First aid tips every dog owner should know

We spoke to first-aider Melanie Whitten from the Canine First Aid Company to find out what to do for your dog in a health emergency. We've captured some of Melanie's tips to help you learn and recognize the signs and effects of heatstroke , shock, and poisoning. We'll also explain how you can give your dog the best chance of making it until veterinary help is available. What is the role of canine first aid? Melanie explains that the purpose of canine first-aid is to: "There is a long list of things that a human can do to save a dog’s life; a canine first aid course is vital to being able to deal with such a situation. "With a canine first aid course completed, you stand a much better chance of saving your dog's life," said Melanie. How to approach a canine medical emergency Seeing your beloved pet distressed can be frightening. Here's Melanie's advice on how to keep calm and assess the situation. "If an owner finds themselves in a medical emergency situation and needs to administer first aid to their dog, we use the acronym START. You, as the human, need to think about a chain of survival: early recognition, early call (vets), early CPR or intervention, and then get to the vets." Primary survey – if the dog appears lifeless Here's Melanie's guide on how to conduct a primary survey to work out what you need to do next. How to perform CPR on a dog Before beginning CPR, feel and listen to the dog's chest to make sure there's no heartbeat and that the dog is not breathing. If it is breathing, do not give CPR . "During the primary survey, if you find the dog unconscious and breathing, do not do CPR. Place the dog on its side and place something under its shoulder area to allow fluids to drain from the mouth and the tongue to fall out naturally; this will avoid a blocked airway and is called the recovery position," advises Melanie. CPR can be helpful if a healthy dog's heart has stopped due to electrocution or drowning. It may not be successful or appropriate if there is an underlying condition. Knowing how to respond in an emergency can help save your dog's life, and the best way to be prepared is by attending a canine first-aid course. A certified first-aider will teach you emergency procedures, and you'll get to practice on dummies. How to recognise a heatstroke and what to do Common signs of a heatstroke in dogs include: What to do to help: Signs your dog's in shock and what to do Shock is a dangerous condition for your dog. When this happens, your dog's body isn't circulating enough blood to all tissues, which can lead to organ damage. It has a rapid onset and needs immediate medical attention. Common signs of shock in dogs can be: A dog can go into shock due to: Shock can also be caused by blood poisoning, blood thinners, and increased stomach pressure, among other things. Blood transfusions can help dogs who have lost a lot of blood. What to do to help: Signs your dog's been poisoned and how to help Many foods and household items can be harmful if ingested. Puppies are particularly at risk of poisoning due to mouthing and swallowing almost anything. One common example is chocolate; however, grapes, raisins, ibuprofen, household cleaning chemicals, food and drink that contain artificial sweeteners such as xylitol, and moldy foods can also poison your dog. Out and about, your dog might come across poisonous mushrooms or plants on walks. Common signs of poisoning can be: What you can do to help: The Pet Poison Helpline recommends that you do not feed things like milk, peanut butter, or vegetable oils, even though these substances are often mentioned on the internet as home remedies for poisoning. Dog first-aid courses A dog first-aid course can give you extra confidence in knowing what to do if your dog needs help in an emergency. "All dog owners, be they those who have had dogs for years or new owners, should attend a canine first aid course. Our dogs deserve the same duty of care as their human counterparts. A huge difference can be made in saving a dog’s life if the owner has the skills to recognize, describe to a vet, and treat a medical emergency with their dog while awaiting vet intervention. "It's not just a case of what to do; it is also a case of what not to do," said Melanie Whitten.

First aid tips every dog owner should know

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