Caring
Dog and puppy first aid
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As well as keeping your vet’s phone number on hand, it’s useful to know how you can give your dog first aid.
Bloated stomach
• If your dog's abdomen appears swollen and full of gas, phone your vet straight away.
Choking
• Try to open your dog’s mouth and remove the object.
• Remember to check the roof of their mouth.
• After you’ve got the object out, get your dog checked over by a vet.
Collapse
• Keep your dog’s airway free by extending their neck and holding their tongue out of the way.
• Seek help from a vet immediately.
Cut paw
• Wrap your dog’s paw in gauze dressing or a clean cloth.
• Never use an elastic band or tourniquet around the limb.
• Take them to the vet.
Diarrhoea
• Offer your dog small amounts of water
• Don’t feed your dog.
• Keep them warm and call the vet.
• If your dog’s stools contain blood, take them to the vet immediately.
Earache
• Don’t try to remove any foreign objects in your dog’s ear
• Call your vet to get your dog checked for infections.
Eye injury
• Don’t let your dog rub the affected eye.
• Try to rinse the eye with clean, warm water to remove anything that might be causing the problem.
• For a serious injury, cover your dog’s eye with damp gauze or a cloth.
• Call your vet.
Fit or seizure
• Remove your dog’s collar and make sure they’re away from any danger, such as stairs.
• Keep your dog’s airway free by extending their neck and holding their tongue out of the way
• Keep the room dark and quiet, and prevent sudden noises like doorbells and slamming doors.
• Make a note of the exact signs before, during and after the seizure.
• Call your vet as soon as possible.
Poisoning
• Call your vet immediately
• Take some of the toxin, or its packaging, to the vet with you.
Road accident
• Keep your dog as quiet, still and comfortable as you can.
• Restrain them if necessary to prevent further injury.
• Put pressure on any obvious wounds with a clean bandage or cloth.
• Call your vet as soon as possible.
Sting or snake bite
• For a wasp sting, keep your dog cool and avoid exercising them.
• If the stung area stays swollen for more than an hour, or if your dog’s breathing gets laboured, take them to the vet.
• For a bee sting, quickly remove the sting without squeezing it.
• For a snake bite, keep your dog as still as possible and take them to the vet.
Vomiting
• For persistent vomiting, take note of what your dog vomits.
• If possible, collect a sample for the vet to examine.
• Don’t feed your dog until you’ve seen the vet.
Bloated stomach
• If your dog's abdomen appears swollen and full of gas, phone your vet straight away.
Choking
• Try to open your dog’s mouth and remove the object.
• Remember to check the roof of their mouth.
• After you’ve got the object out, get your dog checked over by a vet.
Collapse
• Keep your dog’s airway free by extending their neck and holding their tongue out of the way.
• Seek help from a vet immediately.
Cut paw
• Wrap your dog’s paw in gauze dressing or a clean cloth.
• Never use an elastic band or tourniquet around the limb.
• Take them to the vet.
Diarrhoea
• Offer your dog small amounts of water
• Don’t feed your dog.
• Keep them warm and call the vet.
• If your dog’s stools contain blood, take them to the vet immediately.
Earache
• Don’t try to remove any foreign objects in your dog’s ear
• Call your vet to get your dog checked for infections.
Eye injury
• Don’t let your dog rub the affected eye.
• Try to rinse the eye with clean, warm water to remove anything that might be causing the problem.
• For a serious injury, cover your dog’s eye with damp gauze or a cloth.
• Call your vet.
Fit or seizure
• Remove your dog’s collar and make sure they’re away from any danger, such as stairs.
• Keep your dog’s airway free by extending their neck and holding their tongue out of the way
• Keep the room dark and quiet, and prevent sudden noises like doorbells and slamming doors.
• Make a note of the exact signs before, during and after the seizure.
• Call your vet as soon as possible.
Poisoning
• Call your vet immediately
• Take some of the toxin, or its packaging, to the vet with you.
Road accident
• Keep your dog as quiet, still and comfortable as you can.
• Restrain them if necessary to prevent further injury.
• Put pressure on any obvious wounds with a clean bandage or cloth.
• Call your vet as soon as possible.
Sting or snake bite
• For a wasp sting, keep your dog cool and avoid exercising them.
• If the stung area stays swollen for more than an hour, or if your dog’s breathing gets laboured, take them to the vet.
• For a bee sting, quickly remove the sting without squeezing it.
• For a snake bite, keep your dog as still as possible and take them to the vet.
Vomiting
• For persistent vomiting, take note of what your dog vomits.
• If possible, collect a sample for the vet to examine.
• Don’t feed your dog until you’ve seen the vet.