A dog with prolapsed vaginal tissues would be a gruesome sight as this health concern would cause the swollen vaginal tissues that cannot be contained within thevulva to spill out and appear like a donut or lifesaver protruding from the vaginal lips. This condition is most common in young and unspayed dogs. St. Bernard, German Shepherd Dog, Mastiff, Boxers and Retrievers are some of the breeds predisposed to vaginal prolapse.
The exaggerated swelling of the vaginal lining is primarily influenced by estrogen stimulation. The stimulation of the estrogen that occurs during the estrus cycle of the dog results to the development of vaginal prolapse. When the vaginal mucosa swells, it would bulge as it can no longer be contained within the vulva. The swollen vaginal walls will bulge, spill out and be exposed. Some breeds have a genetic tendency to develop this health concern. Another cause of vaginal prolapsed is the prolonged straining that occurs when the dog is constipated. The turning inside out of the swollen vaginal walls can result from the prolonged straining of the dog due to a difficult birthing. Forcefully separating mating dogs can seriously affect the vaginal mucosa so that it would spill from thevulva into the vulva.
Symptoms of vaginal prolapsed would be easily apparent because the mass of tissue protruding from the dog’s vulva. The discomfort will entice the dog to persistently lick the vulva. In cases where a large mass of tissues have spilled from the vulva, the dog will be prevented from urinating and from mating. Vaginal prolapsed is a dangerous situation for pregnant bitch as delivering the puppies would be difficult because of the blockage in the vulva. The puppies may need to be delivered through C-section.
A dog with vaginal prolapse can be initially treated at home. First aid treatment is aimed to make the pet comfortable and also to prevent self mutilation as the dog would have the inclination to incessantly lick the protruding mass. To ward off infection; the mass must be cleaned with saline wash. Anti-inflammatory ointments and lubricating jellies are also necessary to keep the protruding mass from drying. Injuries to the protruding tissues must be prevented thus the dog must not be allowed to lie on rough surfaces.
Doggie diapers and Elizabethan collars can be used to prevent the dog from licking the affected area. A dog with this condition would not really need immediate treatment if the blockage is not keeping the dog from urinating. However, if the mass is already creating a blockage, the dog would need urgent medical attention. Dogs with vaginal prolapse commonly need hormone therapy and a urinary catheter is used to allow the dog to empty the bladder. Dogs have the inclination to mutilate the protruding tissues and severe damage to the tissues can be resolved with surgery.
Find out more about dog first aid and vaginal prolapse at Sarah’s Dogs.
Apr 13, 2011 | | Dog training
A pet that has lost consciousness is one of the frightening situations a pet owner would experience. Although pet owners are always advised to remain calm when faced with emergency situation to be able to help the pet, keeping calm would be very difficult to do. Treated and loved as the baby of the family, a dog that got sick or one that fell unconscious will make the whole family panic.
Loss of consciousness is one of the difficult health concerns of dogs due to the fact that there is a whole range of reasons why this condition would occur. Any dog owner would know at once what must be done to a bleeding wound but not a lot of dog owners would know what has to be done to an unconscious dog. A dog owner would certainly panic if the unmoving pet is noticed to have glassy eyes and pale or bluish lips and gums. An unconscious dogs can breathe rapidly or not breath at all. The dog may or may not have a pulse either.
Loss of consciousness is one of the sign of a lot of health concerns. The pet’s condition can be due to poisoning or to the ingestion of objects that have blocked the airway. A dog can fall unconscious because of internal or cerebral hemorrhage caused by serious injuries or because of epileptic attacks. It is imperative that first aid be administered to unconscious dogs given that the pet may not be breathing or may not have a pulse. These conditions that deprive the brain and other vital organs with the life sustaining oxygen can result to the death of the pet.
Conserving body heat is the first to-do task of a dog owner if the pet is breathing and has pulse. Before transporting the pet to a veterinary facility make sure that it is covered with a blanket. It would also be necessary to position the dog so that the head is slightly lower than the body.
If the unconscious dog is not breathing and pulse cannot be felt, gently extend the head and open the mouth to see if a foreign object is blocking the airway. Rescue breathing must be initiated at once. With the mouth of the dog tightly closed, give two deep breaths on the nose. This procedure should inflate the chest. If the unconscious dog has no pulse or heartbeat, CPR must be started immediately. Ten cardiac compressions must be alternated with two rescue breathing. Administration of artificial respiration and cardiac massage must be continued while the pet is being brought to the hospital.
