9 First Aid for Dogs Flashcards
Normal values: Capillary refil time
<1s (check by touching dogs gum and see how long it takes to change from white to pink)
Normal values: mucous membrane color
generally pink (can gently press on dogs eyes, and check white around eyeballs)
Normal values: Temperature
38-39.2
Lil bit warmer than humans
Normal values: Hydration (how to check)
pick up skin and release, should return within 1s
Recognising pain: Posture (5)
1) hunched back
2) guarding (protecting) painful area; growls on touch
3) “praying” position (front legs and head on floor, hindquarters in the air)
4) attempting to rest in an abnormal position
5) head hanging down
Recognising pain: movement/body language (5)
1) stiff
2) trembling/shaking
3) any degree of limp
4) bearing no/partial weight on affected limb
5) weak tail wag
Recognising pain: Vocalisation (4)
1) screaming
2) crying
3) growling/barking
4) lack of (no greeting/noise)
Restraining a dog for treatment: Methods (2)
- Standing headlock
2. lying down restraint
Restraining for treatment: Standing headlock (4)
- kneel down alongside standing dog
- place forearm around dogs neck and snugly hold the head still
- make sure you are facing the rear of the dog to prevent injuries
- place other arm over the back OR under the belly and hold firmly
* this arm shld be holding an area in front of the back legs
Restraining for treatment: Lying down restraint (4)
- reach over dog and hold front leg touching/closest to table/ ground (grip leg close to the ELBOW not PAW)
- other arm draped over the belly and holds the rear leg similar to (1) *be prepared for struggling
- if dog tries to lift it’s head and neck, place elbow over neck and gently push head on the table
- can also apply firm pressure to the dogs flank (side) to prevent it standing
How to move an injured dog? (3)
- Single Person Lift
- Half lift
- Blanket lift
All lifts should be smooth and rapid, minimize movement and be aware of the dog becoming distressed/biting (may need muzzle)
Single person lift (2)
- slip one arm under it’s neck, holding it’s throat in the crook of your arm; make sure it can breathe easily
- place other arm under dogs rump and lift the dog
Half lift (1)
use towel as a sling to lift injured legs while the dog moves forward with their uninjured leg
Blanket lift precautions
- make sure dog is secure
- may use an extra person to hold the dog in place
Why do dogs overheat?
- overheat quicker than humans
- dogs dont sweat, cool their bodies by panting, which is much less effective
Do heatstokes only occur in extreme temperatures?
No, some dogs can have heatstroke in ac room, if they become overexcited and active
Which organs are first affected by heatstroke?
Liver, brain and intestinal cells
Heatstroke symptoms (5)
1) excessive and ongoing panting
2) dazed/confused appearance
3) weakness, lethargic
4) vomiting and diarrhoea (with or without blood)
5) body temp >39.5c
Heatstroke treatments (5)
1) move dog out of the sun
2) try get them to drink small amounts of cool water
3) place dog in cool environment; use water to cool dog by laying on a wet towel/immersing in a COOL water bath
4) provide breeze; ; ice can be placed (wrap in cloth) WITH CAUTION under armpits, neck, groin
5) monitor temp, avoid cooling too much/rapid
How does dehydration happen? (4)
dog can get dehydrated from:
- panting
- urinating
- failure to drink/eat enough
- illness or injury
how to check for dehydration (2)
- run finger along the inside of dogs lip; if any moisture comes out on the finger, dog hydrated but may require water
- gently pull skin on dogs wither (between neck and back) up; if hold shape like a tent and doesnt fall back in to place, direct indication of up to 5% dehydration
Treatment of dehydration
administration of fluid should occur immediately
- some dogs will drink profusely when theyre dehydrated and this should be encouraged
- if in doubt/not drinking, vet
Paralysis ticks
- Injects poison into the system which progressively paralyses the host animal;
- often causes the lung tissue to produce large amounts of fluid –> stimulate vomitting
- toxin continues to work on the host even after the tick is removed
- tick paralysis usually starts in the hind limbs and progresses forwards
Progression (tick paralysis) (4 stages)
- wobbly in back legs; can still get on it’s feet but unable to walk far
* occasionally will have change in voice and loss of appetite - dog unable to use it’s back legs (front legs ok), cant stand but can sit. vomiting may begin
- dog unable to sit and lies on it’s side. at this stage, paralysis is beginning to affect it’s respiratory muscles and dogs breathing is laboured (struggling)
- advanced stage and dog is not far form death from respiratory failure
When is it essential to take the dog to the vet for tick paralysis?
Once dog starts showing stage 1 symptoms. 99% of animals that show stage 1 will without treatment, progress until death ensures
Treatment (Paralysis Ticks)
- if symptoms present, go to vet; DO NOT try to get dog to drink water (swallowing reflexes likely to be absent and anything in the mouth will go straight to lungs)
- after sent home, will still be fighting off the after effects of the toxin
Right after treatment (Paralysis Ticks)
- do not leave in in a hot place as prone to overheating
- do not allow much exercise/let dog get excited for at least a week
- dont give food/drink unless it can lap (drink) by itself
- check daily for more ticks as a second dose of poison within 3 weeks is likely to have a more severe effect
Grass seeds: where they enter (4)
- through the nose (inhaled)
- get between eye and eyelid
- between toes
- make their way into gums, ears or other parts of the animals body
Most problematic grass seeds
those shaped like small darts
-some can travel many inches reaching the animals internal organs
What to do when in a grass seed area?
