When first aid is needed for your four-legged friend
First aid for your four-legged friend isn't just important for visible injuries. There are many situations in which you must react quickly to save lives or prevent greater damage. Typical emergencies can include accidents while out for a walk, falls, bites, or cuts. Sudden illnesses such as poisoning, heatstroke, shortness of breath, or circulatory problems also require immediate action. Even if your dog just seems apathetic or is panting unusually heavily, it could be a sign that something is seriously wrong. The faster you recognize the situation and provide first aid, the better the chances that your dog will stay healthy. This is especially true if your first aid measures are simply bridging the time until you can hand your four-legged friend over to the experienced hands of your veterinarian.
Resuscitation in dogs
Cardiac arrest can have many causes: an accident, poisoning, electric shock, or even a heart condition. In such a situation, every second counts. It's important to quickly check whether your dog is still responding.
To do this, lay your pet on its right side, stroke its chest, and note whether it rises and falls. If no breathing is evident and you don't feel a heartbeat, you must begin CPR immediately.
Stay calm and follow these steps:
- Lay the dog on its right side
- Stretch your head and neck to clear your airways
- Initiate cardiac massage
- Close the mouth and give 2 breaths through the nose
- Rule of thumb: Alternate 30 chest compressions and 2 breaths
- Continue until the dog is breathing again or the veterinarian takes over.
Pay attention to your dog’s size!
You perform cardiac massage slightly differently for dogs than for humans:
For small dogs weighing less than 15 kg, it's best to grasp your dog's chest with one hand, pressing the heart with your thumb and fingers.
If you have a medium or large dog at home, you can place the flat of your hand on the widest part of the chest and use your other hand to press rhythmically from above about 100-120 times per minute.
Other first aid measures you should know
- Injuries and bleeding: You can treat minor wounds yourself by cleaning them with clean water and covering them. For more severe bleeding, it's best to apply a pressure bandage and consult a veterinarian immediately.
- Poisoning: If your four-legged friend has eaten something poisonous, go to the vet immediately and do not try to force your dog to vomit.
- If your dog appears lethargic, is breathing shallowly, and has cold paws, these are signs of shock. Keep your furry friend warm, gently place him on a blanket, and take him to a veterinary clinic as soon as possible.
