We probably know how it feels to take care of a pet. This experience brings us great happiness and many responsibilities as well, which we joyfully take and try to never ignore. All seems well until here, but we have some sad news to share: accidents and emergencies that involve dogs are on the rise! Did you know that every year thousands of dogs around the world have various accidents and suffer from bleeding, choking, difficulty breathing, inability to toilet, injury to eyes and face, broken bones, and heatstroke? We are not sharing those to worry you, but to tell you have some extra work. You need to know what to do in an emergency, because this could save your dog’s life. And hey! you are in the right path. In this blog, Pet Barn provides you with several tactics that help you rescue your dog in case of any possible ill-fated accidents.
Tips and Techniques to Save Your Dogs in Emergencies
As it is mentioned before, dogs, as all other creatures, are very often exposed to accidents. You know well as a dog owner that those fun creatures are playful, curious and usually active. As joyful as that is, it also means that they are likely to have more accidents than other animals. So what do you need to do? As Pet Barn aims to always make life easier for you and your furry friends, it offers you some pieces of advice that you will find handy in case of emergencies.
Pre-preparations that Help in Emergencies
When it comes to emergencies, pre-preparations are key to help your dog survive. Try to have an emergency plan that specifies necessary procedures for handling sudden or unexpected situations that your dog might undergo. The aim is to be prepared to prevent death or severe harm and to reduce damage as well.
One of the most useful preparations is providing your dog with good nutrition including vitamins and supplements for healthy and stabilized growth. Dogs need such vitamins to get a high level of immunity and strength. They need Vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K to face any coming asthenia.
Moreover, having a valid and ready-to-use first aid kit for your dog helps you to provide him with needed support that could save you some visits to the vet.
Ways to Give Your Dog Health Support at Home
You have done all pre-preparations needed but this will not stop accidents from happening. Do not worry! Here are some easy to follow steps that will make the difference between life and death for your dog in case any evils befell this poor four-legged.
- Keep Calm
Safety is important for you and for your dog as well. Keep calm and assess the situation before acting. Injured or wounded dogs are frightened and in pain and may try to bite anyone who touches them. In addition, do not forget that you might need to drive your dog to the vet, and you should never drive while feeling nervous, so try your best to hold your temper.
- Contact the Vet via Phone First
Keep your vet’s phone number close to hand and remember the name of the practice well. There may not always be a vet available, but staff may be able to suggest immediate action you can take. Also, have a pen ready next to the phone in case another number is given.
- Do not Give Your Dog any Food or Medicine
You should never give human medicines to an ill or injured dog or any dogs at all. In fact, do not give your dogs any medicine, human or otherwise before consulting your vet. In case your dog is suffering from any injury, do not offer him food or drinks. An aesthetic might be needed, and it is better to be well prepared for that.
- Train Yourself to Perform Some Vital Steps
What if the worst happened? What if your dog needed some kind of a quick intervention? Some simple procedures will be of great help if the worst scenario occurred. At first, those procedures might seem hard but ask your vet about them and let him tell you where you can learn to perform them well. What those? Here are some:
- Check for your dog’s pulse.
The easiest place to check your dog’s pulse is in the upper third of his thigh. Put your hand over their thigh and gently squeeze your fingers just underneath their leg. You will be able to feel the artery pulsing there.
To calculate the number beats per minute, time the pulse for 15 seconds and then multiply the result by 4 in order
- Use a makeshift muzzle.
As it is stated previously, when a dog is in pain, he might become nervous and bite. A makeshift muzzle will protect you from his bites. Yet, remember that you should never muzzle an animal that is overheated, having difficulty breathing or is likely to vomit.
- Perform CPR
If your dog is chocking, you need to call a vet right away. However, performing a CPR can increase your dog’s chances of survival.
Small Steps Can Make a Great Difference
Hopefully, you will never experience an emergency with your dog. Nevertheless, the possibility is always there. By taking the time to learn how to proceed, you might be able to save a dog’s life someday.
If you feel like those tips can help other dogs’ owners, share it with them. If you have other tips to add, share them with us in the comments. After all, sharing is caring, and one piece of advice can save the life of some poor wounded or injured puppies.
