Dose (Check with your vet before following these guidelines)

• Poison control: 1-800-764-7661
  
  
• Emergency Animal Hospital of Northwest Austin (nights, weekends, holidays)

  North...............12034 Research Blvd #8.......331-6121
  South................4434 Frontier Trail...............899-0955
  Round Rock.....2000 N. Mays, #112...........671-6252
  Central.............4106 N. Lamar....................459-4336

Call your veterinarian first in case of emergency.

Hit by car:

In the event a car hits your pet, it is very important to bring your pet safely and quickly to the nearest emergency veterinarian. Even when no obvious trauma exists, a veterinarian should closely examine your pet since blunt impact can cause severe internal damage.

The first thing you should do after any severe injury is carefully muzzle the dog to prevent biting. Even the most loveable lab in the world may try to bite while in a state of shock or in severe pain. After muzzling the pet, you should gently move him/her to a firm surface such as a plywood board or folded blanket trying to avoid further injury.

Physical parameters to monitor during transport to the veterinarian include pulse, heartbeat, gum color, capillary refill time (CRT), and pupils. Also look for any areas of excessive bleeding and apply pressure if needed. You should carefully cushion fractured limbs using whatever material available (shirt, rolled newspaper, etc.) to avoid further injury during transport.

Heatstroke:

In Texas this is an unfortunate but common problem with dogs. Dogs and cats do not have the ability to sweat like humans so they are much more susceptible to the heat.

During heatstroke, the body temperature can go above 104 degrees. The animal usually goes into shock. Signs include increased respiration, fast but weak pulses, and usually collapse. Begin cooling the animal down by pouring alcohol or cool water all over the body. Place ice against large vascular areas such as the groin, neck, abdomen and head. Seek veterinary attention immediately as heatstroke can result in severe complications.

Poisons:

If your pet is exposed to a known poison, call your veterinarian or poison control center immediately for instructions. Do not automatically induce vomiting, as some poisons such as acids, alkalis, and petroleum products can cause more damage if vomiting occurs.

If possible bring the poison in its original container to the animal hospital. Signs of poisoning vary depending on the poison. If you notice tremors, excessive salivation, convulsions, tearing, vomiting, pinpoint pupils, loss of bowel control, or weakness suspect possible exposure to a poison. Certain rodenticides prevent the blood from clotting causing signs such as bleeding from the gums, pale gum color, or black, tarry stools. Any case of poisoning has a better prognosis the sooner treatment begins.

Snakebites:

Snakebites are fairly common in this party of the country, and many poisonous snake species can be found in Texas. If a snakebite occurs, the first thing to do is move away from the snake to prevent further bites to animals or humans. If it is possible to identify the snake without risking further injury do so. Keep the pet as calm and quiet as possible. Completely flush the wound with plenty of water and wash with a mild antiseptic soap. The best treatment for snakebites is anti-venom. Unfortunately this is very expensive and most animal hospitals do not keep it in stock. Seek veterinary attention as soon as possible as antibiotics are very important for treatment.

Vomiting/ diarrhea:

Occasionally all animals, just like all people, will have some GI upset. Often these conditions can be treated at home without veterinary care. The first step to take for vomiting or diarrhea is to stop intake of food or water for 24 hours allowing the digestive tract time to rest. During this time give ice cubes for hydration and pepto bismol to coat the GI tract. If the signs have stopped after 24 hours, begin a bland diet (such as I/D food or cottage cheese and boiled rice) and slowly return to the normal diet after 3-4 days. Vomiting and diarrhea can be signs of severe illness however, so if the conditions seem severe or persist for more than 24 hours consult your veterinarian. If dehydration is noticeable or your pet is very inactive call your veterinarian.

CPR:

If you have not yet taken a course in CPR, I highly recommend doing so for the benefit of both pets and people. CPR on dogs is very similar to human CPR.

Before beginning artificial respiration, be sure to clear the animal’s mouth and throat of any foreign objects or fluids. While gently holding the mouth closed, completely cover the dog’s nose and exhale. It is not necessary to blow very hard; just watch for chest expansion as you exhale. Breathe 10-12 times per minute if the animal is not breathing on it’s own.

If you do not detect a heartbeat or pulse, begin heart massage along with artificial respiration. Place the dog on its right side. Place two hands along the ribcage behind the elbow. (If a small dog, place a hand on either side of the chest). Firmly compress the chest 60-70 times per minute. Be careful not to press too hard as you can break a rib doing aggressive chest compressions.