Mastering First Aid For Dogs Is Much More Than Just Having A First Aid Kit
There is a well-known saying that "Curiosity killed the cat." But dogs are no better since they are definitely inquisitive and have a habit of going places and getting into circumstances that they shouldn't. Although this doesn't always end badly, they in some cases do end up injuring themselves by some means so it's a good idea to learn some dog first aid.
Somewhere around the time my Lhasa Apso was three or four months old she managed to find a previously unknown patch of burrs in the backyard and chose to play in it for awhile. When she came back inside the house the burrs had already worked themselves firmly into areas on her face, her ears and her little fluffy behind.
It was late so the Vet was already closed and a trip to the animal hospital would certainly have been extremely expensive. So she had to put up with my tearful yet laughing undertaking as I was able to one by one work those burrs out of her hair as she struggled and yelped for well over two hours. They were matted so severely and near to the skin that cutting them out was not possible.
A tranquilizer would have been nice to have but I didn't have a single thing for her. And since there was no blood or life-threatening injury, heading for the emergency hospital was a choice ... that time.
That is a heart breaking yet amusing story to describe and hopefully an experience she has forgotten through the years. It was also a little thing although very painful and difficult for both of us. But it might have been more serious.
As a responsible pet owner you really should know at least basic first aid for dogs to allow you to be prepared for more life-threatening emergencies. You will often be able to save on Vet charges for smaller problems like the one I had. But you might also find yourself in a situation where you need to help lessen your pup's pain or carry out life-saving actions until you can get to the Vet.
Having a dog first aid kit is without a doubt a wise decision but you also need to know what to do in a true emergency. Be sure you have phone numbers handy for both your regular Vet as well as the local animal emergency facility. And learn about basic canine first aid yourself.
I've never had to provide life-saving medical actions for my family dog and maybe you haven't needed to either. But would you know simply how much to do if faced with a life-threatening situation connected with your pet dog?