How to give first aid to your pet? We often don't find out until something happens. Fortunately, there are more and more courses for complete laypersons. During these specialized seminars or webinars, owners of four-legged friends can find out the basics of first aid and its application in everyday life. Today, we discussed this topic with the trainer and breeder Michaela Martinů.
According to Michaela Martinů, every injury that a dog suffers requires first aid. The question is, whether the owner can manage himself or herself or whether they should seek professional emergency veterinary care. The dog expert advises: "Personally, whenever I'm not sure, I contact a veterinary practice and despite giving the animal basic first aid myself, professional treatment is very important for my peace of mind.”
What are the most common injuries requiring first aid?
That depends on the time of the year. The most common summer problems are overheating, grass awns, allergic reactions to stinging insects or being bitten by a venomous snake, and burnt paws from the asphalt in cities. In winter, animals often get cold or suffer from an inflammation of the stomach, or have their paws damaged from the salt on the roads.
What should the owner do in such cases? Let's focus on the summer ones.
An overheated dog must be cooled down as soon as possible and provided with liquids and fresh air. It is however very important not to let the dog drink too much water. The owner should divide the water into portions, otherwise the animal could be in danger of torsion. It is also possible to administer caffeine by dissolving a small amount of instant coffee in water.
How to soothe a reaction to an insect bite?
To treat an insect bite, it should be enough to give your dog a calcium tablet and the antihistamine Zyrtec. It is important to monitor the dog and let him rest in peace and quiet.
You've mentioned a snake bite. Would a layperson be able to deal with such a situation?
First aid for snake bites is more complicated. The severity of the situation depends on several factors, which are not easy to predict. In this case, urgent professional veterinary treatment is necessary.
Last example - grass awns. How can I tell that they're the cause of the problem?
If you notice that after running around a field your dog can't stop snorting and there is a pink mucus coming out of his snout, it could be caused by a grass awn. It is necessary to visit a veterinary practice, where the awn will be professionally removed. Grass awns can also be lodged between the toes, which, over time, results in an inflamed fistula. Even in this case you won't be able to cope by yourselves and will be forced to visit a vet.
When should we not hesitate and seek immediate veterinary care?
I believe that this notional line is very thin because some diseases and consequences of injuries can develop or become fully apparent over time. Instead of looking for information in Facebook groups, I would contact a professional. Having a consultation in vain is better than neglect with serious consequences.
A horror for large-breed-dog owners is stomach torsion but spleen and intestine torsion are also quite common. In such cases, it is necessary to immediately contact a veterinary practice for an urgent operation. The sooner the dog gets into surgery, the higher the probability of his rescue.
What should a layperson have with them to be able to provide their pet with first aid?
Whenever I go for a longer trip, I always take a "dog first aid kit" with me. It should contain:
• Calcium - to treat allergic reactions. Other than the classic tablets, it also comes in the form of effervescent tablets, which must be dissolved in water.
• Dithiaden, Zyrtec of Zodan can also be administered in case of an allergic reaction.
• FortiFlora, activated charcoal or Smecta treat digestive problems.
• Betadine or a liquid silver wound spray should also be present in the first aid kit.
• Self-adhesive bandages, patches, an empty syringe (large one without the needle) can also be useful.
• An inflatable collar in case you need to prevent the dog from scratching himself.
What drugs are better to be left out during the treatment of a pet?
Ibuprofen-type drugs can have fatal consequences for dogs. Dogs should never be given drugs for human use or those not recommended by a vet. All drugs should be kept well out of reach of the pet.
I'd also like to ask how to deal with a bleeding injury, e.g. being bitten by another dog?
First, you must stop the bleeding. If the situation requires, you need to apply a pressure bandage. In this case, the first aid process is no different from first aid for humans. However, you must remember that dogs belong to Carnivora and if you are not dealing with your own dog, I would recommend first preventing the dog from being able to bite you. Because same as with providing first aid to people, it is our safety that comes first. Wounds caused by being bitten by another dog tend to heal slowly. The skin is usually ripped from the subcutaneous tissue forming a pocket and the wounds tend to become inflamed. Therefore it's almost always necessary to clean the wound and contact a vet without delay.
Is there anything you'd like to add?
To end this interview I'd like to emphasize that my answers are based only on years of experience in breeding and dog training but also thanks to my membership in the Prague Cynology Rescue Brigade, where I attend regular training in providing first aid to dogs as well as to people, but I have no medical or veterinary education, therefore, please, take my answers as from an experienced layperson.
Thank you for the interview and we wish the best of health to all doggies and their owners!
Credit: Ivana Tichá
Did you know that the domestic cat which is now kept as a pet all over the world, is probably a domesticated form of the wild cat, specifically of its subspecies the African wildcat, European wildcat and Asiatic wildcat?
Apart from regular care for the fur and dog’s teeth we should include also the inspection and cleaning of the eyes and ear inspection in the list of everyday tasks. Even though the cats are rather known for cleanliness, it’s important also for a...
Cat is a perfect tool for hunting. It owes it to the dozens of years of evolution. While in dogs, their physical signs have been emphasised or suppressed, cats got to keep, apart from several exceptions, their main anatomical features unchanged. In...
According to various statistics, the number of cats in our country is increasing. Not only dogs, but also cats belong to increasingly more common pets. So, it can happen to us more often, that we'll meet an abandoned cat in the street and we're...
Some dogs take the arrival of a new family member in a hard way. Previously, we described how to prepare them for this situation already before the baby even arrives home and today, we will take a look at the introduction itself.
It's no longer a strange thing when a municipality sets up a dog park or a dog playground. Due to frequent regulation of off-leash movement of dogs, this should, however, often be obligatory. Do you know how to behave in such places so that you...
Another possible sport at which you can play with your dog and exercise with them at the same time, is the Dog Puller. You can practice it with all the dog breeds, no matter the size or age.
Nowadays, cats are increasingly more often becoming members of our households. Cat toilets producers are adapting to this trend as well. They can provide cats with a greater comfort in their daily need. From the perspective of the owners, the producers...
Vacation time is finally here and many of us are planning where they will be headed this year. If you decide to go for an adventure by car and to take your dog friend with you as well, a bit of advice might come in handy on how to provide safety for...
Of course that we won’t talk about how to teach a dog the swimming technique. We want to talk about how to teach the dog to get used to water and how to make swimming a positive experience for it. Since not every one of them trusts water and some are...
If you’re planning to bring a new addition home and it doesn’t matter whether it’s a kitten or an adult cat, it is necessary to prepare the flat for it as well. Do you know what will the animal need and what you shouldn’t forget about or how to choose...
No matter how thorough we are with the prevention, a situation might come up when a dog or a cat will get to a poisonous thing, whether it’s by our inattention or it's somebody else’s fault. That’s why it’s not off-topic to prepare yourself for the...
