What
To Do During Emergencies
No
dog owners like to think about the things that can go wrong.
And many dog owners may never have to face an urgent situation.
But in the event of an emergency, you can reduce your dog’s
discomfort, and even save his life, if you know what to
do. This article is not intended to scare you: having an
emergency plan in place is part of responsible dog ownership.
Read on to find out what you should know.
After Hours
Care:
First and foremost, make sure you
have a telephone number available in case of an after-hours
veterinary emergency. Ask your vet. Your vet may not have
after hours care available, so it is important that you
know the location of the nearest emergency clinic,
how to get there, and the telephone number. Don’t
wait until you need this information.
If your dog needs care, call the emergency clinic as soon
as you can and describe what has happened. There may be
some first aid
that can help your dog while you travel to the clinic.
List
Of Emergencies & What You Could Do
Lost
Dog:
Even the most careful dog owner may lose their dog. Because
of this, it’s very important that your dog always
wears his identification tags, and they are firmly attached
to his collar. You may also want to consider a tattoo or
microchip identification. It’s also good idea to have
a "lost dog" kit ready. The kit should include
photocopies of a recent picture of your dog, a description
of your dog, and your current contact information.
If your dog goes missing, post the photocopies in neighborhood
stores, post offices and other busy locations. Contact animal
shelters and file a lost pet report. Follow up with them
daily, as they may be too busy to call you if your dog is
brought in. If you think
your dog was stolen, contact the police.
Car
Accident:
If your dog is hit
by a car, the first thing you should do is get your dog,
and yourself, out of the way of oncoming traffic. Cover
your dog with a blanket or coat to prevent him from going
into shock and keep him quiet, still, and as comfortable
as you can. Call your vet, or an emergency clinic, as soon
as possible, and stay calm.
Poisoning:
Keeping toxic substances
well away from your dog is the best way to prevent him from
swallowing something that may be harmful to him. Unfortunately,
toxic plants are also some of the most commonplace plants,
especially at Christmas time. Plants such as holly, mistletoe,
evergreens, poinsettias, ivy, and carnations are poisonous
to your dog. You may be able to get a complete list of toxic
plants from your vet or a local plant store. If your dog
ingests a toxic plant, or any poisonous substance, call
your vet or a poison control center immediately for advice.
Some of the symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea,
drooling, and difficulty breathing. If you have to take
him to the vet, bring a sample of the toxic plant or substance
he has ingested, if known. It can help the vet treat your
dog more quickly and effectively.
Transporting
Your Dog To ER
It is usually preferable
to take your dog to the vet hospital rather than for your
veterinarian to come out. This is because there is specialized
equipment and trained personnel in the practice. Do not
give your dog anything to eat or drink, just in case he
requires a general anasthetic. Gently slide your dog onto
an old blanket or coat on the ground, dragging with the
body first.
Two people can pick up the corners
of the blanket to form a soft stretcher to transfer the
dog to the back seat of the car. The person walking backwards
should go right through the car so the dog can be lowered
gently onto the seat. Someone should stay in the back with
the dog on the way to the clinic. If the dog is trying to
bite, a necktie or bandage can be temporarily tied around
his muzzle. Do not leave it on for any prolonged period
as this may compromise his breathing. If the dog is panting,
do not tie his muzzle closed.
Finally, notify the veterinary practice
that you are on your way so that they can prepare for your
arrival.
If you have to bring your dog
in to the emergency clinic, do it very carefully. Do not
give him anything to eat or drink, just in case he requires
a general anaesthetic. Gently slide your dog onto an old
blanket or coat on the ground. If possible, get two people
to lift up the corners of the blanket to form a soft stretcher
to transfer your dog to the back seat of the car. The person
walking backwards should go right through the car so your
dog can be lowered gently on to the seat. Have someone stay
in the back with him on the way to the clinic.
