Canine First Aid Workshop

The workshop, held at the Bradbury summer camp in Standish, Maine, was attended by 23
humans and 20 dogs (16 of dogs were Chinooks!).

Chinooks New England! sponsored a workshop, skillfully presented by Eve (KC) Knowles, VMD. Eve, who received her degree in veterinary medicine nearly 25 years ago, gave a comprehensive presentation on basic canine first aid. After a delicious BBQ and potluck, we all retired to the porch overlooking the lake to learn about medical emergencies and what we can do to care for our dogs.

Eve covered an amazing range of topics in the hour presentation. Her two Labradors were able assistants, as she used them to demonstrate how to find a pulse, CPR techniques, muzzling an injured dog, restraint techniques, and bandaging.

We learned about signs of heatstroke and treatment of the same, what can be done in the event of respiratory emergencies, bleeding and broken limbs. Of course we reviewed what to do when there is a toenail injury and how to deal with the dreaded encounters with porcupines and skunks. It was helpful, thorough and interesting.

After the workshop, we migrated to the beach for a swim and lots of dog-play in the water.

The Bradbury's had containers of honey from their own bees for each family to take and Karen Fass brought quarts of blueberries for each family, too. We all went home edified with greater knowledge for responding to dog medical emergencies and fortified with fresh Maine goodies!

Cuts/Bleeding

Arterial - spurts, bright red. Pressure bandage or tourniquet. If tourniquet, release for 1 minute in every 10 and pad nerve points (elbow, knee). See vet immediately.
Venous - flows or seeps, darker red. Pressure bandage.
Surface bleeding - pressure pads
Cut pads - bandage. If deep, need sutures within 24 hours.
Broken/torn toenail - clip off broken piece, Kwik Stop, bandage.

Broken limbs

Signs: non-weight-bearing, abnormal angulation, rapid swelling

If high on leg (femur, humerus), leave alone. If low (radius, tibia), bandage. Use sticks to reinforce the splint. Leave limbs in as normal a position as possible if you can realign.

Heatstroke

Signs: panting, drooling, glassy eyes, comatose, seizures, death. If dog's temperature goes over 106 for even a few minutes, brain cooks.

Move to cool area, stand in cool water, immerse in cool water, IV fluids, antifever medications. Do not cool dog below 103 or he will become hypothermic.

Respiratory

Signs: Dog is gasping and unable to get air, cyanosis, collapse.

Check for foreign body in trachea. Reach in and try to grasp the object and remove. Modified Heimlich Maneuver: compress the trachea just below the larynx with a few quick squeezes. If no item in trachea, get to vets.

Seizures (Causes/treatment)

Heatstroke - treat as above
Epilepsy - wait until seizure stops. Don't put your hands near dog's mouth. Prevent dog from injury while seizing. Afterwards, rest, food and water. Limit exercise. Anticonvulsants. Status epileptics = emergency
Hypoglycemia - stress, overexercise, insulinoma, diabetes. Give karo syrup by mouth or IV fluids with dextrose. Feed ASAP, high protein and carbohydrates. Can be fatal.
Hyperglycemia = Diabetes. IV fluids, insulin. Can be fatal.
Other causes: trauma, poisoning, infectious diseases (i.e.distemper), brain tumor.

Epistaxis (nose bleed)

Cold compress, ice pack on bridge of nose, elevate head, gauze pack.

Eye injuries

Flush eye with water or saline, remove foreign bodies, use antibiotic ointment or Vaseline.

Bloat/Torsion

Signs: abdominal distension, panting, attempts to vomit but can't, pale or brick red gums, painful.

Treatment: surgical only. Get to vet immediately, after 2 hours the dog can't be saved.

Prevention: don't exercise the dog for 1/2 hour after eating. Don't give large meals or large amounts of water. Don't allow dog gas-producing food such as old meats, trash, dead animals, a lot of vegetables or muddy, stagnant water.

Most of the time when you notice a health problem, you will need to seek professional advice for a diagnosis.

Skin

Allergies - fleas and ticks, food, pollen, synthetic fibers, dust, molds, etc. - try to identify allergen. Treatment: often symptomatic - shampoos (hypoallergenic) with oatmeal or antihistamine, flea and tick control, antihistamines, steroids, antibiotics.
Insect bites - can be allergic either mildly (swelling, itch, redness) or severe shock (vomit, diarrhea, trouble breathing, collapse). Mild episodes are treated as above and with cool compresses.

Gastrointestinal

Vomiting - can be caused by parasites, infectious diseases, foreign bodies, tumors, inflammation. The most common reason is "dietary indiscretion". If the vomiting is occasional and the dog is acting okay, try no food for 24 hours and only small amounts of water at a time or an ice cube. You can also give kaopectate or peptobismal at 1 Tbsp/30 lbs 3-4 times. If the vomiting continues, see your vet.
Diarrhea - can be caused by all of the above. It's best to check a fecal sample for parasites first. If there is no vomiting, try a bland diet of broiled or boiled hamburger or chicken and rice for a few days. You can also use kaopectate, peptobismal, and on large dogs, Imodium (2mg/60-80lbs). If there is vomiting or blood in the stool, it's better to have the dog checked.
To induce vomiting - only if the material swallowed is not caustic or sharp (i.e.tennis ball, chocolate) and if swallowed within a half hour. Hydrogen peroxide orally to effect - approximately 1/4 to 1/2 cup depending on size of dog

Musculoskeletal/Neurological

Lameness - can be the result of a sprain or strain, overexercise, sore pads, arthritis, infectious diseases such as Lyme disease, tumors or conformation problems such as luxating kneecaps and autoimmune disease. If the dog won't walk on the leg, he should be examined by your vet. If the lameness is occasional or if you know the cause is arthritis or a sprain, you can use anti-inflammatories (aspirin or one of the prescribed medications). Do not use Tylenol or Advil. It must be real aspirin and is given at 1 adult tablet/60lbs with food,2-3 times/day. If it isn't helping, see your vet.
Don't give aspirin to a bleeding animal. Discontinue aspirin 3-4 days prior to any surgery. Aspirin thins the blood and interferes with clotting. Never use any anti-inflammatories on cats.
Swelling of a limb or joint - if not the result of trauma, see your vet.
Dragging of a leg or legs or paralysis can be the result of a stroke or a slipped disc, see your vet.

Encounters with...

Porcupines - the quills have a barbed tip which makes them difficult to pull out. It's not any easier to cut the tip off and may make it harder to get a grasp. If your dog is amenable, try just pulling them out. Stick the pliers in a bowl of water to wash the quills off and prevent them from sticking in something else. If there are a lot of quills or if the quills are buried beneath the skin or in the mouth, it is best to have the dog sedated and the quills removed. Even the most stoic dog would object to having quills pulled from its tongue. Antibiotics are appropriate since it's very difficult to pull all the quills and pieces of quill, so some are bound to abscess and come out days later.
Skunks - dogs which are sprayed in the face often get very irritated eyes and mucous membranes. Flush the eyes with sterile saline or water to remove as much spray as possible and use a bland or antibiotic ointment in the eyes afterwards.
After any encounter with a wild animal, have your dog's rabies vaccine boostered.