April marks National Pet First Aid Awareness Month, and at The Puppy Academy, we’re on a mission to ensure all new puppy parents are equipped with the knowledge and tools to handle emergencies effectively!
The Puppy Academy student: Penny!
For many new puppy parents, thinking of pet first aid might not have ever crossed your mind. After all, when bringing home a new furry family member, stocking up on toys and treats often takes precedence over preparing for medical emergencies, but it's a crucial aspect of responsible pet ownership.
Since there’s no 911 for dogs, being proactive and prepared can make all the difference in ensuring your puppy's safety and well-being, so you can be ready to jump into action in case of an emergency.
Follow these steps to get ahead and know what to do if ever needed:
GET TRAINED LIKE A PRO:
Investing in pet first aid training is a proactive step every pet parent should take. Look into local organizations or online courses offering certifications in pet CPR and first aid. At The Puppy Academy, our trainers are fully certified and advocate for each of our clients to gain these vital skills. The Red Cross even offers an app providing tools and information for pet first aid, making it easier than ever to educate yourself and be prepared.
MASTER EMERGENCY FIRST AID BASICS:
In an emergency, it's crucial to act swiftly and safely. Remember these basic steps:
If your pup is in pain, consider using a makeshift muzzle to prevent biting. Puppies and dogs that are in pain could bite so in that instance, you may need to muzzle them. This is especially important if you happen to be helping a pup you aren't familiar with, and who doesn't know you. If you don’t have a cloth muzzle handy, a clean gauze works too, or a piece of clothing like a scarf that you can use temporarily until the pup is in the care of the vet. Ask your veterinarian the proper way to secure a make-shift gauze muzzle on your puppy.
For bleeding, clean the wound and apply pressure until it clots. Use alcohol or antiseptic solution to rinse it out. Then, apply a clean gauze and apply pressure until the blood starts to clot. You can check on the clotting after 3 minutes of applying pressure. If the bleeding does continue, continue to apply pressure for another 3 minutes before checking again.
Keep a suspected broken-bone pup calm and immobile. If you’re concerned that your pup has a broken bone, try to keep them as calm and immobile as possible to prevent them from causing themselves any further damage. If you are able, try to place them on a flat surface you can transport them easily (for example, a travel crate) and secure them with a towel or blanket.
Always inform your vet immediately and follow up with professional care. Remember to reach out to your vet right away to alert them of the situation. Give them details of what happened, plus any vitals you’ve recorded to help the vet prepare for your puppy and give them immediate care when you arrive. First aid should always be followed up by veterinary attention!
BUILD YOUR PUP’S FIRST AID KIT:
Create a First Aid Kit for your puppy or order a readymade one. This way, should an unexpected incident occur, you’ll have what you need in one go-to place. If you decide to make your own, here are some of the essential items that you should keep in your pup’s kit:
Bandages
Cotton swabs or balls
Gauze
Gloves for yourself
Antiseptic or alcohol
Tweezers
Scissors
Splints or tongue suppressor
Blanket or muzzle
Rectal Thermometer
Water in case of dehydration
Antibiotic ointment to treat rashes or stings
“Being prepared can help save your pup’s life! Have a first aid kit and emergency vet info on-hand wherever you go with your pup, or leave it with anyone who may be caring for them. ”
The Puppy Academy student: Oso!
REMEMBER THE A.B.C.s:
Canine CPR is relatively similar to human CPR. In human first aid classes A.B.C. is a mnemonic device used to help recall important tenets of CPR: Airways, Breathing, and Circulations. These same checkpoints for what to do when an emergency happens also apply to pet first aid. Here are a few things to remember when providing your puppy with respiration support and chest compressions:
Make sure that there are no obstructions blocking your puppy’s airways.
For larger pups, hold their jaw tightly closed and breathe into their nose. Their chest should rise and give them two breaths.
For smaller pups, you can cover their nose and mouth completely with your mouth and breathe. Their chest should rise and give them two breaths.
Performing chest compressions depends on the size of your pup. Larger dogs with barrel chests you can place on their back and perform compressions like a human.
