Essay On Dog Safety

However, remember your safety is important so take extra care even if you know the dog well.

Shock:

Signs: Weakness, cool feet/legs, poor pulse, lethargy, bright red gums and exhibit shallow breathing.

What to do:

Cover them with a blanket and restrain them as much as possible. Massage/rub your dog’s body and legs to help keep the blood flowing and maintain circulation. Transport safely to your vets.

Bone Fractures:

Signs: Lame/swollen limbs.

What to do:

If you suspect that one of your dog’s bones are broken, your first instinct may be to splint it, DON’T this is painful and can cause the bone to break through the skin (this will then need extra attention).

If the bone is protruding, do not try to push it back into place, just cover with a

You need to confine your dog to restrict movement (smaller dogs can be put in cat boxes) and transfer them safely to your vets. The vet will then do X-rays to confirm and medicate as needed.

Wasp and Bee Stings:

Signs: A sudden yelp or cry followed by your dog rubbing/scratching the area. You may notice the bite area start to swell

What to do:

If the sting is visible then pull it out. Bee sting venom is acidic so bathing the area with a solution of bicarbonate of soda (baking powder) will reduce the pain and itching. Wasp sting venom is alkaline so it’s best to use vinegar. Apply and ice pack to the area to help reduce the swelling.

If your dog has an allergic reaction to the venom or been stung in the mouth or face area then it is very important to go straight to your vets because swelling in this area can interfere with airways and breathing.

Adder Bites:

Signs: Swelling and oedema at the bite area within 2 hours. There may also bad bruising, bleeding and lameness. If the venom is absorbed into the lymphatic system then they will get symptoms like lethargy, fever, drooling, vomiting and diarrhea. Some dogs might start to fit or become