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3 tips for being prepared for emergencies with your Dog
Have you ever thought about what you need to do should your dog- or another dog - ever suffer a serious, life-threateninginjury? What if they have a severe allergy to an insect bite ora bee sting? It's great to know your vet's phone number, butwhat if something happens during off hours? What if you don'tknow where the closest emergency animal clinic is located?
Enough with the questions already, right? Any emergency isstressful and scary, and one involving that furry littlefour-legged member of your family is no exception. The toughestof owners can be instantly reduced to helpless balls of mush ifsomething's wrong with their dogs and they can't figure out whatto do.
1. Preparation is key.
The key to getting through a veterinary emergency ispreparation. You may think you have that covered with a firstaid kit and having the phone number to your vet handy, but whatif there isn't enough time to move your dog? You need to bewell-versed in some of the more common animal emergencies justin case a situation ever arises. And hey, if a situation neverarises, you'll still feel more confident knowing that you havethe ability to deal with one.
2. Know how to care for wounds.
Did you know that you
shouldn't use hydrogen peroxide on ableeding wound? Nope. It slows clotting to the area, which meansyour dog could actually lose more blood than he would if youdidn't use the peroxide at all. In fact, the best way to treat adeep, severely bleeding wound is to apply a clean cloth and holdit in place for five minutes, then tape the cloth to the wound.That original cloth should never be removed - that also slowsclotting - and should instead be layered with more clean clothsif blood soaks through.
3. Know what to do about poisoning.
Did you know that certain varieties of toads, salamanders,newts, and other amphibians are poisonous if licked? Hey, guesswho loves to hold little woodland critters in his mouth! Yourdog. If you notice your pup drooling, whining, and wiping at hismouth after a trip into the forest, get him to a clean watersource and rinse his mouth thoroughly. While the poison can befatal if left in the mouth, it's fairly easy to cleanse from thetongue and glands.
Make sure you are prepared for any emergencies for that friend!
About the author:
Paul Duxbury owns http://www.my-dog.co.uk a leading sources offree information and advice for all dog owners as well ashttp://www.dog-lover.co.uk
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