Preparing for emergencies with your Dog
November 15, 2006
Have you ever thought about what you would need to do if your dog – or any dog – ever suffered a serious or life-threatening injury? What would you do if they had a severe allergy to an insect bite or a bee sting? It is a good idea to know your vet’s phone number, you may even want to add it to your cell phone’s address book; but what if something happens during off hours? What if you are not sure where the closest emergency animal hospital is located?
Any emergency can be both stressful and scary, and one involving the little four-legged member of your family is no exception. Even the toughest of owners can be instantly reduced to tears if something’s wrong with their pet and they can’t figure out what to do.
1. Preparation is always key.
The key to making it through a veterinary emergency is preparation. You may think that you have it covered with a first aid kit and the phone number to your veterinarian handy, but what if there is not enough time to move your dog? You should be well-versed in some of the more common animal emergencies just in case the situation ever arises.
2. Know how to take care of wounds.
Did you know that you should not use hydrogen peroxide on a bleeding or open wound? It slows the blood from clotting to the area, which means your pet could actually lose more blood than he would if you didn’t use the peroxide at all, and blood loss is a serious issue. The best way to treat a deep, severely bleeding wound is to apply pressure with a clean cloth and hold it in place for five minutes, after five minutes tape the cloth to the wound. That original cloth should never be removed – that also slows clotting – and should instead be layered with clean cloths if blood soaks through.
3. Know what to do if your pet is poisoned.
Did you know that certain varieties of toads, salamanders, newts, and other amphibians are poisonous if licked or eaten? If you notice your dog or cat drooling, whining, and wiping at his mouth after a trip into the woods, get him to a water source and rinse his mouth thoroughly. While poison can be fatal if left in the mouth, it’s fairly easy to clean from the tongue and glands.
We hope this helps make sure you are prepared for any emergencies your pet may encounter!
