May 9, 2010

First Aid for Your Dogs



If your dog is seriously injured at home or traveling with you, you need to know how to administer first aid until a vet. A first aid kit tailored to the needs of your dog can truly be a lifesaver. If you have your dog frequent trips away from home, it would be prudent to keep a team in their first second-hand cars.

A first aid kit for a dog contains many of the same elements as if it were a human being. A roll of cotton and cotton balls, gauze and adhesive tape, a pair of small scissors, tweezers, instant ice pack, hydrogen peroxide, a bulb syringe to suction the mucous membranes of the mouth or nose drops sterile solution specially designed for pets, a clean, white cotton socks (to cover wounded paws), small syringe flashlight, rectal thermometer injection without the needle (to give liquid medication) and unflavored electrolyte liquid (like Pedialyte).

Store in a sturdy plastic container with a lid secure. Enter your name and telephone number of veterinarian on the cover, and the nearest pet emergency. If you travel often and leave your dog with another person, make multiple copies of a signed authorization form in the first aid kit, allowing the caregiver to approve the necessary treatment.

Dog owners often have to care for pets that have been stung by a bee. If your dog is sniffing crushed, stop and remove the stinger with tweezers or by scraping (moving parallel to the surface of the skin). Swimming dive site with a mixture of water and baking soda to relieve some pain. The inflammation can be reduced by applying ice packs or taking a dose of Benadryl and ask your vet for correct dosage.

If your dog is injured, your approach slowly and carefully. Do not assume that not snap or bite you - Wounded animals often react negatively at first to any attempt to contact. Speak softly and slowly to see that their evil intentions.

If your dog is bleeding profusely, it is important to slow or stop the flow as soon as possible. Use a clean cloth to apply pressure directly on the wound. Change towels / cloths as needed, but keep the pressure up to a veterinarian. If necessary, you can apply thick gauze and use a tape to protect them during transport your cat. It 'best to keep the pressure on the wound and bring someone else.

If your dog seems to be choking, use a flashlight to check his throat. If you see and easily remove the object, it does. If you do not see, but the certainty that your dog is choking, you may need to perform a modified Heimlich maneuver. It 'important to have proper training for it, because it can cause serious injury if done incorrectly. Many human societies and welfare organizations offer courses in animal first aid for pets, including the Heimlich maneuver, CPR and techniques for dealing with serious injuries and poisonings.

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