First Aid & Safety for Your Dogs

Below is first aid for a dog and their owners. It is important that this is a general first aid topic cover and will not cover every situation. It is always very important to seek veterinary advice.

Nausea: Some dogs experience nausea and vomiting when travelling in vehicles. In some cases, dogs outgrow the condition while in others the problem remains throughout their lives. Dogs that are known to suffer from nausea when travelling should not be fed for 12 hours before travel.

Ears: Grass seeds and other foreign objects sometimes gain access to the ear canal. The

dog will be shaking the head, holding the head on one side or violently rubbing the ear

Along the ground. Foreign objects in the ear should only be removed if they are visible. No

Attempt should be made to probe the ear. Veterinary advice must be sought in the case of

An object, which is not visible.

Sore Pads: Some dogs are often walk on hard surfaces and because of this they often develop sore pads. The pads may be cracked across the surface or they may be worn down so that the tender inner skin is exposed. In severe cases there may be bleeding. Vaseline or petroleum jelly should be rubbed into the pads to keep them pliable. Application of spray-on plastic skin is helpful in some cases. The dog should be kept off concrete or bitumen as much as possible. In some cases it may be necessary to relieve the dog from walking on hard surfaces until the pads heal.

Sprains: Sprains are usually caused by accidents during training. They occur when the ligaments of a joint are stretched or torn, usually by wrenching or twisting. Treatment may be as follows:

a. To prevent swelling and pain, a pressure bandage should be applied over cotton wool.

b. To reduce an already swollen joint, cold compression may be used.

Stings: Insect stings are quite common-in dogs. If visible, the sting should be removed. Methylated spirit or a soothing cream will ease the pain of stings, which are outside the mouth. If the dog has been stung inside the mouth and the swelling appears excessive, a veterinary surgeon should be consulted.

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