Common Emergencies and Your Dog

No matter how carefully a dog is supervised, accidents do happen.  Taking the injured dog to a veterinary facility for treatment is recommended. The following suggestions are to help the dog owner identify the nature of the emergency and the steps that can be taken if, for some reason, prompt veterinary care is not available.

In any emergency, try to remain calm and think clearly.  Approach the injured dog in a quiet, non-threatening manner and speak in a soothing tone of voice as you call the dog by name.

If your dog seems inclined to bite, which he may do if frightened and in pain, protect yourself by restraining him.
 

Auto Accident

If your dog is hit by a car, apply restraint if necessary. Use a blanket, jacket, board or any other makeshift stretcher to move him from the road.  Take care not to expose yourself to injury or to be bitten by the dog. Move the dog carefully and place him gently on a car seat and drive to a veterinary hospital.

Covering the dog with a blanket, shirt or jacket can help conserve its body heat.  When an animal is severely hurt, ill, or becomes unconscious, the mechanisms that maintain and conserve many body systems may fail and shock may follow.  Signs of shock include shallow breathing, prostration, diminished reaction to pain and other stimuli. The eyes have a glassy look and the gums are pale and cool.

If the dog is bleeding profusely, use a cloth or your hand to apply direct pressure to the wound to control the bleeding. Placed a gauze pad (or in the case of an automobile accident, an improvised pad) over the wound. Wrap it tightly with fabric strips, tying the ends securely. You may be able to hold the bandage in place if someone is with you. Avoid frequent removal of the bandage to check the wound because the bleeding may start again.

A tourniquet should be avoided.  It is not as effective as properly applied pressure and the prolonged interruption of the blood supply may cause additional damages to the limb.

Internal bleeding frequently follows an automobile or other severe accident.  Coughing up blood or vomit or excrement that is bright red to dark reddish-brown or black may indicate injury to the stomach or intestines.  Seek veterinary aid immediately.
 
Heat Stroke

Heat stroke often occurs in dogs left in poorly ventilated or closed cars exposed to the sun.  Lack of shad for dogs housed outdoors, no fresh drinking water, excessive excitement or exercise during hot weather may also be the cause.

Symptoms include panting, a staring or anxious expression, failure to respond to commands or stimuli, warm dry skin, extremely high fever (at times as high as 110 deg. F – the normal range is 101 deg. F to 103 deg. F), dehydration, rapid heartbeat and collapse. Profuse salivation and vomiting may also occur.

If a dog shows signs of heatstroke, immerse him in cool water or spray him with a garden hose to help lower his body temperature. If water is not available, apply ice packs to his head and neck and move him to a cool place immediately.

With any form of heat stress, prompt veterinary attention is important to deal with potential complications.
 
Frostbite

Sometimes a dog may accidentally be exposed to a long period of extreme cold and may suffer frostbite. Frostbite in dogs occurs most frequently on the ears, tail, scrotum and feet.  Signs of frostbite include flushed or reddened tissue initially, then white or grayish tissues, evidence of shock, scaliness of skin and eventually sloughing of tissue surface.  Frozen tissues should not be rubbed or massaged.  Self-mutilation of the affected area should be prevented.

Prompt veterinary treatment is needed. If this is not possible, the affected area should be warmed by immersing in warm water (do not use hot water) or by using warm moist towels that are changed frequently.  When warming is complete, gently dry the affected tissue, lightly bandage with a clean, dry, non-adhering bandage.

Consequences relating to the loss of tissue can become evident several days later, so close observation is needed.

Any animal who has suffered frostbite should be protected form further exposure to the cold.  Frostbitten tissues are more susceptible to repeated freezing.
 
Objects in the Mouth

When a dog paws at his mouth, chokes, shakes his head and seems agitated, the dog may have something in his mouth. However, in areas where rabies is prevalent, these signs could indicate a rabid animal.

Only if the dog belongs to you, should you make any attempt to remove the object.  Looking inside his mouth may not be easy. You may have to straddle him and hold his neck between your legs to restrain him.  If the object is still in the mouth, reach in and remove it.  Putting a broom handle or a stick of comparable size in the dog’s mouth helps prevent the dog from closing his jaws while your are trying to help him.

Never remove string or thread to which a needle could be attached. These kinds of obstructions should be removed by a veterinarian. If a linear object such as string or thread is lodged with one end in the mouth and the other end in the stomach and intestines, the material can cut through the walls of the intestines.

An object deeply imbedded in the mouth should also be removed by your veterinarian.
 