If your dog is trying to bite, tie a necktie or bandage
temporarily around his muzzle. However, do not leave it
on for a long time or it may impair his breathing. If your
dog is panting, do not tie his muzzle closed.
Your dog may never require emergency care. But if he does,
it’s important to know what to do. Stay calm, do as
much for your dog as possible, and get professional help
if necessary. Remember, with preparation and knowledge,
you can help ensure that your
dog recovers from almost any mishap.
Dog
Records
Just as you keep a
file of important records for yourself and your children,
it's equally important to keep up-to-date records on your
dog. These records would include things like veterinary
and licensing records, adoption or breeding papers and photographs.
Not only is this information critical if your dog goes missing,
it's also mandatory information for boarding kennels, pet
sitters and new veterinarians. And if you ever relocate
to another country or simply take your dog with you on a
trip outside of the U.S., you'll need these papers to prove
that your dog is in good health.
To help you organize
your dog's records, we've compiled this list detailing what
information you need to ensure they're a comprehensive and
up-to-date as possible:
·
Adoption and breeding papers: Dogs who come from
animal shelters will come with papers that list vaccinations,
sterilization and any other known information. A purebred
dog's breeding contract will list the sire and dam, plus
inoculation and medical records. If you got your dog from
a pet store, it's important to keep the bill of sale and
any accompanying papers. If your dog becomes ill after you
bring her home, you may have legal recourse under state
or local consumer protection laws that require the pet store
to pay for necessary medical care.
·
Recent photographs: Keeping up-to-date photos of
your dog is crucial should your dog ever go missing. Be
sure to take pictures from different angles, and capture
any distinguishing marks or physical characteristics. It
can also be helpful to include a picture of you and your
dog together, to serve as proof of ownership.
·
Veterinary information: Include your vet's name,
an emergency phone number and a history of your dog's vaccinations
and check-ups. You should also include a list of any medications
your dog is currently taking, along with the reason it's
being taken. Better yet, keep the labels from the medicine
container in the file. If your dog has any known allergies,
include this information as well.
·
License: If your dog gets lost, this record will
be matched against the number on your dog's license.
·
Insurance policy: If you have medical insurance
for your dog, keep all the information together so you can
access it should you need to provide the information to
your vet. You should also keep copies of past claims in
case there's ever any discrepancy between your records and
the records of the pet insurance company.
Whether you choose
to go file in your own manner, the most important thing
is that you have them within easy reach.
First
Aid For Daxies
In case your dog gets
sick or gets in an accident, it helps to know what to do.
Here is some good advice on dealing with such problems
as poisoning, cut paws, and diarrhea.
The following information will help
you when it comes to giving first aid to your dog in an
emergency. Print this out and keep it accessible, for example,
next to your veterinarian's telephone number. This page
is only a guide - always call your veterinarian for advice.
Road Accident:
You may actually see the incident,
or your dog may return injured. Ensure that your dog is
removed from further possible injury, i.e. off the road.
Keep your dog as quiet, still and as comfortable as you
can. Restrain him if necessary to prevent further injury.
Put pressure on any obviously bleeding points with a clean
bandage or cloth. Call your veterinarian as soon as possible
to get advice.
Cut
Paw:
Sudden bleeding due to a laceration
from broken glass or other sharp object often happens on
beaches and out on walks. If bleeding is profuse, wrap the
paw in gauze dressing or clean cloth and put a firm ace
bandage with even pressure around the paw. Take the dog
to your veterinarian for appropriate treatment. Never use
an elastic band or other form of tourniquet around the limb,
especially for prolonged periods (over 15 minutes).
Injured Eye:
Look carefully for any obvious foreign body, such as a grass
seed. Perforating foreign bodies must be removed very carefully
under general anasthetic by a vet, as they can easily be
pushed in further. This may be done by flushing the eye
with clean, warm water. Prevent the dog from rubbing the
affected eye with his paws or on furnishings, and take him
to a vet for examination and treatment.
If the eye is severely injured then cover it with a damp
gauze and take the dog to the vet immediately.
