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Dog First Aid – Shock

By Brian on Wednesday, July 27th, 2011 | No Comments

<p>Many dogs die not from the injury sustained but from shock. Shock in humans refers to a state of astonishment or surprise but shock in dogs connotes a different thing. Shock in dogs is a life threatening medical condition that results from insufficient blood circulation. With normal and sufficient blood flow, the pumping of the heart is not disrupted because the blood pressure is maintained and the blood vessels are kept open. Inadequate blood supply will hamper the normal functioning of the body’s vital organs. Shock is a life threatening condition thus a dog owner has to administer first aid treatment to save the life of the pet.

Shock can be the result of severe bleeding, heat stroke, poisoning or dehydration that occurs because of prolonged diarrhea and vomiting. The trauma sustained after being hit by a car or severe infection make the dog go into a state of shock.

The body temperature of a dog that is in a state of shock will drop down drastically so that the cold animal will shiver uncontrollably. A dog that has gone into shock will have pale of bluish mucus membranes. Other signs of shock are rapid breathing, weak but rapid pulse and dilated pupils. These conditions will weaken a dog so that it can lose consciousness. Shock is a fatal condition because it deprives the brain of oxygen.

First aid treatment for shock is very necessary. As mentioned, shock is a life threatening condition as many dogs have died because no urgent treatment that will stabilize the pet’s condition was administered. A dog owner has to be ready to deal with any unexpected injuries sustained by the pet. A dog that is in shock has to be rushed to a medical facility as oftentimes intravenous fluids have to be administered. First aid treatments would still be important to stabilize the condition of the dog.

Cover the dog with a blanket to conserve body heat. The dog must be positioned in such a way that the head is lower than the body. Administer artificial respiration if the pet is not breathing. Heart massage is another first aid method but this can only be applied is the pet has no heartbeat and started only when the owner has made sure that the airway is not blocked. Dogs form strong ties with their owners and taking softly can calm the pet.

Sarah’s Dogs provides more information on dog first aid as well as shock treatment.

Symptoms and treatments for shock in dogs

By Brian on Tuesday, July 26th, 2011 | No Comments

<p>Shock is a killer of dogs. The word shock in humans denoted surprise or astonishment but in dogs this word indicates a different meaning. Shock in dogs is a life threatening medical condition that results from insufficient blood circulation. If the blood supply is sufficient, the blood vessels will be kept open so that the pumping of the heart is continued and the blood pressure is maintained. Because blood flow is inadequate for the body’s needs, it would be very difficult for the body to supply all the vital organs with life-sustaining oxygen. A dog that is in shock has to have urgent medical treatment as this condition can result to the death of the dog.

Shock can be the result of severe bleeding, heat stroke, poisoning or dehydration that occurs because of prolonged diarrhea and vomiting. Severe infection and the trauma suffered by a dog hit by a speeding car can make a dog go into shock.

The body temperature of a dog that is in a state of shock will drop down drastically so that the cold animal will shiver uncontrollably. The dog will have pale or bluish gums and lips and eyelids. Other signs of shock are rapid breathing, weak but rapid pulse and dilated pupils. These conditions will weaken a dog so that it can lose consciousness. Shock is a fatal condition because it deprives the brain of oxygen.

It is imperative for dogs in medical shock to receive urgent treatment. An injured dog can die not from the injury itself but from shock that was not given urgent treatment. The decision to get a dog for a pet is a big responsibility as the dog owner has to ensure that the well being of the pet is maintained and this includes treatment for any injuries that can happen to the pet. Intravenous fluids are often required in the management of a dog that is in shock thus the pet must be rushed to a veterinary facility at once. However, to stabilize the pet’s condition, first aid treatments must be administered before the pet is taken to the hospital.

Cover the dog with a blanket to conserve body heat. If the dog has lost consciousness, the head must be positioned lower than the body. Artificial respiration can be administered if the pet is not breathing. Heart massage is another first aid method but this can only be applied is the pet has no heartbeat and started only when the owner has made sure that the airway is not blocked. Talk to the pet while it is being transported to the hospital as the voice of the owner can calm the pet.

Sarah’s Dogs provides more information on dog first aid as well as shock treatment.

