Saturday, September 1, 2012

Dog first aid - An essential knowledge for every dog owner

By Jerry Welsh


A first time dog owner would be commended by friends for the decision of choosing a dog for a pet. Dogs are wonderful companions but ownership would entail a big responsibility. Apart from being highly energetic and having a voracious appetite, dogs also have an inquisitive nature. As such, these animals are always involved in scrapes and in dangerous situations. Dog owners therefore must always be ready to deal with such situations.

Accidents cannot be totally prevented. Do you know what must be done to a dog that has ingested chocolates or has fallen off the stairs? Do you know how to deal with the injuries sustained by the pet while chasing smaller animals? Dog owners would have to deal with similar situations one time or another. A dog owner has to know how to administer first aid treatment to the pet. Veterinary care would certainly be needed but the dog owner's first aid know how can save the life of the pet.

First aid for dogs is aimed to save the pet from a lot of pain, to prevent the pet's condition for worsening and most importantly to save the life of the pet. Unfortunately, not many dog owners would know how to administer first aid to the pet. Bleeding can be easily noticed. However, not many dog owners can recognize signs that the dog was poisoned or that the dog is in shock.

It is understandable for a pet parent to panic but staying calm would be more beneficial to the dog. A dog owner's first instinct is to rush the pet to the vet's. This decision though can cost the owner the dog's life. The pet's life could have been saved had the owner given the necessary first aid. With essential first aid supplies, a fair amount of knowledge and skills and a lot of common sense, a dog owner can hurdle any emergency. A dog owner has to have presence of mind to fully examine the pet and to recognize the symptoms being shown. Stressed dogs can manifest irrational behaviors thus the owner has to be careful in handling the pet. It is vitally important to check the airways of the pet. The movement of the chest should be visible and there should be breathing sounds. The bleeding, if any, must be controlled by using bandage, a towel or a cloth to apply pressure over the bleeding wound.

Accidents involving the dog would always happen thus a pet owner has to be competent in administering first aid. First aid for pets would not be too different from first aid for humans. Knowing what must be done would give the pet greater chance to survive.




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