Puppies and dogs that are over 60 pounds you can perform 60 compressions per minute
Other medium dogs, smaller dogs or puppies you will perform what is called “Taco CPR” which involves cradling your dog in one arm and using your index and middle finger on their chest between their front legs to perform a compression. Follow this by tilting your pup’s head back and moving his tongue forward in order to clear the airway.
Place the pup on their side and perform compressions on the side of the rib cage
Puppies and dogs that are 10-60 pounds you can perform 80-100 compressions per minute
Puppies or dogs that are 10 pounds or less you can perform 120 compressions per minute
You’ll want to alternate breaths and compressions, as you would in human CPR. The ratio would be 30 compressions: 2 breaths. And you’ll continue to do this until your pup responds or begins to breathe on their own.
We recommend that you look into a CPR online course or training that will provide step-by-step instructions on performing compressions on your puppy and educate you with the proper techniques based on your pup’s size.
BE AWARE OF CHOKING HAZARDS:
Choking is a top concern for puppy safety. The most common items puppies choke on are their toys like chew or bully sticks, for example, that have become too small from chewing and your pup tries to swallow it. Puppies that are choking will gasp, gag, retch trying to throw up the object, paw at their mouth, or have bulging eyes. The best case scenario would be to take your puppy to the vet immediately but if that’s not an option and they’re not getting adequate air, your quick action will be necessary to help your puppy. If that were to occur, there are a few choking procedures that you can follow:
Finger Sweep: If you can see the object in your pup’s throat, sweep your finger side-to-side to try and dislodge it without pushing it further. Use tweezers or needle-nose pliers to gently pull it out.
Use Gravity: With this method, you will hold your pup up by the hips or hind legs so their face is facing down like a wheel-barrow. This position can help dislodge the object.
Standing or Kneeling Heimlich: Depending on the size of your pup, if you have a small puppy or dog, you can stand up holding your pup’s back against your stomach. For a larger pup, if you cannot pick them up, kneel behind them. Close your fists together around their abdomen and find the soft spot under their ribcage. Compress this spot for a quick five count. Stop and check their mouth to see if the object has been dislodged. Repeat this procedure until the object dislodges and you can remove it.
As it does happen quite commonly, especially with very young puppies, we recommend that you seek out online training in order to learn how to properly perform the procedures we mentioned above.
“Always check your surroundings to make sure they’re safe before you help an injured pup. Whether it’s on a street, off a trail, or even a backyard, there may be other elements present like traffic, wild animals, or fallen cables that could cause harm to you before you even get to the pup who needs you.”
KEEP AN EMERGENCY CONTACT LIST:
Have a list of emergency numbers on hand you can call for guidance. Make sure you have the business and after-hour emergency numbers for your veterinarian, too. ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Hotline (888-426-4435) is another great resource to know in case your pup ingests something that may be harmful to them. Puppies get into things ALL the time! Take a look at our blog “Know the Facts: Poison Prevention for Your Puppy!” to learn about different household toxins, the signs of poisoning, and what steps to take to help your puppy in this situation!
One final and important note to remember is to always keep a copy of your puppy’s vaccinations handy in case you need to make a visit to an emergency vet clinic. If you are traveling outside of your area with your puppy, it’s wise to take your pup’s first aid kit with you and also check what vets are in the nearby area beforehand so you don’t have to scramble in a panic if something were to occur.
Now that you’ve taken the time to prepare for the future, remember to share the National Pet First Aid Awareness message with your fellow pup owners!
Need more help training your new puppy? Join our community of new pup parents and train your pup from home with direct guidance from our expert trainers, following the same puppy training bluepring we’ve used to successfully train thousands of puppies around the world! Get more info and sign up today at The Puppy Academy Online School!
Have more questions about puppy first aid? Ask our trainers LIVE every Wednesday at 1 pm PT on our Instagram @thepuppyacademy during our Ask A Puppy Trainer Show! All replays are posted afterward, and you can catch up on our last ones on our YouTube channel!
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