Learn more about dog first aid as well as unconsciousness at Sarah’s Dogs.
Apr 11, 2011 | | Dog training
Dog owners know that their pets would put just about anything in their mouths. Apart from being voracious eaters, dogs are very inquisitive animals. Because dogs don’t have hands, anything interesting in their environment will be investigated by their mouths. This habit often results to choking as large chunks of food and non-edible objects are swallowed by the dog. Death is imminent for a choking dog if first aid is not administered as the object that is lodged in the trachea will block the airway and would make breathing difficult.
Giving first aid to a choking dog is one of the basic first aid lessons a dog owner has to learn. Because chewing is a natural behavior of dogs, the risk for choking is higher in these pets. A pet parent would always try to maintain the health and the safety of the pet but like diseases, accidents cannot be totally prevented. Choking is one of these unavoidable accidents and an owner that had trained how to give aid will be able to save the life of the pet.
A dog owner has to recognize the symptoms that the pet is choking so that first aid can be administered. A choking dog would be frantic, gag and drool excessively. It would be easily apparent that something is blocking the dog’s airway as it would continuously paw the mouth while trying to vomit. The dog’s gums would turn blue and the loud breathing sounds will stop if no first aid is administered.
First aid for a choking dog calls for the removal of the foreign object that is blocking the airway. With the fingers, perform a finger sweep along the sides of the mouth to the base of the tongue for foreign object that is causing the dog to choke. Carefully remove the foreign object. Of course this is the easy kind of choking. An object that cannot be felt or seen would be more difficult to remove.
Giving first aid for choking to small dogs would be easier than administering first aid to big dogs . The blockage can be removed by holding the dog upside down and slapping the backside until the foreign object is dislodged. It would be advantageous for every dog owner to learn how to do the Heimlich maneuver. This first aid method is also known as the wheelbarrow style as the hind legs of the dog will be raised against the body of the person administering the first aid. Place the wrist on the dog’s last ribs and forcefully push the abdomen downwards until the object is dislodged.
At Sarah’s Dogs you can find out more about choking as well as first aid for dogs.
Feb 25, 2011 | | Dog training
Excessive bleeding is a serious condition that can lead to the death of the dog. External bleeding can be easily seen but a dog owner has to recognize the symptoms that the pet is bleeding internally to be able to rush the pet to a veterinary facility as there is no first aid for internal bleeding. The dog’s natural behavior of jumping, running, exploring and chasing prey oftentimes result to accidents. Administering first aid is one of the responsibilities of pet owners. In case of emergency situations involving the pet, the owner should remain calm in order to do the necessary measures that can save the life of the pet.
Because of the inquisitive and energetic nature dogs seem to have an invisible magnet for accidents. Competency in administering first aid to the pet is an essential attribute of a dog owner. Luckily, the injuries commonly sustained by the pet are not serious and can be treated using the dog’s first aid kit. For serious injuries that need professional medical care, the owner’s first aid know how will be important to stabilize the pet before it is transported to the veterinary facility.
Dogs can bleed a lot. Even nail trimming can make a dog bleed. The bleeding of a nail cut too short would seem to be profuse but this is not a serious condition as the bleeding can be easily resolved with Kwik Stop. What would you do if the pet comes home one day with a deep gash on the thigh that is spurting blood?
First aid for pets is pretty much the same as first aid for humans. Losing two teaspoons of blood pet pound of body weight can make a dog go into shock thus first aid measures would be very necessary to control the bleeding. Bleeding can be controlled by putting on pressure directly to the wound using a bandage or a towel. To maintain the pressure, the soaked through towel must not be removed. To reduce bleeding, the injured body part must be elevated above the heart. Bleeding can be reduced as well by applying pressure to the pressure points. Tourniquet can be used to stem profuse bleeding but this must be administered only by a qualified person as it can do the dog more harm if incorrectly applied.
Internal bleeding is rather hard to recognize as no bleeding will be noticed in the dog. Internal bleeding commonly results when the dog was hit by an oncoming car or had fallen from heights. Pale gums, shallow breathing and weak pulse are signs of the dog’s serious condition. First aid methods cannot resolve internal bleeding. What the dog need is urgent medical attention.
