Understanding Canine First Aid Is Much More Than Merely Having A First Aid Kit

There is a well-known saying that “Curiosity killed the cat.” But dogs are just as bad since they are extremely inquisitive and are often in the habit of going places and getting into circumstances that they shouldn’t. Despite the fact that this doesn’t always end badly, they sometimes do end up hurting themselves in one way or another so it’s a good option to be familiar with some dog first aid.

Around the time my Lhasa Apso was three or four months old she found a previously unknown patch of burrs in the backyard and spent time playing in them for awhile. When she came back to the house the burrs had worked themselves firmly into places on her face, her ears and her little fluffy behind.

It was nighttime so the Vet was closed and a visit to the animal hospital certainly would have been too expensive. So she was subjected to my tearful yet laughing efforts as I managed to one by one manipulate those burrs out of her hair as she squirmed and yelped for a good two hours. They were matted so badly and close up to the skin that cutting them out was not a possibility.

A tranquilizer would have been perfect but I didn’t have anything for her. And since there was no blood or severe injury, visiting the emergency hospital was not necessary … that time.

That is a sad yet entertaining story to share and hopefully an experience she has long forgotten over the years. It was also a little thing although painful and exasperating for both of us. But it might have been more serious.

As a responsible dog owner you should know at least basic first aid for dogs to allow you to be prepared for more serious emergencies. You will often be able to save on Vet fees for smaller problems like the one I had. But you may also feel the need to help relieve your pet’s pain or perform life-saving actions until you can arrive at the Vet.

Having a dog first aid kit is definitely a wise decision but you also have to know what to do in an emergency. Be sure to have phone numbers on hand for both your regular Vet as well as the closest emergency animal clinic. And learn about basic first aid for dogs yourself.

I’ve never needed to provide life-saving medical actions for my four-legged friend and maybe you haven’t needed to either. But would you know what normally to do if faced with a life-threatening situation concerning your own dog?

Don’t you think it’s time you learned at least basic dog first aid … even if you never have to use it? Check out http://Dog-First-Aid.blogspot.com now and start your education today.