Poison

Many kinds of poisons can kill dogs. Sometimes poisoning results from consuming a toxic substance. Unless the dog has been seen consuming the substance, it may be difficult to diagnose the situation. Prevention is the best means of protecting your dog. The following information is by no means complete as it lists some of the more common poisons.  It is presented as an alert to keep toxic substances away from dogs and to help you assess a situation in which you think your dog may have been accidentally poisoned.

A dog may be the victim of accidental poisoning if products found around the home are not stored in tightly closed containers, empty containers are not properly disposed of and any spills are not cleaned up promptly. Here are examples of potentially toxic products found in the home:

Cleaning and household supplies: ammonia, bleach, disinfectants, drain cleaner (drinking from the toilet bowl may expose the dog to any of these), cleaning fluids, soaps and detergents, mothballs and matches.

Garage Items: gasoline, kerosene, brake fluid, windshield wiper fluid, motor transmission oil and antifreeze.

Agricultural products: insecticides, rodenticides, herbicides, fungicides, fertilizers, snail or slug bait, worm and mollusk toxicants, and plant growth hormones.

Workshop supplies: paints, paint thinners and removers, wood preservative and mineral spirits.

Medicines: aspirin, acetaminophen, boric acid, diet pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, laxatives and rubbing alcohol.

Cosmetics: deodorants, hair coloring, nail polish and remover, permanent wave lotion, and suntan lotion.

Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, which is toxic to dogs.  Ingesting chocolate in large amounts can be fatal to a dog.  When you want to reward your dog, choose a treat formulated for dogs such as Purina Biscuits or Purina Bonz dog snacks.

In the case of poisoning or suspected poisoning, if possible, bring a sample of the poison to the veterinarian in its original container, or a portion of the ingested plant or berry, or any vomitus.

If you cannot reach a veterinarian immediately, contact the nearest poison control center or the Animal Toxicology Hotline, 217-333-3611.

Other hazards include ingesting scrapings from lead-based paints; eating contaminated food, or drinking chemically treated water from toilet bowls.

Symptoms of poison by ingestion include pain, nausea, vomiting, and/or collapse.  Burns around the mouth, lips and tongue indicate that an acid or alkali such as drain cleaner or paint thinner has been swallowed. An abnormal odor to the dog’s breath, coughing or bloody vomitus occur when a petroleum product such as kerosene or gasoline has been swallowed. If the poison is an acid, alkali or petroleum product, do not induce vomiting.

If the dog has swallowed medicine, cosmetics or other noncorrosive, an emetic such as syrup of ipecac can be used to induce vomiting.

Inhalation of several gases can cause toxicity.  They include ammonia, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, fumes from heating or cooking gas.  A dog suffering from poisoning by inhalation can exhibit weakness and dizziness, breathing difficulties, and bright red lips and tongue (indicating carbon monoxide poisoning).  Prompt veterinary treatment is essential. Remember that exposure of the dog to toxic fumes may also mean human exposure.  Use extreme caution in dealing with the situation.
 
Poisonous Plants

The list of plants potentially dangerous to dogs is long.  Some of the more common plants that can be poisonous to dogs include:

Dieffenbachia, philodendron and caladium cause throat irritation and will burn the throat just as much coming up as going down.  Do not induce vomiting and seek veterinary treatment.

English ivy, iris, amaryllis, daffodil and tulip (especially the bulbs) cause gastric irritation and sometimes central nervous system excitement followed by coma and, in severe cases, death.  Induce vomiting and seek veterinary treatment.

Ingesting foxglove, lily of the valley, oleander, monkshood and larkspur can be life-threatening because the cardiovascular system is affected. Equally life threatening is the yew which affects the nervous system.  If any of these are ingested, get the dog to a veterinarian immediately.  Remember, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency.
 

Know Your Dog

In determining if your dog is suffering from some kind of poison, it is important to know your dog’s usual behavior patterns.  Some signs of poison may not occur immediately, but may be observed several hours later. For your dog’s good health, seek treatment by your veterinarian whenever you observe signs of illness.
 
Wounds

For superficial wounds, clean with antiseptic. Watch the healing process to be certain no infection develops. If the wound is large and bleeding, apply a pressure bandage and get prompt veterinary attention.

After a walk in the woods or hunting, a dog’s paw pads should be inspected for thorns or small stones lodged between the pads.  The paws should be cleaned and any cuts caused by ice treated.

