A late night trip to the emergency room of the local animal hospital
will put a serious dent in your credit card but was it really an
emergency? Knowing canine first-aid and what qualifies as a real emergency
could save you a lot of time and money. Qualified emergency symptoms
include high temperature, seizures/collapse and labored breathing. You can
start first aid immediately by following the procedures for: bleeding,
breathing, shock, heat-stroke, and even burns. By staying calm, assessing
the situation and starting first-aid, you can determine whether the dog
requires emergency veterinary care or whether first aid will be
adequate until morning.
When a dog is sick or injured, it has limited ways to communicate the
pain and suffering to you. Therefore, it's important to know your pet
thoroughly and look for signs that indicate a problem and to recognize
what constitutes an emergency trip to the vet.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURE
If you have already determined the dog is in peril and requires
emergency care follow these steps immediately:
Start first aid (see procedures below)
Prepare for transport - have someone help you carry the dog on a
board (preferred) or blanket into a vehicle.
Continue first aid during transport
Upon arrival, go in alone at first and find out how to proceed as
other injured animals may be there which could cause chaos.
If no one is available to help with transportation you must continue
first aid and CALL the vet for instructions.
If no phone is available you must continue first aid and transport the
dog.
THE SIGNS OF A HEALTHY DOG
Eyes: bright and clear with no sign of discharge
Ears: clean and clear of buildup or smell
Mouth: not overpowering with odor and pink gums
Nose: moist with no discharge
Coat: shiny with no blemishes and skin that snaps back from the
shoulders
Temperature: Normal for a dog is between 100 and 102.5 Fahrenheit
General: no lameness, no heavy panting, no swelling, a healthy appetite
and normal thirst
Any changes in the normal signs are a reason for concern but not
necessarily an emergency. It is strongly recommended that pet owners know
first aid and practice the procedures. When in doubt, always call a vet
for instructions.
INDICATIONS OF AN EMERGENCY THAT REQUIRE A VET IMMEDIATELY:
Temperature reading less than 99 or higher than 103 Fahrenheit
Seizure
Collapse or fainting
Suspected poisoning
Snake bite
Spider bite
Diarrhea or vomiting IF more than 2 or 3 times in one hour or so