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Dog Health

Dog and puppy first aid

Dog and puppy first aid

As well as keeping your vet’s phone number on hand, it’s useful to know how you can give your dog first aid.

Bloated stomach

• If your dog's abdomen appears swollen and full of gas, phone your vet straight away.

Choking

• Try to open your dog’s mouth and remove the object.
• Remember to check the roof of their mouth.
• After you’ve got the object out, get your dog checked over by a vet.

Collapse

• Keep your dog’s airway free by extending their neck and holding their tongue out of the way.
• Seek help from a vet immediately.

Cut paw

• Wrap your dog’s paw in gauze dressing or a clean cloth.
• Never use an elastic band or tourniquet around the limb.
• Take them to the vet.

Diarrhoea

• Offer your dog small amounts of water
• Don’t feed your dog.
• Keep them warm and call the vet.
• If your dog’s stools contain blood, take them to the vet immediately.

Earache

• Don’t try to remove any foreign objects in your dog’s ear
• Call your vet to get your dog checked for infections.

Eye injury

• Don’t let your dog rub the affected eye.
• Try to rinse the eye with clean, warm water to remove anything that might be causing the problem.
• For a serious injury, cover your dog’s eye with damp gauze or a cloth.
• Call your vet.

Fit or seizure

• Remove your dog’s collar and make sure they’re away from any danger, such as stairs.
• Keep your dog’s airway free by extending their neck and holding their tongue out of the way
• Keep the room dark and quiet, and prevent sudden noises like doorbells and slamming doors.
• Make a note of the exact signs before, during and after the seizure.
• Call your vet as soon as possible.

Poisoning

• Call your vet immediately
• Take some of the toxin, or its packaging, to the vet with you.

Road accident

• Keep your dog as quiet, still and comfortable as you can.
• Restrain them if necessary to prevent further injury.
• Put pressure on any obvious wounds with a clean bandage or cloth.
• Call your vet as soon as possible.

Sting or snake bite

• For a wasp sting, keep your dog cool and avoid exercising them.
• If the stung area stays swollen for more than an hour, or if your dog’s breathing gets laboured, take them to the vet.
• For a bee sting, quickly remove the sting without squeezing it.
• For a snake bite, keep your dog as still as possible and take them to the vet.

Vomiting

• For persistent vomiting, take note of what your dog vomits.
• If possible, collect a sample for the vet to examine.
• Don’t feed your dog until you’ve seen the vet.