Bleeding? More information on this and first aid for dogs can be found at Sarah’s Dogs.
Feb 16, 2011 | | Dog training
Dogs are renowned for being man’s great companions because of their energetic and curious nature. Unfortunately, the same behaviors often land the dog in tight spots that cause them to sustain injuries. To ensure that the pets are kept away from accidents, dog owners dog proofs the house. However, no matter how hard the dog owner tries, accidents cannot be totally prevented.
Chemical burns cannot be considered as common injuries of dogs. Apart from being inquisitive dogs are voracious eaters thus the tongue and the mouth can get burned when the pet licks acidic and corrosive chemicals. Chemical burns on the mouth, eyes, on the paws and skin will result if the dog licks or rolls on bleach, chlorinator, on drain uncloggers and on other corrosive and acidic chemicals.
Chemical burns can seriously injure the dog thus first aid treatment would be essential. The dog can pass out if the chemical burn is severe. Other symptoms of chemical burns are blue gums, rapid pulse and shallow breathing. Immediate professional medical treatment would be necessary if the dog shows these symptoms of severe chemical burns.
First aid treatment would be very necessary for dogs that have sustained less severe chemical burns. Unfortunately, dogs have the tendency to hide in corners and to ignore their injuries . In most cases, the pet owner would not be aware of the fact that the dog was injured thus first aid treatment is not administered. The first aid treatment for chemical burns is to remove all traces of the chemicals on the affected area and this can be achieved with thorough washing. To prevent the chemicals from causing damage to other parts of the dog’s body it would be best to use running water in washing the dog. If the dog has sustained oral burns, the mouth cavity and the tongue has to be thoroughly washed with flowing water. The fur may still be contaminated with chemicals thus it would also be necessary wash the dog’s entire body to fully remove the chemicals.
Chemical burns result when the chemical damages the proteins in the skin. One proven first aid treatment for chemical burns is to smear the affected area with milk or egg white. Instead of causing further damage by destroying the proteins on the skin, the chemicals will destroy the proteins in the milk and egg whites.
At Sarah’s Dogs you can learn more about chemical burns as well as first aid for dogs.
Jan 29, 2011 | | Dog training
Dogs too would have an adverse reaction if the body is invaded by foreign substances. The immune system serves as protectors against foreign substance that will invade the body. Once the presence of antigens is detected, the immune system will send out antibodies that will protect the body from infection. Bacteria, fungus, virus and parasites are harmful antigens that cause infection. Most infectious agents’ invasion that will cause health concerns are prevented by the dog’s immune system
However, the immune system can also overreact to harmless substances. An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system sends out antibodies to fight harmless substances like pollens, dust, and ingredients in food and medications. Fortunately, not all dogs will show an allergic reaction. But what if your pet is hypersensitive to these substances – can you help the pet by administering first aid?
Common signs of allergic reaction are sneezing, coughing and wheezing as well as immense itching. Vomiting, diarrhea and the swelling of the face are some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction occurs when a dog has inhaled pollen and dust. The allergic reaction could have been caused by an insect bite or an ingredient in the food. Allergic reaction would cause immense discomfort but in a lot of cases, the condition is non-life threatening. Mild cases of allergic reaction would not need treatment as the condition normally resolves itself. First aid treatment would still be necessary to ease the discomfort of the pet. Moreover, the dog can suffer from a severe allergic reaction that can lead to its death. Anaphylaxis is an emergency situation. With this kind of allergic reaction, the dog would suffer breathing difficulties because of the swelling of the airways. This type of allergic reaction cannot be treated at home.
Allergic reaction is usually not a serious condition and can be managed at home with first aid treatments. Benadryl and antihistamines should be one of the basic contents of the first aid kit for the dog as these animals are prone to allergic reactions. Herbal medication is a proven effective first aid method that relieves the itching of the dog’s skin. Bathing the dog with cold water and using oatmeal shampoo will ease the itching of the dog’s skin. Vinegar compress, baking soda paste and ice packs relieves the pain resulting from insect stings. The same remedies are proven to relieve other symptoms of allergic reaction.
