Pet first aid: first aid tips for dog owners

We spoke to first-aider Melanie Whitten from the Canine First Aid Company to find out what to do for your dog in a health emergency. We've captured some of Melanie's tips on dog first aid to help you learn and recognise the signs and effects of heatstroke, shock and poisoning. We'll also explain how you can give your dog the best chance of making it until veterinary help is available. If you have pet insurance with us, remember you have unlimited online access to UK-registered vets so that you can get fast, expert advice if your pet looks unwell or has an injury. What is the role of canine first-aid? Melanie explains that the purpose of animal first-aid is to: "There is a long list of things that a human can do to save a dog’s life – a canine first aid course is vital to be able to deal with such a situation. "With a canine first aid course completed – you stand a much better chance of saving your dog's life," said Melanie. How to approach a canine medical emergency Seeing your beloved pet distressed can be frightening. Here's Melanie's advice on how to keep calm and assess the situation. "If an owner finds themselves in a medical emergency situation and needs to administer dog first aid, we use the acronym START. You as a human need to think about a chain of survival: early recognition, early call (vets), early CPR or intervention and then get to the vets." Primary survey – if the dog appears lifeless Here's Melanie's guide on how to conduct a primary survey to work out what you need to do next. How to perform CPR on a dog CPR is an important part of first aid for dogs, but it deserves more depth - read more in our CPR guide to learn more. How to recognise a heatstroke and what to do Common signs of heatstroke in dogs include: What to do to help: Signs your dog's in shock and what to do Shock is a dangerous condition for your dog. When this happens your dog's body isn't circulating enough blood to all tissues and this can lead to organ damage. It has a rapid onset and needs immediate medical attention. Knowing some basic pet first aid can be crucial during such emergencies. Common signs of shock in dogs can be: A dog can go into shock due to: Shock can also be caused by blood poisoning, blood thinners and increased stomach pressure, among other things. Blood transfusions can help dogs who have lost a lot of blood. Learn more about canine blood donation and how you can get involved. What to do to help: Signs your dog's been poisoned and how to help Many foods and household items can be harmful if ingested. Puppies are particularly at risk of poisoning due to mouthing and swallowing almost anything. One common example is chocolate; however, grapes, raisins, ibuprofen, household cleaning chemicals, food and drinks that contain artificial sweeteners such as xylitol and mouldy foods can also poison your dog. Out and about, your dog might come across poisonous mushrooms or plants on walks. Knowing basic dog first aid can be helpful in these situations. Common signs of poisoning can be: What you can do to help: The Pet Poison Helpline recommends that you do not feed things like milk, peanut butter or vegetable oils even though these substances are often mentioned on the internet as home remedies for poisoning. Dog first-aid courses A pet first-aid course can give you extra confidence in knowing what to do if your dog needs help in an emergency. "All dog owners, be it those who have had dogs for years or new owners – should attend a canine first aid course. Our dogs deserve the same duty of care as their human counterparts. A huge difference can be made in saving a dog’s life if the owner has the skills to recognise, describe to a vet and treat a medical emergency with their dog while awaiting vet intervention. "It's not just a case of what to do – it is also a case of what not to do," said Melanie Whitten. For smaller procedures, like cuts and scrapes, we have our how to treat cuts and scrapes guide . Packing a pet first aid kit Our pet first-aid kit guide can teach you how to make an affordable, ready-to-go first-aid kit for cats and dogs. How dog insurance helps Our dog insurance may help with up to £20,000 vet fee cover, access to 24/7 video vet call support as standard and a host of ManyPets Perks.

Pet first aid: first aid tips for dog owners

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