Dog First Aid

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My education is in Veterinary care. I put together this information as a post on my main blog but so many people came there seeking this information I decided to put it in one easy to find location.

If you have a question please post it in the section marked “questions” and I will reply there within 24 hours. I am happy to answer any questions you have but I discourage people from posting their own ideas and information about Veterinary medicine. For example I had a little boy who worked at a pet store leave a public comment suggesting people use a medicine which was very dangerous for dogs and potentially fatal.
I hope the info you are seeking is here, if not please ask your question.

Baby Aspirin or uncoated 81 mg heart health aspirin:
My dog has pain / fever / inflammation.
The aspirin dose for a dog is apx 80 mgs per 15 pounds. Never use aspirin for a cat and never use Tylenol or Ibuprofen on a dog or cat. Depending on the severity of pain you can repeat the dose every 8 – 12 hrs but you shouldn’t continue for more than a few days because it is hard on their tummies. I only give it after a full meal.

Benadryl:
My dog has had an allergic reaction / hay fever / bee sting / insect bites / scratching / chewing on his feet or body / is swollen.
If you have a dog you should carry Benadryl with you where ever you go with your dog in the warm months. It could mean the difference between life and death. Seriously, a dog can die from a bee sting.
The dose is apx 10 – 12 mg for every 20 pounds of dog. Don’t worry, you are not going to over dose your dog if you are a one or two mgs over. The tabs are 25 mgs. So if your dog is 35 – 40 pounds that is perfect. If you have a small dog like me, split the pills in half.
When a dog gets an allergic reaction we instinctively want to double the dose, don’t. It won’t really hurt them but it could cause dysuria (pain when peeing), dry mouth and even more lethargy than Benadryl normally causes.
**Never use liquid Benadryl, it contains alcohol which is a dangerous to dogs and in some cases even fatal. Don’t do it, don’t even think about it!!!
I should also mention that if a dog is chewing at his feet he may have something stuck in a pad, like a grass seed. This can be very painful and get infected. You may need a Vet to remove it for you.

Pepto-Bismol:
My dog has diarrhea and other gastro problems
I recommend that before you medicate a dog for Diarrhea you try feeding him a mixture of 4 parts cooked rice to 1 part cooked ground beef. Failing that the dose is 1 teaspoon twice a day for ever 10 pounds of dog. So, if you have a 20 pound dog give 2 teaspoons and 12 hrs later give another two teaspoons.
Pepto-Bismol contains an ingredient called “salicylate”, this is a fancy word for aspirin. Aspirin can kill a cat and a very painful, horrible way. Although in very small dose you can use Pepto on a cat I don’t recommend trying it. Talk to your Vet.

Milk of Magnesia
My dog is constipated.
Like with anything else you want to be sure that your dog isn’t constipated due to a serious illness. However sometimes things like a change in diet or stress can cause a dog to become constipated. The Milk of Magnesia dose is 1 teaspoon for every 10 pounds of dog.

My Dog Is Bleeding / Cut:
If your dog is seriously injured he will be frightened and prone to biting, keep that in mind and if you are able to get help restraining him do so. Reach under the dogs head and press the side of his neck and head against you. This way you won’t hurt him or choke him.
Find the wound location. Is the cut spurting blood, flowing blood quickly or just a cut / bite / puncture wound?
If the wound is spurting blood or the blood if flowing rapidly there may be an injury to a vein or artery.
You must apply a tourniquet. You can use just about anything for this purpose, even a shoelace if you have nothing else. Apply the tourniquet a couple inches above the wound. Just tight enough to stop the blood flow, any tighter and he may loose his vein or worse, depending on how long the tourniquet is on. You must get to the Vet ASAP. If it takes time to get there move the tourniquet up an inch every 15 minutes. Preferably you will have a second tourniquet so you can place the new one before moving the old one. Remember blood comes from the heart, so if you are able to keep the leg above the heart.
When the dog has a cut which has not affected a vein or artery dress the wound. Clean the wound with a little peroxide or soap and water. Flush gently with cool water, pat dry with a clean paper towel. Apply nonstick or “ouch less” pad and wrap with a tensor bandage. Keep the wound clean and apply a fresh dressing a few times a day, watch for signs of infection. Polysporin is safe for dogs if you wish to add a little to the nonstick pad. Personally I do not use antibiotic or antibacterial medications unless there is infection present or it relates to the eyes. You will need to judge for yourself if the dog needs Vet attention for the wound.

