caused by severe anemia, obstruction of the air passages, trauma to the thorax, drowning, poisonings, spinal cord injury or electrocution. Lack of chest wall movements and pale gums will be evident. Perform artificial respiration by first clearing the airway of saliva, blood, vomit or the animal’s tongue. Then with the head and neck extended, make your hand in a semi-closed cuff over your pet’s mouth and exhale deeply into it. A paper roll, roll of tape, or other soft-circular object can be used as a tube in the dog’s mouth to allow you to direct your breaths down its airways.

Respiratory arrest inevitably leads to cardiac arrest, requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Place the animal with its right side down. Start chest compressions by placing the palm of one hand directly over the ribs (between the 3rd and 6th ribs on the left side) on the lower 1/3rd of the chest and apply compressions with a downward force with the second hand placed at right angles to the first. Depress the chest by at least 30% of its circumference. Do chest compressions for about 15 seconds at a time; stop and check for a pulse on the inside of the thigh. Continue compressions until the pulse returns and seek veterinary assistance while doing this. Chest compressions should be done 80-120 times per minute. Breaths should be given every 5-10 compressions.

Poisons
Poisons can be eaten or absorbed through the skin and may lead to signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, abdominal pain, hyper excitability, convulsions, weakness or an unsteady gait. Toxic products ingested by animals include dark chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins, strong acids and alkalis, antifreeze, rodenticides, slug/snail bait, Tylenol, tricyclic antidepressants, mushrooms, lead, zinc and iron. Call your veterinarian immediately and save any vomit, urine or feces for examination.

Heatstroke
This can occur with walking or exercise on a very hot, humid day, or if a pet is left outdoors in a confined space with poor ventilation. Wrap the heat-stressed pet in cool but not ice-cold wet towels and place the pet in front of a fan or in an air-conditioned vehicle and transport it to a veterinary clinic immediately.

Hypothermia
Hypothermia occurs when an animal has been outdoors in subzero temperatures for a prolonged period of time. A body temperature of less than 32C is life-threatening. Rewarm slowly with warm blankets or a circulating hot water pad. Never place a hot water bottle or heater in direct contact with an animal or its skin. Transport to your veterinarian for immediate resuscitation.
 
First Aid kit , What you should have on hand
Thermometer – digital is best
Scissors
Tweezers
Penlight
Magnifying glass (hand-held)
Tongue depressors – act as splints, clear an animal’s airway, look for a foreign body in the mouth.
Silver nitrate sticks to stop bleeding – e.g. from bleeding nail
Assorted bandages and dressings – bandage cut pad or paw, can be used as a muzzle
Adhesive tape
Towels
Cotton wool, cotton buds
Eye flush solution (sterile saline)– rinse any foreign body from the eyes.
Hydrogen peroxide – antiseptic
Triple antibiotic ointment
Liquid soap - to rinse off any chemicals or pesticides from the animal’s skin