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First Aid Kit For Your Dog

Keep a canine first-aid kit on hand for general health care and emergencies. You should check it on a regular basis to make sure that liquids have not spilled or dried up, and replace medications and materials after they are used.

Your first aid kit should include: Activated charcoal tablets; Adhesive tape (1 and 2 inches wide), antibacterial ointment (for skin and eyes), aspirin (buffered or enteric coated, not Ibuprofen), bandages such as gauze rolls (1 and 2 inches wide) and dressing pads, cotton balls, diarrhea medicine, dosing syringe, hydrogen peroxide (3%), petroleum jelly, rectal thermometer, rubber gloves, rubbing alcohol, scissors, tourniquet, towel, and tweezers.

Your puppy cannot tell you when he is sick, but if you spend enough time with him and are observant of his behavior, it will be easy for you to notice when he is not feeling well. The purpose of a first aid kit is for you to assist a dog in an emergency situation before you reach the vet’s office. Such assistance should be minimal, so as not to make matters worse and it must be safe for the dog and his rescuer. If possible, alert the veterinarian immediately.

First aid for dog poisoning

Poisons can enter the body in 3 ways; through the skin, by being inhaled, or by being eaten. Because of the dog’s curious nature, they are usually poisoned by ingestion. In order to prevent your dog from accidental poisoning, you must keep all household chemicals that are potentially toxic out of his reach. These include insecticides, alkaline household cleaners such as paint strippers, shampoos, flea collars, batteries, and medicines.

Removing paint and tar from the dog’s coat

To remove either paint or tar from your dog’s coat, soften it with petroleum jelly or another similar product that is safe for human skin. Cut off any heavily contaminated and matted fur. The next step is to wash the contaminated area with canine shampoo or baby shampoo, then rinse thoroughly.

Poisoning through ingestion

If you catch your dog eating something that you think is dangerous, restrain him and examine the package or substance carefully for instructions. Contact the vet or your local poison control center immediately for advice. With the help of another person, give your dog hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting. Getting him to vomit will eliminate some of the poison that has already entered his body and will buy you some time until he gets treated by the vet.

To make your dog vomit, draw the hydrogen peroxide into a syringe or a turkey baster. Tip your dog’s head back and squirt it toward the back of his tongue. Generally, your dog will start to vomit within a few minutes. If he does not vomit after 5 minutes, wait for another 5 minutes and then try again. Do not give your dog more than two doses of the solution because administering too much hydrogen peroxide can cause potential complications. Also, do not use ipecac or other over-the-counter products that are used by humans. While it is safe for us, it can be toxic for our pets.

Do not induce vomiting if your dog has eaten caustic chemicals such as drain cleaner because the poison will cause a double burn as it is going down and then coming back up. If he got into something alkaline like drain cleaner, what you need to do instead is to give him something to neutralize the chemicals, such as 3 teaspoons of vinegar or lemon juice diluted in the same amount of water.

With poisoning, every minute counts. If the poison has already taken effect and the dog has collapsed, you need to take him to the vet immediately along with a sample of whatever it is that has poisoned him. Treatment is most effective if the vet knows the type of toxic substance that the dog has ingested.

First Aid For Dog Bites and Insect Stings

Most dog bites occur around the neck, face, ears, and the upper chest area. And although most skin punctures from other canine teeth look simple and clean, there is often a considerable amount of damage through the flesh. Injuries, bites, or stings from insects and venomous animals are often difficult to find and administer symptomatic treatment. Contact your veterinarian if the dog shows any agitation at all. Below are several bite and sting descriptions as well as how to best deal with them.

Dog Bites

1. If you are witnessing two dogs fighting each other then be careful not to get yourself injured when trying to separate them. A safe and effective way to break up two dogs is by throwing cold water on them. Be sure to allow the dog some time to calm down before examining for possible injuries. If you spot skin that has been lacerated or punctured, clip the hair away from the wound.

2. Remove all of the clipped hair then carefully wash the area with warm water and a mild disinfectant. To prevent further hair from getting inside of the wound and causing irritation, apply a small amount of petroleum jelly around the outside of the bite.

3. If the skin is punctured, then take the dog to the vet to receive some sort of antibiotic treatment. If the skin is lacerated, then be sure to apply antiseptic cream to the area. Do not be alarmed if bruising occurs. If the laceration is severe enough then your dog may need to get stitches.

Bee And Wasp Stings

While playing outside your dog may experience being stung by a wasp or a bee. Although both types of insects are similar, they each leave a different sting. Wasp and hornet stings cause pain and swelling. Some dogs are very sensitive and allergic to stings and will react badly. If there is acute swelling to the mouth then immediate veterinarian care is vital.

When a bee stings your dog, it leaves an embedded stinger in the skin. If you suspect that your dog has been stung by a bee then examine the area carefully to pinpoint the stinger. Once located, remove the stinger with a pair of tweezers. You may need to look through a magnifying glass just to be sure you get the entire stinger unlogged. If there is excessive swelling once the stinger is removed, then apply an icepack.