Dog First Aid – Splinters

By Brian on Thursday, June 16th, 2011 | No Comments

<p>Splinters are foreign bodies that get partially or totally embedded in the skin. Foreign bodies that can penetrate the skin can be wood, glass or metal. Most splinters are found on the hands and on the foot. Handling a thorny plant can result to a splinter. Splinters are foreign skin invaders that would cause a pricking pain every time the affected skin is touched or moved.

A splinter with a protruding tip will be easily seen but splinters that are deeply embedded on the skin may not be seen but it can be felt. The pain caused by the splinter will be a reminder that a foreign body is inside the skin. Unless the splinter is quite large, the foreign body would not result to heavy bleeding, some splinters would not bleed at all. A small splinter will not bleed and will not really cause pain thus it will only be noticed when it gets infected.

Splinters are injuries of humans that can happen to dogs too. Active and explorative are the innate behaviors of dogs. Dogs are noted for their loves of bones too. Dogs are often inured because of these behaviors. While the dog is roaming, foreign bodies can get lodged in the paws. The dog’s proclivity to gnaw bones can result to bone splinters in the mouth.

One of the reasons why a dog limps is a splinter on the foot. Splinters on the mouth will make the dog incessantly paw the mouth in an effort to remove the foreign body. A splinter on the foot will bother the dog every time it moves thus the dog will lick and bite the affected area. The skin that is constantly licked and bitten by the dog can get infected. Removing the splinters of the dog would not be a hard task. This chore would not be hard especially for a dog owner that is competent in administering first aid.

The task of removing the splinter would be much easier if it is not totally embedded into the skin as the protruding end can be easily pulled out. Removing the splinter though must be done carefully so as not to break or to push the foreign body deep into the skin. To be able to see the splinter clearly, it would be best to trim the fur around the affected area. Dab the skin around the splinter with antiseptic cleaner. Use sterile tweezers to pull the tip of the splinter that is sticking out.

Fully embedded splinter can be quite difficult to remove. A needle can be used to pry the tip of the splinter from the skin and once it is sticking out, it can be pulled with the tweezers. Dab the area with antiseptic cleaner.

Read more about dog first aid and splinters/a> at Sarah’s Dogs.

Emergency treatment for strangled dog

By Brian on Thursday, June 16th, 2011 | No Comments

<p>Strangulation can kill your dog in 5 minutes! It is not surprising for dog owners to always want to keep the pet safe. However there are times when the preventive measures taken by the dog owner would result to the death of the pet. A dog owner will never dream that the dog left leashed inside the car for a moment would jump out of the window and hang itself. To keep the pet safe from running vehicles, the owner would tie the pet near a fence but the pet interested with the sounds on the other side would jump over the fence and get strangled. A puppy playing with the cords of the venetian blinds can get entangled and get strangled trying to get loose.

Strangulation can be nightmare for any dog owner. A few minutes is all it takes to kill a frisky and perfectly healthy dog. Strangulation will cause the airway to close thus the dog would panic. As the dog is prevented from breathing, no air will enter the lungs and the brain will be deprived of oxygen as the carotid arteries are blocked. Coughing, blue colored gums and tongue and unconsciousness are the clinical signs of strangulation. Death follows in seconds as the brain is starved for oxygen.

Strangulation may not result to death if the dog is seen in time and first aid is administered at once. The owner has to act at once to remove the pressure on the neck. Don’t waste time in trying to untangle the pet. Don’t take time to unbuckle the collar or to untangle the leash. Cut the noose to remove the constriction on the neck. After the constriction on the neck is removed, extend the neck to open the airway. It may be necessary to pull the tip of the tongue forward.

Artificial respiration will be needed if the pet is not breathing on its own. Close the mouth of the dog firmly and with the mouth over the dog’s nose blow two quick breaths. The chest should rise as the lungs expand. Fifteen to twenty breaths per minute must be given to the dog.

If the dog has stopped breathing, it is possible that the heart has stopped beating as well. Feel for the heartbeat by placing the palm on the left side of the dog’s chest. CPR must be administered if there is no heartbeat. Five heart compressions must be alternated with one breath. The 15 to 20 breaths and 80 to 100 compressions per minute must be continued until the dog is breathing on its own.

More information on dog first aid and strangulation can be found at Sarah’s Dogs.

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