My Dog Has Ingested Poison:
If your dog has ingested a poison such as antifreeze, cleaning product or a large quantity of chocolate (or any chocolate with a high cocoa content) you must induce vomiting and get to a Vet ASAP. Inducing vomiting is easy, get the dog to drink some peroxide. It is not poisonous or fatal to the dog but it is a highly effective emetic. The dose is 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of dog. You usually don’t have to force feed peroxide, they like it.

My Dog Is Itchy / Has Flea Bites / Has Rash:
If your dog is itchy and you know the cause you can make him more comfortable with Calamine lotion. It is perfectly safe but like anything else they want to lick it off. It you apply it to an area of the dog where they can reach, and they lick at it simply cover with a little gauze and tensor bandage.

My Dog Has Scratched His Eye / My Dog Has And Eye Infection:
In both cases you can use Polysporin Eye (sterile antibiotic for infections of the eye)
If the infection or scratch hasn’t noticeably improved in 24 hours get to the Vet. You don’t want to mess around with your dogs eyes. If you are treating an infection yourself keep the treatment going 3 – 5 applications a day for 5 – 7 days.
When you are using any kind of antibiotic the first half of the treatment is for the infection and the second half of the treatment is to prevent secondary infections.

There are lots of human meds that you can use for a dog, just make sure you don’t try any without checking a reliable resource first (NOT A PET STORE!).
You should have a little first aid kit for your dog. All you really need a a big ziploc bag. If everything is in one place there will be less confusion when it is needed. Here is a sample list of the types of things you should have in your kit.

Peroxide
Nonstick pads
Gauze (pads and roll)
Tourniquet (is twine or shoelace)
Tensor Bandage
Scissors (to cut bandages etc.)
Alcohol pads
Q-tips
Aspirin
Benadryl (probably the most important medication)
Polysporin
Polysporin for Eyes
Calamine Lotion
Pepto-Bismol (refrigerator)
Tweezers

Important:
While working at the Vet clinic we had one serious reoccurring problem. Owners who made the sometimes tragic error of asking the petstore for advice instead of us.
I suppose people did it to save a few bucks but in doing so they ended up with a pet who was much more ill than it needed to be and on a few occasions, DEAD.
How anyone could think a kid with high school education and minimum wage is capable of providing the same care and advice of a person educated in Veterinary care is beyond me.
It is heartbreaking to think of the number of times we asked people, “why did you do that?!” That was the worst thing you could have done!” Why did you let this go on for so long?!” The reply always came back the same, “the pet store said so” or “the pet store said it wasn’t serious.”
Pet stores are in the business of selling, that is all. Unfortunately, peddling misinformation helps them to keep business up. Remember, Pet Stores have always been the single largest problem in animal welfare. Buy your pet food there not your medical care, your pet will thank you, he will be able to because he will live to do so.

Stupid Disclaimer:
This information is not meant to replace the care of a Veterinarian. I know first hand that not all of us can afford to go to the Vet every time the dog has an off day. This information is meant to stop people from doing the wrong thing or worse, nothing at all. It is also intended to make sure that in emergency cases you know what to do to improve your dogs chances before you get to the Vet.

Yes, you have permission to repost this document on the Internet or reprint it, as a matter of fact I encourage you to do so. I would appreciate credit with a link back to me of course.

Update:
Had to close comments due to harassment. Sorry, I guess some people have nothing better to do with their time…

// posted by captain_howdy_girl @ 5:51 PM

This is a video of me giving my dog a pill. The instructions are below.

Here is an easy dog cookie recipe, after much trial and error I came up with this. Please link back to me if you republish it.

3 ½ cups whole wheat flour (start with 2 ½ cups and add the last cup gradually until dough is no longer sticky)
1 egg
½ cup oil (I use peanut or olive but anything is fine)
1 can of beef or chicken broth (you can substitute a can of undrained tuna but you must store tuna cookies in the fridge and use within a week)
Add a little punch (add whatever you like for the last ingredient, maybe a teaspoon of garlic powder or a dollop of peanut butter or a ½ a cup of cheese, be creative and think like a dog!)

