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LIONS FOUNDATION OF CANADA DOG GUIDES

Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides and its founding program, Canine Vision Canada, was established in 1983. It’s the largest school of its kind in Canada with its training school in Oakville and breeding facility in Breslau.

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Basic First Aid for Dogs Part 1: First Aid Kit & Emergencies Overview

Being a responsible dog owner involves educating yourself about basic care and health problems. It’s also important to learn how to take care of your pet in case of an injury, accident or emergency.

In Part 1 of Basic First Aid for Dogs we take a look at first aid kits and emergency situations.

A BASIC FIRST AID KIT FOR DOGS TYPICALLY CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

  • Thick Towel
  • Elizabethan collar
  • Surgical sticky tape
  • Cotton wool (one box)
  • Sterile absorbent gauze (one box)
  • Blunt ended scissors, ideally curved
  • Open-weave conforming bandages (width: 2.5 cm)
  • Self-adhesive or crepe bandage (one roll, width: 5 cm)
  • Non-adhesive absorbent wound dressings (5 cm x 5 cm)

EXAMPLES OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

Poisoning
Eye injury
Heatstroke
Fight wound
Road accident
Burns and scalds
Anaphylactic shock
A long seizure or multiple seizures within a short period of time

HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR DOG NEEDS EMERGENCY CARE

If you don’t know if your dog needs professional help, call your veterinarian or an animal hospital for advice. When to reach out:

Repeated vomiting
Sudden balance issues
You think your dog is in pain
Unable to defecate or urinate
Breathing problems and/or coughing
Lethargy, weakness and/or depression
Diarrhea that’s severe and/or diarrhea with blood
Agitation, shaking, shivering and/or restlessness in females with suckling puppies

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

1. Safety First: don’t act before making sure you’re safe and those around you are safe.
2. Keep calm while you assess the situation to get the facts.
3. Phone your veterinarian (who should be saved as a contact on your mobile).
     – If the practice is not nearby, get the number of the nearest pet clinic.
     – If you can’t get immediate help or transport, ask what you should do next.
4. If you think the dog might bite, put a muzzle on / tie muzzle with non-stretch gauze.
5. Don’t give human medication, food or water.
6. Drive safely to the nearest clinic.

Related Articles

Basic First Aid For Dogs Part 2 Read Now

What You Should Know About Performing CPR on Cats Read Now

What You Should Know About Performing CPR on Dogs Read Now

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