Accidents happen, even to dogs. Fortunately first aid for canines is very similiar to first aid for people, and you can just toss a few extra items in to your own first aid kit to ensure you're ready for anything your dog may get into, or buy a pre-packaged kit from a pet store. Although it is rare for dogs to suffer from heathstroke and hypothermia, occasional cuts and scrapes can easily be tended to at home. While it is always advised to contact your vet when anything happens to your dog, as there may be long term effects or deeper issues, it is equally important for you to know the signs and symptoms of some common dog injuries and illnesses so that you can provide the best first aid possible at the initial sign of a problem.

First Aid Kit

• copies of your dog's current records - license, vaccinations, certificate of health, records of unique conditions
• current medication that your dog is on, including a dosage chart and copy of the prescription
• pre-made Lost Dog poster, just in case, including current photo
• guaze in a variety of sizes and thickness
• non-adherent, sterile bandages
• surgical tape
• Ace self-adhering athletic wrap bandage
• cotton balls
• tweezers
• plastic baggies
• antibiotic ointment (polysporin is best)
• isopropyl alcohol
• hydrogen peroxide (to induce vomiting)
• petroleum jelly
• sterile eye drops (for flushing wounds, eyes, bites and stings)
• styptic powder
• rectal thermometer
• bandage scissors
• small syringe (for administering meds or rinsing wounds)
• pepto-bismol
• benadryl (can be used for allergies and bee stings - .5 mg/lb, max dose 2mg/lb)
• hydrocortisone ointment
• splints (paint stir sticks work great)
• blanket
• muzzle (dogs may bite under stress)
• instant ice pack
• tourniquet
• rubber gloves

Heatstroke

Heatstroke occurs when a dog can no longer regulate his body temperature of 102F. There are many reasons this can happen, even just running around on a hot day! A dog must inhale air cooler than their body temperature which is why leaving them in a closed car can quickly lead to heatstroke, even 80F air high in humidity has been known to cause a dog to overheat!

• excessive panting, high heart rate
• grey-pink to brick-red gums
• disorientation- staggering, wandering, a loss of coordination.
• wide, panicked eyes
• rectal temperature over 105

• you need to help decrease your dogs body temperature before you head to the vet
• move the dog to a cooler location (shade, inside an air-conditioned vehicle, inside the house)
• submerge in a cool water bath or, if outside, hose him - pay attention to the groin area where there are a lot of large blood vessels
• use a fan to blow cool air over his body, this helps with evaporation and cooling
• you can wrap ice packs in towels and apply them to his pits, neck and groin area
• offer small sips of cool water, ice cubes or popsicles
• Once his temperature starts to decrease, take him immediately to the vet for a follow-up check.

• DO NOT use ice or ice cold water directly on your dogs skin. This will shrink the blood vessels, making it harder for your dogs body to cool down

Cuts, Scrapes and Bites

Although you can administer first aid for most small cuts, scrapes and bites you should always take your furbaby to the vet for large wounds, bad bites and any cut that is bleeding profusely, they may require medications or stitches.

• persistent licking, scratching
• bleeding
• visible wounds
• limping

• clip as much loose hair from the wound as possible
• flush with cool-warm water
• rinse with antiseptic
• apply antibiotic
• cover with guaze, bandage and wrap
• re-dress at least daily, three times a day is reccomended

• bite wounds, although they often appear small, can have serious deep tissue bleeding or tears that should always be checked by a vet.
• in rare instances infections may get deep within a bite or puncture wound and require oral antibiotics
• if you dont see improvement in three days or the wound gets red, puffy or starts to pus CALL YOUR VET these are signs of infection!

Cut Pads

Most dog owners will have to deal with a cut pad at least once in their friends lifetime. Although these wounds can often bleed profusley, they are fairly easy to tend to and heal with little assistance.

• limping
• visible cut in the pad
• bleeding
• constant licking

• rinse the pad with cool water
• pick out any remaining particles with tweezers
• rinse with an antiseptic
• apply antibiotic
• wrap the entire foot first in guaze, then in an Ace bandage or similiar support wrap
• check and re-dress daily

• although a cut pad may bleed excessively quick, proper and attentive care will have your doggy healed up within two weeks.
• if there is persistent limping beyond a few days, call your vet - this is a sign of possible damage within the pad
• baby socks work wonderfully for covering a bandaged foot

Broken Toenails

It is important to keep your dogs nails clipped, long nails will force them to shift their weight to the backs of their feet causing discomfort and a higher risk for injury. You should clip nails every few weeks, being careful not to cut below the quick which will cause pain and excessive bleeding.