Set over to 300. Cook for 30 minutes or so, depending on size of treats.
Mix ingredient and roll out to ¼ inch thickness. Cut into the correct size for your dog. You can use cookie cutters if you want to make fancy treats. My dogs don’t really care what the look like.
The key to making a crunchy cookie is cooking for a longer time at a low temp and cooling on the cookie sheet. The dog cookies may not be crunchy when you take them out of the oven but if you cool them on the cookie sheet they will crunch up. Do not store until they are totally cool)

// posted by captain_howdy_girl @ 11:09 PM

Treat me kindly, my beloved guardian, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for your love and kindness than mine.
Do not break my spirit with harsh words or a stick, for although I will forgive you. I learn much better through your patience and understanding the things you would have me do.
Speak to me often, for your voice is the worlds sweetest music as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when I hear you call my name.
Please want me with you always, for my joy springs from your attention, and I ask no greater glory than your love and the privilege of your company.
Please keep my bowl filled with fresh water, and feed me clean food that I may stay well to romp and play. I live to be with you and make you happy, to walk by your side, standing ready to protect you with my life should your life be in danger.
And dearest one, if my suffering is too great, please see that my leaving is gentle and loving, and you stay with me to the very end as I have stayed with you.
My beloved guardian, I will give you all the love I have to give, and I will keep all the love you give me.
I shall leave you ten, knowing even in my sorrow, with the last breath I draw, that our time together was precious and beautiful, and my life was always safe in your hands.

// posted by captain_howdy_girl @ 2:24 PM

doggydiapers.org | First and Best

The attractive “dog diapers” may be lovely. Here’s no intention a sick pet has to be old-fashioned if the dog is up and about to it. You, may also have enough deadlines so I’m including a few hyperlinks here to reduce your look for so your dog has supplementary of you, earlier.
So you’ve made the decision to create a non reusable appear in good health or similar to the all-in-one but, not insane about jean material or discovering too little shade alternatives. What do you perform? With thus countless options, wherever do you set up?
Previously your dog has the assist nappy he otherwise she requires, you can always buy fashionable nappies to put on above any dog diapers. You require the nappy first, to be able to buy the appropriate dimension protect. This website is a fantastic purchasing on the internet website, from here you can buy any fashionable dog diapers which dimension you need.
My viewpoint is provided that the developer disposables stay only accessible in shops, it’s more affordable to buy protect gains or the all-in-ones as well as attach iron-on areas to them, attached on lace or whatever thing with no reduce items the dog might fleece and take. Your dog might not like dog diapers – sufficient to attempt to chew on them to obtain them off, until they fit – and they do modify. (Fabric indicators (NOT PAINT) is also a way to add some design to bright nappies although this is very time consuming).
Usually, the measurement the protect jeans for not reusable, is one dimension up however, based on how they cover up your dog and the design, it might be two styles up so, buy the nappies first.
Sellers who comprehend protect jeans provide those that have a curved design, even skirted nappies because they are huge sufficient to go over a secure, efficient nappy.

Dog diapers are practical for housebreaking, as well as female pets in heat, male pets that mark their area in your home or ill or incontinent pets. Before buying diapers for your dogs, it’s important to know the following:

Dog diapers 

come in different sizes for different types. You need to know your pet’s weight and waistline dimension to choose the right dimension. Remember, measurement maps vary from product to product. If you have a male dog, you might want to buy diapers that are one dimension larger than recommended.

Dog diapers 

come in non reusable and fabric variations. Disposable nappies are more practical and keep more liquid, but are more expensive. Cloth nappies are cheaper and better for your dog and for the environment, but are less practical.

Dog nappies are usually only made to keep pee. If you want nappies that will keep waste, be sure to read the package carefully before buying.

There are three basic types of dog diapers:

Belly band nappies have compact devices that cover around your pet’s tummy. They’re only for male dogs.

Full diapers, which have an opening at the end, go over your pet’s bottom and close at the sides like a child’s nappy.

Suspender or utilizes nappies have used or suspenders to keep them from dropping down.

Dog diapers come in all sorts of styles and styles to suit your taste (or your dogs).

If your dog is incontinent, take him to an animal medical practitioner before putting him in diapers. Often, the condition can be handled.

