Keeping your pooch safe on the water and off!

Ok well, I just posted a long rant about Dog First Aid that I was reading to prepare for the Kayaking live shot on Monday (anyone still interested can come to Millerton Lake in Fresno on Monday!).... while reading, found a couple of interesting topics.... some that I won't mention are near misses with porcupines, skunks, etc... pad injuries, heat stroke, cpr, etc.  The book and dvd covers about 100 ailments.  Here are the few topics I outlined.  What I found interesting were that dogs eat fish hooks b/c they smell like fish.

If you have any question on ailments, I can try and answer your questions (I am NOT a vet tech, just referencing the Dog first aid book from Red Cross.  We do have a Cat First Aid book.)    

Every dog owner should have some basic first aid supplies on hand.  If your pet has special medical conditions, ask your veterinarian what additional items you should include.  Check your kit periodically to replace expired medicines and replenish used supplies.  The pet first aid kit can be stored in a small sturdy box.  Consider carrying a smaller version in your car.  Remember to keep all medications and medical supplies out of reach of young children and pets.

-   Absorbent compress
-   Adhesive tape, hypoallergenic
-   Antibiotic ointment
-   Blanket
-   Clean cloth
-   Cold compress
-   Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for allergic reactions
-   Dog First Aid Book
-   Expired credit card (to scrape away stingers)
-   Epsom Salts (to make saline solution)
-   Gloves
-   Glucose paste or corn syrup (if your pet is diabetic)
-   Grooming clippers
-   Hydrogen Peroxide, 3%
-   List of emergency numbers
-   Muzzle
-   Nail clippers
-   Needle-nose pliers
-   Nylon leash
-   Petroleum Jelly
-   Penlight
-   Rectal thermometer
-   Roll cohesive wrap
-   Roll gauze
-   Rubbing alcohol
-   Scissors
-   Sterile gauze pads
-   Sterile, water-based lubricant
-   Syringe
-   Sterile eye lubricant
-   Sterile saline eye wash
-   Styptic powder
-   Towel
-   Tweezers
-   Wire cutters (to cut off barb hooks)

Drowning
Even though dogs are generally good swimmers, they can experience near-drowning, especially if they have been heavily exercised before swimming or if they fall through thin ice.  Always keep an eye on your dog when near any body of water.
   The most common causes:
-   Animal Abuse
-   Boating accident
-   Disasters, such as flood
-   Falling through thin ice or falling into water from which they cannot escape
-   Not being able to exit a swimming pool
-   Small dog left unattended during a bath
-   Swimming too far out and getting fatigued or a muscle cramp

What you can do:
-   Fr an unconscious small dog, lift your dog up by the hind legs (you can suspend him if he is small enough) to allow water to come out the nose or mouth
-   For an unconscious larger dog, lift the hind legs with the front end on the ground so gravity can help expel the water
-   Lay your dog down on either side, with the head slightly lowered
-   Check the dogs ABCs ; perform CPR if needed
-      Small dogs – 1 breath and 5 compressions
-      Medium/large – 1 breath and 5 compressions/ large is 1 breath and 10 compressions

Fishhook Injuries
Dogs are curious creatures.  They often explore with their noses; if they smell an already-used fishhook, they may ingest the hook thinking there are fish remnants  on it or they may eat a fish with a hook in its mouth.  The most likely places for fishhooks to be found are around the face and muzzle, inside the mouth and on the paw.  It is possible for a dog to swallow a fishhook whole.

Signs
-   fishhook protruding from the skin; fishing line protruding from the mouth or anus.
-   Loss of appetite, painful mouth or excessive drooling

Most common causes
-   Accidental injury
-   Playing with or sniffing fishing equipment
-   Swallowing a baited hook

What you can do – Your dog should be taken to a vet for hook removal.  If it is not possible to get him to a vet, try the following
-   Push the hook through the exit wound until the barb is visible
-   Cut the barb off with a wire cutter
-   With the barb removed, pull the hook out backwards, the way it went in
-   Treat the wound (saline solution)
-   Even if you successfully remove the hook, take your dog to a vet for wound assessment and possible antiobiotic therapy.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a drastic reduction of body temperature and happens when dogs have been exposed to frigid temperatures for too long and the fur gets wet in a cold, windy environment.  When the body temperature drops, the heart rate and breathing slow down.  The consequences of extreme hypothermia include neurological problems, heart problems, kidney failure, slow or no breathing and frostbite

Signs and symptoms
-   Body temp below 95
-   Decreased heart rate
-   Pale or blue mucous membranes
-   Pupils that may be dialated
-   Shivering
-   Stupor, unconsciousness
-   Weak Pulse

What you can do
-   Remove your dog from the cold
-   Check the dog’s ABCS
-   Assess for shock
-   Take a rectal temp
-   Wrap your dog in a blanket
-   Place warm water bottles next to dog
-   Transport to a vet


Keep your furry family safe!