• limping
• fractured, hanging or missing nail
• bleeding

• trim any pieces that are haning by thin strands
• if bleeding is persistent, you can pack styptic powder, bar soap, cornstarch or flour into the nail

• if the nail is fractured but still mostly attached you can use super glue to stabilize it before heading to the vet where she can check for internal bleeding and adminster proper care
• although rare, a break close to the base of the nail can cause an infection in your dogs toe
• keep an eye on the nail and watch for limping beyond a few days

Frostbite

Defined as damage to the tissue caused by below freezing temperatures. It is easy to miss the symptoms in your dog since they are covered in hair, but the feet, scrotum, ears, nose and tail are most often affected. Frostbite is hard to treat, your primary concern is getting your dog to the vet as quickly as possible. Especially before hypothermia sets in.

• shivering
• limping (frostbitten toes will be painful!)
• white or black skin cold to the touch
• do not treat black skin, proceed immediately to your vet as this is aleady dead tissue and most likely needs to be amputated

• dip the affected area in WARM water (hot water can cause severe tissue damage and/or burns)
• spread warm vaseline across the skin
• you can use hot water bottles and heating pads wrapped in a towel to carefully rewarm the skin
• as the skin warms it will turn red and may become painful, use caution as your dog may bite under stress
• some skin may become hard (mummification) as it heals and need to be removed by your vet

• do not rub or massage the area as this can cause severe complications from the release of toxins into already damaged tissue
• any tissue that has been frostbitten is more prone to future complications, it is important to keep a close eye on your dog in the cold
• do not attempt to warm the skin if re-freezing is possible, as this will cause extensive tissue damage

Hyporthermia

Prolonged exposure to cold temperatures can cause hypothermia in your pet. It is important to acclimate any animal to temperature change. If your dog is not used to spending long periods of time outside in the cold he will be affected more quickly than a dog who is used to spending hours playing in cold temperatures. Hypothermia occurs in varying degrees ranging from "a chill" that is easily remedied by getting the dog active and re-warmed, to the actual shutting down of body-systems, and eventually death. The dog has natural body responses to cold; piloerection which is the erection of individual hair follicles in the coat, trapping air and heat around the body; vasoconstriction which is the constriction of blood vessels in outer tissue, re-directs the majority of blood to the core of the body where heat is most needed; and shivering, the bodies attempt to generate heat.

• low body temperature, under 97F
• shivering, until extreme hypothermia sets in and the dog no longer can shiver
• sluggishness, lack of response, weakness, stupor or unconsciousness

• if the dog is only slightly cold, and still has energy try to get him to run around and warm himself up
• warm the dog by wrapping him in a blanket, or your own body
• apply hot water bottles or a heat pad wrapped in a towel
• place the dog by a heater, or in a heated car
• in severe cases internal warming via IVs and other vet-administed procedures

• proceed immediately to the vet once he starts to warm up, there are long-term effects of hyporthermia that can cause death days after he has been treated
• if your dog falls through ice or into ice-cold water, wrap him in a blanket, get him into a heated car and head straight to the vet!

Ticks

• scratching or licking in one repeated spot
• a smooth, grey-brown swelling often on the nose, face and ears. also around the neck and on legs

• use tweezers to slowly pull the bug out of your dogs skin, being careful not to break off any mouth or head pieces
• a tick will usually release its bite after 30 seconds of slow pulling, reducing the risk of breaking off its head and leaving it in the wound potentially causing infection
• drop the tick in a bottle of alcohol (isopropyl) to drown it
• apply antiseptic to the bite
• you can also dab Frontline around the tick which will kill it within a few hours, although the tick will remain attached to your pet for a few days, it should eventually shed out
• you can also apply liquid soap to a cotton ball, cover the tick for 20 seconds, when you pull the cotton ball away the tick should release his bite

• DO NOT use hot matches, petroleum jelly or alcohol to attempt to remove a tick, studies have shown these don't work, and matches have been known to cause skin injuries
• ticks swell from 1mm to 15mm as they feed on your pet
• they are often mistaken for a mole or wart at initial glance
• if the tick is deeply imbedded or you are unsure of your ability to remove it, take your dog to the vet to prevent possibly leaving the head in the animals skin, causing irritation, infection and possibly disease
• if the head of a tick is left in the skin of your dog he may develop a large swelling requiring surgery
• if you are going into tick country, be prepared to look your dog over a few times while you're out and give him (and yourself) a thorough comb-over when you return home
• the early detection and removal of ticks will decrease the chances of your dog getting a tick-borne illness or infection

Mosquitoes

• If your pet is bothered by mosquitoes you can spray him with a repellant, just don't use one containing DEET as this may cause neurological problems in both cats and dogs.
• Remember to use heartworm protection. Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes.
• Many dog-specific products are available and offer flea, tick and mosquito protection - Frontline, K9 Advantic, etc.
• The effectiveness of essential oils such as tea tree and pennyroyal has not been proven and may cause severe problems in your dog, including weakness, liver problems, paralysis and even seizures.