Following is a collection of articles and information that I have shared with the GSMDCA, please enjoy and feel free to ask me any questions or to cover other topics. Please refer to the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America for all sorts of great information. This is all from the point of view as me, an emergency veterinarian. Always consult your vet for specific information about your pet.
What is an emergency?
•Pale gums
•Weakness, inability to rise or walk normally
•Gagging/retching especially without vomiting
•Dog bite wounds
•Intractable vomiting or diarrhea
•Severe lameness
•Any type of trauma including vehicular
•Labored breathing
•Any penetrating object
•Snakebite
•Temperature over 104
•Not eating- depending on the dog
•Seizures lasting more than 5 minutes or more than 2 in 24 hrs
First aid kit
•Muzzle and large sheet/blanket to use as a stretcher
•Gauze and bandaging material such as Vetwrap
•Blood clotting powder
•Thermometer
•Saline solution for cleaning out wounds or eyes
•Hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting- do not use for wounds
•Helpful medications (ask your vet for doses): pain medication of some type from your vet (no human pain medications), Benadryl, Immodium, Famotidine
First Aid
•First protect yourself- do not get bitten by a painful or unaware dog- use a muzzle or leash, and do not let other people get bitten
•If a dog is seizing, do not put your hands in or around their mouth- they cannot swallow their tongue, but do clear the area around them
•Try to remain calm as this will reassure the dog
•Get help- a large down dog is very hard to get in the vehicle yourself without hurting your back
•Can often roll them on to a blanket and use that as stretcher or can sometimes use it under their belly and they can walk on front legs
Choking
•Dog is pawing at his mouth and struggling to breathe, especially after eating a treat or playing with a toy
•Can try Heimlich although often does not work well in dogs
•Lay dog on side and punch/pound on chest at the end of the ribcage to try to dislodge object
•If the dog is standing up, stand behind them and apply sharp pressure up behind rib cage
•Try to stick hand in throat if possible- do not get bitten -and sweep object out with your finger
•Get to vet ASAP
CPR
•If your pet is not breathing, you can hold your hand around the muzzle and breathe into the nose with deep breaths
•Chest compressions- about 80 per minute with dog on his side- hard pressure in the middle of the chest more so that over the heart, do chest compressions about 20 times then breathe into muzzle about 4 times
•Stop once pet is breathing or heart beating
Bleeding
•Bandage the area if bleeding severely – do not make it too tight but if it is still bleeding through bandage, need to make it a bit tighter
•When stopping bleeding, it is important to apply pressure for about 5 minutes without peeking- blood stopping powder is good for external wounds (do not put toenail powder in wounds), large band-aids are good for ears- can also wrap around head
•Bandaging- gauze first, then soft bandage then vetwrap, tape if needed to hold it all on
•Pee pads/ diapers and loose duct tape work fine in an emergency