First Aid for Dogs

There are many, many ways to help your sick or injured dog.

The medicines we use when we're ill could be dangerous to a dog or animal. A single Ibuprofen has enough chemicals in to kill a Jack Russell Terrier.

If your dog or animal is sick, the best thing to do is seek advice from your vet.

Helpful advice on what to do if your dog or animal is ill

Clean the wound with water or a well diluted disinfectant such as Hibiscrub
Cut feet and pads can bleed a lot; if this happens, wrap the foot in cotton wool. It is a good idea to apply pressure with a roller bandage and wrap up the whole foot.
Never use an elastic band. This will only cut of the blood supply.
If the bleeding continues or if there is excessive bleeding, call your vet. Stitches or antibiotics may be necessary.

These are very painful and easy to infect. Dogs will often lick the affected area which may add to the damage.
If possible, apply a bandage or something simple to prevent the animal causing more damage.
If there is a lot of bleeding, apply a tighter bandage. If the problem is with the claw, then call your vet. The vet may have to cut it back under anaesthetic.

Dog bites often get infected and there can be internal damage under the wound.
It is always a good idea to have the bite checked by a vet, especially if the dog is lethargic or in shock.

If you can see the sting, try to remove it
The usual first signs of a sting are a swollen muzzle or paw. If the swelling is severe around the nose, mouth or throat call the vet straight away.
If the swelling is elsewhere, keep the dog quiet and cool. Bathe the area with ice or something cold
Dogs can sometimes develop an "urticcarial" reaction to stings or bites. Also known as "nettle rash", this may appear over the dog's body and can be uncomfortable for them.

If an animal is not putting weight down on its leg they may have a fracture. Keep the dog as quiet as possible and call your vet.
In less severe cases, check the pads for thorns, glass, stones, grit or a cut, and look for damaged nails.
Sprains, strains and arthritis are often obvious when the dog gets up after resting. Keeping a dog quiet with restricted exercise for a few days, can work for mild cases.

A fit can be recognised by sudden uncontrolled, spasmodic movements, champing of the jaw and muscle twitches across the head and neck.
The dog may not be aware of its surroundings and may also collapse onto its side. Dogs often have fits when they are sleeping or resting.
Some dogs seek their owners for reassurance if they feel something is not right.
Most fits last only for a few minutes, but afterwards most dogs become disorientated, drowsy but often hungry.
If your dog is having a fit do not try to restrain it. Doing this can make the fit worse and you may get bitten. Where possible, remove furniture or pad items that your dog may bump into. Darken and quieten the room to further reduce stimulation.
Always seek a vet's advice

A dog stroke is different to a human stroke
This tends to happen in older, large dog breeds. Signs to watch for are flicking of the eyes from side to side and being unsteady on their feet, often falling down on the same side repeatedly.
Understandably the dogs are often disorientated and confused. And some dogs panic. They may even start vomiting.
Keep the dog quiet and calm. Sometimes people find they have to support their dog to move around. There are some veterinary treatments that can help and a lot of dogs will make a full recovery. A vet may be needed to sedate the dog to calm it.

If your dog gets sore ears after taking a walk, grass seed will often be the reason
If the problem comes on more gradually, then an infection is more likely
Try to stop the dog scratching at the ear as this can make the problem worse
A Elizabethan collar can help stop this
Contact your vet

If you dog has sore eyes it could be because it has conjunctivitis, grass seeds or thorns, ulcers or scratches to the eye
Try to stop your dog rubbing the eye so it does not worsen
If you think it may be dirt in the eye, you could try to flush it our with lukewarm water
If the eye is weeping a lot, or if it gets worse rapidly and is causing pain, then you may need a vet

Dogs are normally sick because they have eaten something that doesn't agree with them
If your dog is being sick or has diarrhoea you should starve it for 12 hours, giving it only water to drink
Follow the starving with a light diet of boiled white fish, or chicken mixed with white boiled rice, to settle the problem
Start by giving small amounts four or five times a day for three or four days, and then gradually go back to normal feeding
If starving does not settle the problem and if the dog continues to vomit, gets depressed or stops drinking, contact your vet

This can be a problem for long haired dogs, or dogs with narrow airways such as bulldogs, cavaliers and boxers
Heat stroke usually occurs on hot sunny days
When a dog has heat stroke it will pant excessively, it may have difficulty breathing, have a seizure or even collapse
If your dog's panting becomes excessive, take it out of the sun, keep it calm, bathe it or wrap it with a cold wet towel, and ideally, provide a natural breeze by fanning it
Try to get the dog to drink small amounts of cold water

The two common reasons for a dog collapsing are a) leg and joint problems, found typically in older, larger dogs with arthritis and b) shock, due to internal disease
With the first, the dog will still be bright, often still eating, and still interested in what is going on around them
With the second, dogs are often miserable and off their food
Whatever the reason, if your dog does collapse then it should be seen by a vet right away
Transporting these dogs can be difficult as they don't wish to be disturbed and they may bite
If this is the case and you don't have a muzzle, make a temporary one from a bandage, necktie, dog lead or a belt. Tie it firmly beneath the jaw then tie the loose ends behind the neck. If the dog won't or can't stand, or won't or can't walk, then a blanket can be used as a make shift stretcher to take it to the car

Lots of dogs will eat toxic substances
Most poisons take a few hours to be absorbed, so inducing vomiting can be useful up to two hours after ingestion
In most cases it is best to make the dog vomit
A good way to do this is to place a small handful of washing soda crystals on the back of the dog's tongue and hold its mouth shut until it swallows or starts retching. This may need to be done two or three times before anything happens. You could use very salty water and mustard as well.
An exception is if the dog has swallowed something that is caustic, like bleach, as this could damage the throat again on the way back up
Contact your vet with details of the poison and in what quantity it has been eaten

All of the above information is just a guide. If you are worried about your dog's health, seek advice from a vet.

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