If you decide to use

diapers for dogs

, make sure you change them often. A wet or unclean nappy can cause skin problems and bladder attacks. If your dog would wear nappies day and night, you should clean its genital area three or four times a day.

Dog diapers are very beneficial for your dog. It allows you to clean your dear puppy or dog so easily while it pooped. You don’t have to look any types of trouble if your dog uses dog diapers all the time. If you desire to get diapers for dogs then this website, doggy diapers is the best for this. Our dog diapers quality is extremely fine and also attractive. We have also reusable diapers which you can wash and re-use easily for your pets. And it will also save your money. You don’t have to buy a lot of nappies for your special dogs. Our diapers are made from cotton so that Your dog will feel comfortable by wearing it. We have also a lot of design for dog diapers. You just have to select one from our lots of products and buy for your dogs with very low cost.

Dog diapers

I can’t refuse it; my dog is well into her fantastic decades and nearing the end of her time with me. I try not to experience too sad about it, but rather concentrate on all the excitement we’ve had together (and still have). There are, however, some certain disadvantages to the actual part of getting mature, such as firm, arthritis joint parts creating such easy factors as ascending stairways or starts up to challenge and sometimes absolutely challenging.

I’ve viewed my pet’s volatile manner in this respect. With the model operating extra time maintaining her bed linen fresh, plus the wellness hazards associated with having an incontinent dog in the family it sometimes seems like all my spare time is taken up creating sure my dog is fresh and comfortable; however, I’ve come up with some alternatives that have steered me plenty of your energy, associated with cleanliness and may offer some help for others in an identical scenario dog diapers .

At first I sensed it was embarrassing and undignified for my dog to be dressed in diapers, but the perform they’ve stored me has modified my thoughts on that consideration. There’s still some cleanup engaged, but most of enough time I’m able to take the baby nappy off my dog before she appears up, thereby maintaining most of the clutter off of her thereby basically demands a fast cleanup  of her back end with the dog diapers.

I really like the wet-wipes created by Canus Natural Dog Items (the creators of Goat’s Dairy for humans).  Other periods she will need a more thorough washing outside in the garden. I’ve got my program down pat. I take her outside (she’s very excellent at status still while I clean her). I complete a pail with trouble, add some over her returning end and then my hair shampoo her posterior. The first hair shampoo gets rid of most of the ground and smellier while the second hair shampoo creates her squeaky fresh and lovely sensing. After a towel-dry, she prepares for her day stroll. When we’re returning within again, the baby nappy goes returning to.

If you’re thinking where you can choose up dog diapers you can get them in fairly much any pet shop and I thinkdoggy diapers is best for this.

A lot of people have a couple of misconceptions of dog diapers. Even more people do not actually know such clothing for pets exist in the first place. But once they know the essential information about this incredible product, they realize how it can make life so much easier at home.

To begin with, diapers for dogs are also known as dog nappies or belly bands. These are absorbent clothing made of high quality material such as fiber that are especially made in order to be comfortable when worn by the canine. Think of them as human short pants but designed for dogs. Your pet simply wears the diaper like short pants with a flexible strapping so it can fit perfectly around the waist.

Pet diapers also come in various forms. The designs are not solely intended for aesthetics but rather address the anatomical differences between male and female pets; the way male pets urinate is not similar to how their female counterpart expel their urine. Furthermore, the kind of pet you have and its size needs to be reflected by the diaper in order for it to perform as intended. Pet owners must remember this so that they won’t mistake dog diapers for cat diapers.

Belly band dog products, as well as diapers for other pets, do not necessarily cost a large sum of money. Some manufactures design their diapers in such a way that they can be washable and reused over multiple times before buying another. At most times, only two diapers are needed per pet, one of which is kept as spare and used when the other one is being washed and then dried.

Many health conditions of dogs are also dealt with using belly band for dogs. For example, dogs can suffer from urinary incontinence or the inability to control urination. Urination is also frequent during emotional outbursts and female dog menstruation. Thanks to the dog diapers, odor brought about by the bacteria in the urine can also be eliminated, keeping the home smelling nice and refreshing.

If pet owners are worried of their dogs and cats unwilling to wear nappies, they will be happy to know that in most cases pets do not react badly to wearing these products. In the event that they get irritated though, one solution is to train them and give them treats whenever the diaper is worn. That way, pets can relate nappies to having a pleasant experience.

