Top 3 First Aid Skills every dog owner needs to know
Emergency Skills Every Dog Owner Should Know
As a veterinarian, I’ve seen countless emergencies with dogs. Here are a few crucial skills that every dog owner should know to help in case of an emergency.
Assess: Is This an Emergency or Not?
The first step is assessing if your dog is in an emergency. A quick way to do this is by lifting your dog’s lips and checking their gum color. Healthy gums should be bright pink. Pale gums, however, could indicate internal bleeding. If your dog is repeatedly vomiting but not bringing anything up and has a large, distended belly, they could be suffering from bloat, which requires immediate treatment.
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What to Do if Your Dog is Poisoned
If your 10-pound dog has eaten something like two tablespoons of dark chocolate, they may be at risk of chocolate toxicity. A great first step is to have hydrogen peroxide on hand to induce vomiting. The dosage is 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of 3% hydrogen peroxide per 10 pounds of body weight. For example, if your dog weighs 20 pounds, you would administer 10 ml or 2 teaspoons. Use a syringe to squirt the peroxide into the corner of your dog’s mouth, then gently close their mouth to help them swallow. If you’re unable to see an emergency veterinarian quickly, inducing vomiting can be a helpful first step.
What to Do if Your Dog is Hit by a Car
If your dog is hit by a car, they may be bleeding or going into shock. First, check their gum color—if their gums are pale, it suggests internal bleeding. If they are bleeding externally, especially from the rear, apply pressure to the wound using gauze or any clean material you have. If the bleeding soaks through the gauze, add more on top without removing the original layer. You may need to apply a compression bandage, especially if the bleeding is severe. In cases where an artery might be injured, firmly wrap the area above the wound and get your dog to the nearest emergency vet as soon as possible.
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I just had a question for Dr.Jones about my dog Daisy. She has been on phenobarbital since December of 2021 for what we think are focal seizures. She is also on gabapentin and galiprant. She has been on gabapentin for a very long time and she switched to galiprant from carphrohen once she started the phenobarbital. I just got her CVC blood work panel done and her ALP is 869 and it was 53 back in December of 2021 right before she started the phenobarbital. Some other numbers that were bolded in her chart were chloride being 107, creatine kinase being 366 on a scale of 10-200, her platelets are 542 on a scale of 143-448 and were 266 back in 2021. Her total T4 is 1.1 on a scale of 1-4 and was 1.3 back in 2021. I need guidance on what to do. I want to get her off the phenobarbital because it is toxic to the liver and clearly is showing in the blood work. She was ‘fly biting’ which I searched on YouTube to find and that’s how we came to the diagnosis of focal seizures. I am not sure what I can put her on to control the fly biting that won’t cause toxic effects and won’t interact with what medicine she is already on. I have ordered pet CBD oil. I thought at one point she may even have Cushings but I’m not sure about that anymore. I am running out of money as a full time dental student and I don’t know what to do the vet doesn’t seem to be knowledgeable about the seizure medications. Any information will help greatly. Thank you .
Hi Scout, I’ve asked Dr. Jones for his comments, will post them here once he’s responded.