Vomitting:
It isn't too worrying if your dog
vomits occasionally, and it is only when it occurs several
times over a short period of time, or the animal appears
generally unwell that you need be concerned. If your dog
is vomiting persistently, take note of both the act of vomiting
and the nature of what he vomits, so that you can describe
it to your veterinarian. Collect some vomitus in a bottle
for the veterinarian to examine. Do not feed your pet, and
call your veterinarian for advice.
Acute
Diarrhea:
This is defined as very loose stools
which may contain blood and/or mucus. Sometimes, it's accompanied
by vomiting. Withhold all food and keep your dog warm. Offer
small volumes of water with some glucose, or weak bouillon.
If the dog is weak, lethargic or depressed, take him to
your veterinarian immediately. If he's otherwise bright,
make a vet appointment at the next available time. Telephone
your veterinarian first and take careful note of any advice
given.
Stings &
Snake Bites:
This is often identified by sudden acute pain often followed
by swelling and sometimes discoloration of the skin. If
a dog has been stung in the throat, breathing may be difficult.
Keep your dog cool and avoid any exercise. If swelling persists
for more than one hour, or if the sting is around the face
or neck, take your dog to the veterinarian.
Keep the tongue forward and the airway
clear if possible. If a limb has been subjected to a snake
bite, a firm pressure bandage should be placed around the
limb. Identify the type of snake if possible, and take your
dog to the veterinarian immediately.
Fits &
Seizures :
When your dog is having sudden, uncontrolled
spasmodic movements, often with champing of the jaws and
usually accompanied by salivation, urination and defecation,
then he's having a fit or a seizure. Your dog may also fall
onto its side. Keep an eye on violent twitching of the muscles
under the skin of the head, neck and limbs.
First thing you should do is to remove
the collar and ensure that the dog is away from any danger
(e.g. fireplaces, stairs, unstable tables). Make sure he
can breathe by holding the head and keeping neck extended
if possible. Do not put your fingers inside the dog's mouth.
Keep the environment darkened and quiet and prevent all
sudden noises like door bells and slamming doors. Most fits
are over quite quickly (although it seems a long time!)
Make a note of the exact signs before,
during and after the seizures and call your veterinarian
as soon as possible.
Sudden
Earache:
Your dog will scratch his ear and
may hold his head to one side. He may rub it along the ground,
shake his head, whine and be reluctant for anyone to touch
his ear. If this is a sudden onset, there may be grass seed,
foxtail, or another foreign object in the ear. Do not put
anything at all in the ear and contact your vet. Ear problems
must be attended to early, before secondary changes
occur, making the condition more difficult to treat.
Known Poisoning:
If you or someone in your family
see your dog swallowing a known poison, call your vet for
advice immediately. Seek his or her advice
quickly and take the rest of the poisonous agent and/or
its packaging to the veterinarian if it is available.
Choking:
Your dog may be gagging, or tearing
frantically at its mouth with its paws. Try to open his
mouth and remove the obstructing object - note that you
stand the chance of being bitten in doing this. Look at
the roof of the mouth, as sometimes sticks or bones get
wedged across the top.
In some cases a general anasthetic
may be required to safely remove an object from the mouth
area. Even after you have removed the object, it's a good
idea to get your dog checked by your veterinarian.
Unplanned Mating / Misalliance:
If your bitch is accidentally bred,
it is not strictly speaking an emergency, but a pregnancy
can often be prevented. Your veterinarian can give an injection
soon after mating which will usually prevent your bitch
from having puppies. It is vital to contact your veterinary
practice within 24 hours, so that they can advise you on
the timing of the injection.
Collapse:
If your dog collapses, get veterinary
advice immediately. Put your dog onto a blanket and keep
his airway free by extending the neck
and holding the tongue out of the way.
Bloat:
If your dog's abdomen appears distended and full of gas,
phone your vet immediately, and arrange for an immediate
appointment.
