Dog sickness emergency care basics should be known to all pet owners, as there may be situations in which the dog will require immediate help. Offering urgent intervention may be critical in saving the dog’s life as it can take a while before you arrive to the vet.
Recognize Emergency Situations
The dog can get sick without displaying any symptoms or only mild symptoms. However, you should be able to differentiate between the dog’s normal behavior and abnormal behavior and recognize any unusual symptoms.
A dog may require emergency help if:
- He has pale gums
- He has vomited several times in the past hour
- Is unconscious
- Has a heat stroke
- Has had several seizures in 24 hours
- Is bleeding severely
Pale Gums Emergency Care
If the pet has pale gums, this may mean that the dog is hypoglycemic or has hypothermia or hypotension. This may also signal that the dog has lost a lot of blood.
You should make your dog comfortable and increase the room temperature. Add some blankets and rub some honey, maple syrup or sugar against his gums.
Call the vet and get to a clinic as soon as possible.
Repeated Vomiting
If the dog keeps on vomiting, you should get to the vet. Collect some vomit, as this can help identify if the dog has ingested a toxic material.
Unconsciousness
If your pet is unconscious you will need to keep him awake, to prevent any complications. The dog may have suffered a trauma or a head injury. Wrap the dog in a blanket and try to distract him with different activities or noises.
Seizures
If your pet has had several seizures in 24 hours, you need to get veterinary help. During a seizure, you should ensure the dog cannot hurt himself, so place a few pillows and blankets near him.
Seizures may be idiopathic, but may also signal poisoning.
Heat Stroke
A heat stroke can have grave consequences. When you notice your pet is drooling, panting or vomiting due to high temperatures, you will have to get some cold compresses and ensure the dog’s body temperature reaches a normal value.
Take your pet’s temperature to make sure he won’t get hypothermic.
Keep the dog in a car with air conditioning and drive to the vet.
Bleeding
If the pet is bleeding, you should try to stop the bleeding by applying some sterile compresses on the affected areas.
You should keep your pet warm by wrapping him in a few blankets.
Make sure he can breathe and rush to the vet. Don’t allow the dog to lick the area that is bleeding, as the contact with saliva can result in an infection.
You may clip the dog’s hair in the affected area.
On your way to the vet make sure you are calm, as this will help your pet keep calm.