Act right in an emergency

First aid can save lives - that applies to humans and animals alike! It is a variety of emergencies that necessitate rapid care - for small injuries, to restore well-being as quickly as possible and to avoid worse consequences, in life-threatening situations, to increase the patient's chance of survival.

Watching the dog closely even after minor incidents

Many small incidents seem almost everyday in dog life and are often perceived by longtime dog owners as a problem. In the cold season, these include not least the frequent paw injuries caused by grit and salt, which can cause both painful and avoidable problems. As a result of the often sharp edges of the chippings or even frozen snow, little visible micro injuries, small tears in the bale cornea, can penetrate the bales of the dog pawp, through which salt can penetrate. If the dog then tries to "treat" the burning paws by intensive licking, the way to Schleckekzemen and inflammation in the inter-toe area is not far away. Various care products and above all a thorough paw-cleaning after the walk are effective preventive measures and the optimal "first aid" in these cases. Even the "small sprain" after the joint skating outdoors should not show any signs of lameness after two days at the latest - otherwise the way to the vet is indicated in any case. And regardless of the seasons: The extent of superficial sometimes only slightly visible bite injuries is often underestimated. However, dog bites always result in an infected wound that requires antiseptic cleaning and should be treated by a veterinarian! A particularly intensive observation of the four-legged friend is indicated if the uncontrolled intake of supposedly edible food could not be prevented. In addition to massive gastrointestinal problems poisoning can also cause neurological symptoms, foreign bodies can lead to a variety of internal injuries, so that at the slightest change - this includes in particular a puffiness of the mucous membranes in the event of internal bleeding! - The fastest possible course to the veterinarian is necessary.

Keep calm enables consistent action

To make conscious decisions and consistently do the right thing for the life of the four-legged friend, a clear mind and a superior handling of the situation by far the most important prerequisites. Fear and panic are always bad guides! "Easy said" may be thought of, but also the implementation of it becomes all the easier and more natural, the more intensively one deals with one or the other possible emergency situations in advance. First aid courses offered by various veterinary clinics also provide an excellent opportunity to familiarize yourself with the necessary basic knowledge and to practice some possibly necessary hand movements. First and foremost, the focus is on checking the most important vital functions that can help to assess the overall condition of the patient.

Variety of acute emergency situations

On the fastest way to the vet! - That is one of the basic rules that have the highest priority in any emergency situation. But the time between the event and the arrival at the vet can and must be used to protect the four-legged patient and increase his chances of survival. For example, in cases of heavy bleeding, initial treatment should be provided with a compression bandage. Cooling the affected body area can also be helpful. Open injuries, such as an open fracture or eyeball injury, an eyeball injury must be covered with a clean, damp cloth during transport to the veterinarian. The transport of the injured animal should take place in a lateral position and especially in case of paralysis or suspected spinal injuries on a fixed immovable base, a board or a parcel shelf. If breathing and heartbeat fail, trained first-aid training can be lifesaving for well-trained, mouth-to-nose and chest compressions. A resuscitation attempt can be successful and useful for up to 30 minutes! If the heartbeat and breathing have started again, the patient must be taken to the vet immediately! The stomach rotation is known to many pet owners as an absolute emergency. Restlessness, futile attempts at crushing, and a tummy initially inflated are the most important symptoms that require immediate action. Every minute counts! And that is precisely why it is vital in this emergency, immediately to visit a clinic in which an OR team is immediately available and where the patient can ideally be taken care of in the hospital after surgery. An early confrontation with the concrete possibility of getting into such a situation with the beloved four-legged friend proves to be a lifesaving basis in case of emergency, without hesitation and almost automatically making the right decisions. An equally common and often associated with acute respiratory distress are foreign bodies in the mouth and throat. Wood and bone parts are as much a major source of danger as balls, chestnuts or stones that get stuck in the throat or larynx area. Foreign objects should only be removed immediately if this is easily possible or there is an acute respiratory distress. A ball in the throat can be massaged from the outside to the front. Spilled foreign objects such as a stick may only be removed by the veterinarian!

Winter emergency: hypothermia

The heat stroke in the summer overheated car is unfortunately still a reality and is often discussed. Likewise, under certain circumstances, winter temperatures can lead to hypothermia or frostbite. In order to prevent a circulatory collapse, the warm-up must necessarily be slow: approx. 1 degree Celsius per hour! If the body temperature has not dropped below 32 degrees with a slight hypothermia, the dog can be wrapped in blankets to use the body's own mechanisms for warming up. In case of increased hypothermia, additional heat sources such as thermal blankets or a heat lamp should be used, whereby care should be taken that the body is heated first, ie the chest and abdomen in front of the limbs. If the body temperature has dropped below 28 degrees Celsius, the patient requires warm infusions, chest and abdominal irrigation, and the warm-up must be carried out exclusively by the veterinarian.

The most important life functions:

"TAPS" helps to a fast and easy to find overview!

T - Temperature: In the dog, the body temperature is measured rectally with a clinical thermometer and is usually between 37.5 and 38.5 degrees.

A - Breathing: The dog's chest should lift and lower with the breaths (not the belly!). The breaths should be counted for one minute. At rest are in a small dog 20 to 40 breaths per minute, in a large dog 10 to 30 in the normal range.

P - Pulse: The pulse is palpable in the dog in the middle of the inner thighs. Here, the beats (heartbeats) should be counted for one minute. Again at rest, 80 to 120 beats per minute are normal in a small dog, in a large dog 60 to 80 beats crestor medicine.

S - Mucous membranes: By raising the lids, the color of the gums can be controlled. It should be pink, moist and shiny. In addition, the capillary filling (filling of the smallest blood vessels) can be checked with a short finger pressure on the gums. The spot whitened by the pressure should have returned to a uniform pink color after a maximum of two seconds.

We make it!"

First aid requires a basic knowledge of the most important body functions, decision-making power and willingness to act. Necessary manipulations, which anyone can do in principle, can be life-saving. They require courage from the owner and sometimes courageous access. No, no excuses! The thought that this is not feasible and the fear of harming the four-legged friend or causing him pain are now out of place. "We can do it!" Is the only purposeful thought when it comes to taking the time between a life-threatening medical emergency and arriving at the vet - for LIFE! The medical information of the article is based on documents from the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, for the course "First Aid for Dogs". Many thanks also to Priv.-Doz. Dr. Eva Eberspächer for helping to create this post.