While many of us may be sure of our skills in giving first aid to people, we might not be so confident in how to handle an emergency situation with our pet. What can you do to help your dog if it gets hurt or sick? (Make sure to keep in mind though that you should always take it to the vet to get treatment if you suspect something is wrong.) But what should you do to help your animal while you are trying to get it to the vet or if there’s no possible way to get it there in time without having to take some sort of action to try to save its life yourself?
It can be a scary feeling when your pet is sick and you have no idea what to do to make them feel better. Compiled below is a short list of possible ways you can help your dog when it becomes sick and needs you the most…
1) The first thing you should always do is to remember not to panic. Dogs can sense your fear, and if you approach them with a loud voice or start to cry uncontrollably, you will only scare them more. Take a deep breath, remain calm and speak to them in a calm and assuring voice. Try to be gentle and soothing.
2) If you have to pick up your dog to get it to the vet you should make sure that you lift them in the most secure and gentle way possible. The How Stuff Works website has an article that gives specific detail on how to lift your dog…
a. “If the dog is small, grasp its collar with one hand, and place your other arm over its back and around its body. At the same time, pull forward on the collar and lift the dog’s body, cradling it against your body.”
b. “If the dog is large, slip one arm under its neck, holding its throat in the crook of your arm. Be sure the dog can breathe easily. Place your other arm under the dog’s stomach. Lift with both arms.”
c. “If the dog is very large, slip one arm under its neck, holding its chest in the crook of your arm. Be sure the dog can breathe easily. Place your other arm under the dog’s rump and, pressing your arms toward one another, lift the dog.”
3) The great thing about knowing first aid and CPR in general is that for the most part you can use them almost the exact same way on a dog as you would a person. Small things will be different however, such as dog’s tongues being longer and bigger so it’s an absolute necessity to keep making sure that the tongue is out of the way so that rescue breathing can take full effect and the breaths will enter the airway. So don’t panic if something happens and you think that you don’t know the skills necessary to save your dog’s life. You know more than you think you do. You just have to trust your instincts and the knowledge that you have. If you don’t know general first-aid and CPR, then now is as good a time as any to study up!
4) Have basic knowledge of what’s normal or abnormal for a dog to do. It’s quite common for a dog to throw up if it ate something bad or if it drank water too fast, but keep in mind that if your dog continues to throw up or if they have constant diarrhea then something is definitely wrong and you should take them to the vet. Other things to watch for are loss of appetite, lethargy, dehydration, loose bowels, coughing, sneezing, hair loss, constant scratching, prolonged skin redness, or blood in urine or stool.
5) Never be afraid to call your vet for advice when you are concerned or have a question about your pet. Veterinarians are more than willing to help you and answer your questions. They want you to be able to take the best possible care of your animal and do the very best you can to give them a happy and healthy life.
http://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/how-to-give-first-aid-to-your-dog.htm
http://www.ehow.com/how_5639044_sick-dog.html