Your dog is in a state of urinating frenzy, marking his territory all over the house and reeking the place of unpleasant odor. You just love him too much that dumping him is not option. On the other hand, you cannot afford expensive treatments and gadgets to control your dog’s out-of-control bladder behavior. This is where dog diapers come into the picture. Pretty much these are worn just like how human babies wear them, with the distinct exception that doggy diapers have tail-holes. They are useful pet clothing to help manage urination problems in the house. There are a lot of these products available at either local or online stores. In order to save money however, making these diapers, like belly bands for dogs, by yourself is a good idea. With proper sewing skills and the right amount of creativity, a quality diaper with a good-looking design can be made.

It is important to note that in order for Dog Diapers to work as intended, the pet owner must first determine which pet is to be clothed. In general dogs are larger in size than felines; hence, using a cat diaper on your canine is not recommended. The gender of the pet is also important, especially for dogs. This is because of the structure of the sex organ is different between a dog and a bitch, the female dog. Diapers for dogs specially for male are called belly bands.

The first step in creating a diaper is to have the pet in a standing position so you can measure around its stomach, which is on average about 20 inches. A strip of fabric is then cut accordingly to the measured length, with a width of around 10 inches or depending on the size of the dog. Next, the fabric strip is folded lengthwise. Afterwards a little bit of sewing the fabric is performed to shape the fabric so it can fit comfortably for the dog. Inside the diaper is the liner pad which is placed according to the position of the genitals.

Both dog diapers male and female types can be very convenient, saving you a lot of money that would have been spent on unnecessary surgery or medication. Dogs and cats can be excessively emotional, causing them to urinate at inappropriate times. Admittedly, there are indeed times when expensive treatments are necessary. Conditions such as dog incontinence are a serious matter which the local veterinarian must be consulted for the best solution.

One way of managing the illness in dogs causing inability to control their bladder or bowels, otherwise known as incontinence in dogs, is to use dog diapers. Using such clothing eliminates the undesirable and unexpected ruinations that may occur anywhere in the house.

While using doggy diapers leave the house free of urine odor, improper use of the diapers can cause rashes, which are harmful to your pets and even worsens their health condition. At first, the skin irritation will set off burning, itching, and inflammation and eventually lead to bacterial infections in the genital area. That is why knowing the advantages along with drawbacks of using diapers are a plus when your pet is unfortunately enduring incontinence.

Not all cases of sudden urination by the dog should be attributed to urinary incontinence. At times, cats and dogs urinate due to sudden display of emotion like anxiety, excitement and agitation. Moreover, other ailments such as bladder problems, spinal cord damage, and urinary tract infections manifest sudden urination as one of their symptoms. The pets may sporadically urinate, or even defecate, at unlikely places in the house.

Consultation from an experienced veterinarian is advisable in order to know the best solution for your pet’s condition since urinary incontinence can be very hard to deal with. Sometimes oral medication is enough to control bladder movement. On the other hand, surgery may be the most appropriate treatment. In the unfortunate case that the incontinence cannot be treated, pet owners will have to resort to using pet diapers.

Having your dog wear diapers, or cat diaper if you have a feline, requires shaving the fur in the genital area so the urine will be absorbed in the diaper. If this is not done, the urine may soak in the fur which will result to rashes and infections. If you are not sure of what to do, a pet grooming expert can handle the job for you. Applying hypoallergenic baby powder beforehand is also another consideration when putting diapers on. Frequent changing of diapers is also necessary particularly when feces are present in the diaper.

There are also different kinds of diapers which mainly address the kind of pet you have and their gender. For instance, dog diapers male type may be different from ones you use for female dogs. On the other hand, cats are usually smaller than canines; hence cat diapers are small in comparison to diapers for male dogs.

Pet owners can also be practical by using the following tips for pets. First, in order to reduce costs in buying belly band for dogs, dog owners can from time to time take the dog for a stroll and let it expel wastes outdoors. Also take note that most pets tend to have the urge to urinate or defecate half an hour after eating. It is important that someone must keep watch of the pet during this time if you yourself are not able to do so.

Blood stains are harder to remove and clean especially in clothing material, hence belly bands for dogs is also very applicable during dog menstruation.

Lastly, select companies manufacture dog nappies belly band dog products of excellent quality.