Allergic reactions can be prevented if the pet is not exposed to the causative allergens but it is difficult to pinpoint what triggers the pet’s hypersensitivity. As the cause of the allergic reaction is oftentimes unknown it would be up to the dog owner to notice any unusual change in the pet and once symptoms of allergic reaction are seen first aid treatments must be given at once to prevent the condition from progressing into one that is beyond home care.
Sarah’s Dogs has more information about first aid for dogs as well as.allergic reactions.
Jan 25, 2011 | | Dog training
Dogs lick – a lot because like barking, scratching and chewing, licking is innate in dogs. However, trouble would start when these natural behaviors become obsessive. The dog’s excessive licking can result to lick granuloma or lick sores.
The dog would start licking a spot on the ankle. The hair on the spot continuously licked by the dog will fall off and the skin will harden. Insensitive to the pressure created by the tongue, the dog will incessantly lick the spot until the skin breaks and become infected.
Lick sores are commonly found on the wrist of the front legs and on the area above the paw of the hind legs. Lick sores are often seen in short haired dogs like German Shepherds, Doberman Pinscher, Golden Retrievers and Irish Setters. Lick sores usually start from fungal or bacterial infection or when a spot bitten by an insect or a flea is persistently licked by the dog. Lick granulomas are believed to have a psychogenic origin as pets that are usually left alone all day would develop this skin concern. For want of better things to do, a bored dog would lick any part of the body to while away the time.
Lick sores can arise from various causes thus no single method can effectively and totally resolve this concern. The condition is worsened by the dog’s incessant licking of the affected body part. To totally resolve this skin problem, the owner has to understand the reason for the dog’s obsessive licking before treatment that will heal the lesion can be applied.
The tendency of the skin lesions to erupt again and again makes this skin disease a big concern of dog owners. Laser surgery is the popular method of treating lick sores. But apart from the cost, the cured sore can recur because of the dog’s tendency to lick. Antibiotics and other topical medications can be applied to the lesion. The dog’s licking habit though has to be modified. To prevent the dog from licking, the affected leg can be bandaged. Stop the dog from licking by applying Bitter Apple or Tabasco to the affected spot. An Elizabethan collar can be used as well.
As lick sores are hard to cure it would be best to prevent the development of the lesions. The owner has to use preventive measures as soon as the pet starts excessively licking a spot.
Find out more about lick sores as well as first aid for dogs at Sarah’s Dogs.
Jan 11, 2011 | | Dog training
No one would intentionally hurt an animal but accidents can never be avoided and dogs can be injured by passing cars. What would you do if you hit a dog with your car? Would you drive on and lay the blame on the owners for allowing the dog to wander or would you take the humane option of stopping to help the dog? Taking on the responsibility for treatment of the injured dog can be astronomically expensive.
Dogs are highly valued pets and even thought of as a family member. Consider the grief the dog owners will have to go through at the death of the pet. The accident may not be your fault as you are a careful driver and the dog is a noted car chaser but ignoring the accident can result to the death of the dog. The injured dog could have survived if you only cared to stop and help.
Even self-confessed non-animal lovers would not want to be the cause of a dog’s death. If you hit a dog with your car you have to stop not only because it is the humane thing to do but also because the law requires anyone who hit animals with their cars to stop and take full responsibility. You can be taken to court for not assuming the responsibility for the injured dog. Pull over and carefully move the dog to the side of the road so as not to create road hazard to other motorists and more importantly to prevent the already injured dog from being run over by oncoming cars.
Dogs that are in pain or in shock can turn aggressive and bite. A blanket can be used to cover the head, a tie or a belt can be used as a muzzle to prevent the dog from biting. If the dog is small it can be easily lifted to the side of the road. Large dogs can be moved by using a blanket as a stretcher.
Possible injuries to the dog would range from minor bruises, broken bones to internal injuries that can result to the death of the dog. It is very necessary to get the dog to a veterinary facility as the dog may have serious internal injuries. Call 911. The proper authorities must be notified so that the dog can be taken to a medical facility for treatment. Check the dog for identification cards as you need to notify the dog’s owners. The accident may not be your fault but you will still be held liable for the vet’s bills.
What to do if you hit a dog with your car? This and questions about first aid for dogs are answered at Sarah’s Dogs.
Jan 04, 2011 | | Dog training