Eye and Ear Irritations

When a dog rubs and paws at his eyes, has a tightly closed eye, or a swollen eye, or spasms of the eyelid are evident, he may be suffering from an eye irritation or injury. Since the eyes are very delicate organs, any injury should receive prompt veterinary attention.

If a foreign body such as seeds, sawdust, or a particle of dirt is the obvious cause of the irritation, you may be able to remove it. Use the tip of a moistened cotton swab, clean handkerchief or cloth and be extremely gentle.  Irrigate the eye with mild eyewash. Avoid touching or wiping the eyeball.

Caution: Never attempt to remove an object adhering closely to the surface of the eye.

When in doubt about removing an object from a dog’s eye or ear, don’t. Take the dog to a veterinarian.

Foreign bodies inside the ear canal, wounds such as bites and barbed wire and insects inside the ear canal are among the causes of ear problems.  However, the most common causes are bacterial and fungal infections and parasites.  Signs of ear disease include head shaking, scratching at the ears or neck, rubbing the ear along the floor, tilting the affected side down, tenderness around the ear when handled, unusual odor or discharge from the ear canal and swelling.

If a foreign body is visible, it may be removed gently.  Other visible material may be removed with an ear swab or a cotton swab.

Caution: Foreign bodies and insects deep in the ear should be removed by a veterinarian.

A minor wound on the flap of the ear can lead to the loss of large amounts of blood as the result of continual head shaking.  To control bleeding, apply pressure to the wound with clean gauze or cloth. Large ears may be wrapped against the head after bandaging.

If the wound is minor or if, for any reason, you cannot get the dog to a veterinarian, clip the hair, clean with a mild antiseptic and apply an antibiotic ointment.
 
Be Prepared

Saving time is crucial in any emergency. It is best to be prepared. Keep information concerning emergency contacts for your dog near your telephone and in your bill fold. This information should include the telephone number and address of your veterinarian, the closet pet emergency clinic that has night and weekend hours, as well as telephone numbers for local poison control center. If you should have to rush your dog to your veterinarian, telephone first to be certain he or she will be in his office to receive the dog.
 

Purina Nutrition Research

Canine nutrition studies began at the Purina Pet Care Center in 1926.  The modern 12-building Purina Pet Care Center complex, located on a 337-acre tract of land 45 miles southwest of St. Louis, is home to over 900 dogs and 700 cats. It is the oldest and largest facility of its kind in the world devoted exclusively to pet nutrition and care research.  Puppies and kittens not needed for nutrition studies are made available for adoption by Ralston Purina Company employees, their families, and friends.
 
Electric Shock

Electric shock sometimes occurs when puppies or older dogs chew on electric cords or bite through live wires such as those in electric blankets.

Signs of shock are burning of the mouth and possibly lip folds.  The dog may have violent muscle contractions with the inability to release the electrically charged object. The dog may have difficulty breathing and may become unconscious.

Caution: Never touch an animal that is touching an exposed electric wire.  Turn off the current and then use a dry stick to get the dog away from the wire.

Keep the dog warm and take him to the veterinarian.
 
Outdoor Dangers

When a dog and a porcupine meet, the dog is usually the loser and may leave the encounter with quills in his face, neck and front legs.  The dog generally rolls and paws at himself, exacerbating this painful situation.  Get the dog on a leash as quickly as possible to control him.  Veterinary care is recommenced if the quills are to be removed without damaging the tissues and with out excessive pain to the dog.

To help prevent this problem, restrain your dog immediately if he encounters a porcupine.  Do not let your dog run free without supervision or without a leash (depending upon how well-trained your dog is) in areas known to be inhabited by porcupines.

Insect stings usually occur in the mouth or on the nose or feet. Signs of stings are scratching, licking, or rubbing the head on the ground; swelling of the head, face, tongue or limbs; presence of a stinger; or excessive salivation.

The site of a bee or wasp sting will be red and swollen and the stinger may still be in the dog’s skin.  The stinger should be carefully removed and cold compresses applied to the wound.  A paste of baking soda and water will help relieve irritation cause by a bee sting. If a wasp sting is being treated, use vinegar or lemon juice. Sever cases may require veterinary treatment.

Snakebites present a danger in certain parts of the country. If your dog is bitten by a nonpoisonous snake, see your veterinarian about the appropriate treatment.

If the snake is poisonous, immediate veterinary treatment is essential.  Call ahead to be certain a veterinarian will be ready to receive the dog and has access to the needed anti-venom. If possible, try to identify the most likely kind of snake.
 

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