regularly check dogs eyes and ears, particularly if the dog is showing signs of foreign body present
*check abdomen, toes and armpits too
Getting grass seeds out
If not penetrated so deeply, just pull it out
If seed under skin, vet
Snake bite
- dogs and cats often bitten around the head and limbs
- closer the bite is to the heart, the quicker the venom will be absorbed into the system and distributed around the body
- always assume it’s a venomous snake
When are snakes the most dangerous?
at the beginning of summer (when they first emerge from hibernation)
-venom glands tend to be fuller and their bites are much more severe
Symptoms (snake bite) (4)
- sudden weakness followed by collapse
- shaking or twitching of the muscles and difficulty blinking
- vomiting, loss of bladder and bowel control
- dilated pupils
Treatment procedure (snake bite) (4)
- get to vet immediately; chances of recovery much greater if treated early (sometimes within 48 hours)
- if vet is some distance a way try apply a pressure bandage to help slow the venom spreading to the heart
- DO NOT WASH WOUND
- if can identify snake, would be better (bring along if dead or take a lot of clear shots) so vet can administer antivenom
Bee and wasp stings
- can cause mild/severe allergic reaction
- if reaction is severe, can cause the airways to close (pet will asphyxiate)
- sting doesnt haev to be near the face for this to happen
When and where do bee/wasp stings occur?
- particularly on warm days when theyre out
- dogs tend to get stung on face and inside the mouth as they catch the bee/wasp
Signs (bee and wasp sting) (4)
- swelling at site
- drooling
- pawing at mouth
- difficulty breathing
Treatment (stings)
- remove sting if can find, being careful not to push more venom into the site (flick dont squeeze)
- wash area with cool water
- if bitten on face/mouth, contact vet for further advice
- if pet collapses/any swelling ard face or throat, trouble breathing, pale gums, pain > VET
Poison symptoms (5)
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- seizures
- blood in stool
- nosebleeds
How long does it take for symptoms of poisoning to show up on average?
3-4 days
occasionally show up right away, some types can take months to cause any damage
Treatment (poison)
seek vet attention immediately; bring along the substance if possible as this will aid with diagnosis and treatment
-just bc not showing symptoms, doesnt mean hasnt been affected (if dog has eaten something that may be poisonous)
What not to do (poison)
- do not try to induce vomiting or treat at home
- do not wait for symptoms to present
Diarrhoea: when is it a problem?
- can be life threatening where extensive fluid loss can lead to shock and death
- seek professional help if blood, severe depression or abdominal pain is present
Diarrhoea: benign
- can be related to excitement/changes in feed and water, not serious
Benign diarrhoea treatment
- remove all food for 12-24 hours NOT WATER
- water important to prevent dehydration in severe diarrhoea
- if blood appears/diarrhoea continues for >24 hrs, contact vet (might need stool sample)
- after at least 12 hours, treat dog by feeding it bland diet (boiled skinless chicken and rice 50:50)
- when stools begin to form, slowly phase back to regular diet
Bloat (5)
- when a dogs stomach fils with gas
- expansion of the stomach puts pressure on diaphragm
- makes it hard for dog to breathe
- stomach also twists, can cause terrible shock and rapid death
- should always be treated as emergency
Which dog is susceptible to bloat?
- can happen to any breed at any age BUT
- large breeds with deep chests (great danes, german shephard, labs, std poodles) more likely
Symptoms (bloat) (4)
- excessive drooling
- gagging
- tight/swollen enlarged abdomen
- weak pulse, laboured breathing
Treatment (bloat)
go to a vet immediately
-will likely perform gastric decompression
Prevention (bloat) (3)
- feed in small portions with slow feeder
- have water available at all times
- no exercise 30 min before and after eating
Minor abrasions
some bleeding, always a possibility of infection
Treatment (abrasions) (3)
- carefully remove foreign object and debris
- may need to cut/clip hair away from area
- clean wound liberally w water and antiseptic (if dont have use soap)
- bandage if appropriate
What if dog wont tolerate having a bandage?
- if bleeding excessively, go to vet
- if dog keeps licking cut/treatment on cut, may need to put elizabethan collar
Major lacerations and bleeding
can be life threatening, may need to be sutured (stitched) by a vet
Treatment (lacerations and bleeding)
-control bleeding
-direct pressure
-elevation
-bandage if appropriate
get professional help right away
Lameness/limping causes (5)
variety of causes like:
- injury*
- inflammation
- anatomic defect
- cancer
- degenerative disease (arthritis)*
*most common
Onset of limping
can be:
- sudden (acute onset)
- develop more slowly over time, like a chronic disease
Common causes of non injury limping (4)
- patellar luxation (caused by kneecap slipping out of the joint)
- hip/elbow dysplasia
- arthritis
- cancer
When is limping an emergency? (4)
- fractures, dislocations
- bleeding that doesnt stop in a minute or two
- severe swelling
- dragging limbs
Shock
results from circulatory failure; can be made worse by medical conditions (diarrhoea, kidney disease)
Predisposing causes of shock(5)
- ill health
- overworking
- exercising in excessively hot (hyperthermia)/cold (hypothermia) climates
- dehydration
- trauma
Symptoms (shock) (4)
- weak and lethargic/collapse
- heart rate persistently elevated >150 bpm
- pale mucus membranes
- slow capillary refill time
Treatment (shock)
- place dog on side with head extended (so it can breathe)
- gently pull out dogs tongue (keep airway open)
- elevate hindquarters slightly; place on pillow or folded towels (push blood back to heart)
- wrap dog in blanket (conserve body heat
- keep dog quiet and get vet advice immediately
