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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:
Preserve life
Prevent the situation from worsening
Promote recovery
"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.
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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."
S: Stop and stay calm. Your dog will feel your emotions, so try not to panic.
T: Think before you act. Don’t jump in without thinking about the dangers and the medical situation you may be dealing with. If you have a seemingly unconscious dog, you may need to conduct a primary survey (more on this below). If you have a dog that is in pain or injured, you may need to make a makeshift muzzle to keep yourself safe.
A: Assess the scene and situation. Are there humans around who can help? Is it a bleed, a seizure, a drowning, a bite, poisoning, anaphylaxis, choke, heatstroke, and/or so much more?
R: Remove any dangers, eg other humans, dogs, cars, children etc.
T: Telephone for help. Maybe a family member to support you in moving the dog, maybe police if it is a road traffic accident and certainly your vet to be giving you further advice and also to be prepared for your arrival."
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.
Response – Check the dog for a response by shouting in its ear and tapping a foot or other area that you feel your dog may respond to. Remember, think of your own safety first.
Airway: Elongate the airway by gently pulling the head and neck up; check the airway to make sure nothing is obstructing it. Pull the tongue gently out of the way. It will be wet and difficult to hold, so use your sleeve or something similar. The tongue can compromise breathing.
Breathing: Place your cheek near the mouth of the dog and see if you can feel its breath on your cheek. Place your hand on the muzzle area in case the dog comes around. It may be frightened and bite you. Look, listen, and feel for a pulse, and count for 10 seconds.
Circulation: Place three fingers inside the hind leg within the groin area and see if you can find a pulse. A secondary check should include placing your hand on the heart area located behind the left leg front elbow, as you pull it back slightly.
Send – for help
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.
Lay the dog on its right side on a firm surface, "left side high so that you are compressing the heart," recommends Melanie.
Compress the chest around 100 to 120 times a minute. You should do this in time to the rhythm of the song 'Staying Alive'. "For a large dog, go an inch and a half deep; for a medium dog, use one hand and a depth of 1 inch. With a small dog, two fingers, and a depth of half an inch," says Melanie.
Alternate 30 compressions and two rescue breaths.
Rescue breaths should last one second. Wait one second for the chest to fall after the second breath before resuming compressions. Remember to hold the tongue out of the way and the muzzle firmly together.
To deliver rescue breaths, cover the dog's mouth and blow down their nose, creating a seal around the nostrils with your mouth. If that's not possible, cover the sides of the nostrils with your fingers before blowing air into the nostrils. Ideally, the chest should rise when you do this.
For a small dog use one hand. For a bigger dog, use both hands.
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:
Lethargy
Lack of coordination
Panting
Drooling
Racing heart
What to do to help:
Remove your dog from the heat and take it somewhere cool and in the shade shade
Give it cool or tepid water
You can soak a towel in cool water and drape it over its body
Call a vet
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:
Lethargy
Hyperventilating
Low blood pressure
Weak pulse
Collapse
Pale skin or gums
Severe weakness
Confusion
Vomiting or trying to vomit
A dog can go into shock due to:
Blood loss
Hypothermia
An internal injury
Excessive dehydration due to vomiting or diarrhea
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:
Seek immediate veterinary help
Minimize their movement to preserve energy
Wrap them in a blanket to retain body heat
Wrap their paws using bandages or other available material
Reassure them
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:
Convulsions
Kidney failure
Abnormal heart rate
What you can do to help:
Get in touch with a veterinary professional or call the Pet Poison Helpline
Try to remember what was consumed by your dog and how much was consumed
If possible preserve the packaging to show to a vet
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.
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