One of the scariest moments in every dog owner’s life is when you need emergency vet care. Unfortunately, without the flashing lights and sirens it could be some time until your pet gets that urgent treatment.
First aid is all about preserving life and promoting recovery until vet help is available.
You’ll stand a much better chance of saving your dog if you have completed a pet / canine first aid course. They don’t cost a lot, and many are available!
Start by using START!
S: STOP and stay calm! Dogs are very good at picking up on emotions, and you’ll want them to be as calm as possible. Also, if you panic, you won’t be able to help them.
T: THINK! Don’t jump in without thinking. Make sure you and the dog are safe and ensure that you have surveyed the situation!
A: ASSESS the scene! What’s happening? Is the dog bleeding? Choking? Having a seizure? Heatstroke? Are there any humans around who can help?
R: REMOVE the dangers, such as children, traffic, or other dogs. These ‘dangers’ could be a safety issue for you, for the injured dog, or for other people or animals.
T: TELEPHONE for help! Have someone call the nearest vet, and potentially 999 depending on the situation.
Then, check for a RESPONSE.
Pat the dog, talk to them loudly, squeeze a foot - look for any signs that they are responsive.
Finally, use ABC.
A is for AIRWAYS.
Pull the head and neck upwards to elongate the airway, pull the tongue out and to the side and check to see if anything is obstructing the airway. Keep the tongue out and between the teeth as you close the mouth.
B is for BREATHING.
Hold your hand around the muzzle (in case he comes round and bites, which is common in scared dogs). Place your cheek near the dog’s mouth to see if you can feel his breath.
C is for CIRCULATION.
Check for a pulse by placing three fingers on the inside of the dog’s back leg in the groin area. Have your thumb over the outside of the dog’s leg and your fingers should be roughly in the right place, depending on the size of the dog. (Practise on your dog now!)
You can also check by placing your hand on their heart, which will be easy to feel if you pull back their front leg, and place your hand where their elbow meets their body.
CPR
CPR should only be performed on dogs who are not breathing and have no heartbeat.
Lay the dog on his right side on a flat surface.
Provide 5 rescue breaths
Then alternate between 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths.
Continue until either the dog comes round or a vet turns up.
CPR is tiring, so if another first aider is available, take turns.
RESCUE BREATHS:
Hold the dog’s muzzle closed with tongue sticking out the side. Close your mouth over the dog’s nose (for bigger dogs) or dog’s whole muzzle (for smaller dogs). Wait one second for the chest to fall before continuing chest compressions.
CHEST COMPRESSIONS:
For bigger dogs, compress the chest with two hands, one over the other, at a depth of roughly an inch and a half.
For medium dogs, compress the chest with one hand at a depth of an inch.
For small dogs, use two fingers and compress the chest at the depth of half an inch.
What if the dog is conscious?
Heatstroke
Signs:
Drooling
Racing heart
lethargy
Lack of coordination
Panting
How to help:
Take the dog somewhere cool.
Give cool water
Soak a towel in cool water and drape it over them.
If a cool mat is available, lay them on this.
Do NOT give ice.
Call a vet immediately.
Poison
Signs of poison (such as chocolate, grapes, household cleaners, mould, etc.):
vomiting
Diarrhoea
convulsions
Abnormal heart rate
How to help:
Call a vet immediately
give water only
Work out what the dog could have eaten, how much was eaten, and save packaging to show vet in case they need to see ingredients.
Choking
Signs:
difficult breathing
Pawing at the mouth
Blue lips and / or tongue
Choking sounds
How to help:
Open mouth to see if you can physically remove anything. Be careful in case the dog bites or you push it further down.
Seizures
Signs of a seizure:
shaking or trembling
Toileting
Foaming at the mouth
Signs of stress and worry or panic
How to help:
Call a vet
If there’s a spare person, have them video the seizure for the vet to view.
Move furniture that they are too close to and use a blanket to protect their head.
Do NOT try to restrain them.
Darken the room and keep it quiet.
Talk to them in a soothing voice.
When the seizure stops, try to keep your dog still and quiet, but again, do not restrain.
Bleeding:
Press the wound with something clean, ideally a bandage but a clean T-shirt or tea towel will do. Hold the pressure on the wound, removing every 2-3 minutes to check.
Transport your dog to the vet as soon as possible. Wrap the wound if it's a long journey.
Broken bones:
Keep your pet to a confined area such as a crate, and limit their movement as much as possible to prevent any further damage.
Call a vet, or transport your dog to a vet using a flat, strong surface (parcel shelves work well in an emergency!)
What can you do now to help your dog in the future?
Get booked on to a Pet / Canine First Aid Course!
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