First Aid for Dogs: An Overview

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First aid is immediate care that you can give to a sick or injured dog at home. It is meant to stabilize the situation as much as possible until you can get your pet to the veterinarian.

Avoid Canine Emergencies

The best way to treat emergency injuries to your dog is to do as much as you can to prevent them from happening in the first place.

Keep your dog on a leash or confined within a fence while outdoors.

Be aware of and keep out of reach of your dog such toxic items as household cleaners and detergent pods.

Know which human foods are toxic to dogs and keep them, as well as any trash containers in your home, secured away from your dog.

Before you get a new puppy, review this article, "A General Guide to Puppy Safety," to prepare your home as much as possible.

Be Prepared for Canine Emergencies

The best way for you to handle an emergency with your dog if it comes along is to be aware of what to look for and already have an idea of what you'll need to do. Being prepared can help you feel more confident, allow you to jump into action rather than panic, and it gives your dog a better chance for a positive outcome.

We've prepared a series of articles discussing first aid techniques for some common conditions and injuries in dogs. You can go through these any time you'd like to freshen the information in your mind. You can even print them to place in your dog first aid kit.

Links to First Aid Articles for Common Canine Injuries and Conditions

Listed here are the articles in our dog first aid series:

• "First Aid for a Dog That Isn't Breathing"
• "First Aid for a Dog with No Heartbeat"
• "First Aid for Coughing and Choking in Dogs"
• "First Aid for Canine Eye Injuries"
• "First Aid for Heat Burns in Dogs"
• "First Aid for Chemical Burns in Dogs"
• "First Aid for a Dog with a Broken Bone"
• "First Aid for Internal Bleeding in a Dog"
• "First Aid for External Bleeding in a Dog"
• "Handling and Transporting a Sick or Injured Dog"
• "Baseline Vital Signs in Dogs and How to Measure Them"

Remember, the best thing you can do for your dog during an emergency is get him to the veterinarian as quickly as possible. The goal of first aid is to stabilize for transport, not to treat a problem at home yourself.

You May Also Like These Articles:

Top 10 Dog Toxins - Slideshow

Causes of Lameness in Dogs: An Overview

10 Ways You Could Be Shortening Your Dog's Life - Slideshow

Rat Poison Toxicity in Dogs

A Hidden Laundry Room Danger for Dogs: Laundry Pods

Caring for Your Dog After You're Gone

Quiz - Do You Know Which Human Foods Are Toxic to Dogs?

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