In times of a medical emergency, it’s critical to know how to respond. This applies not only to humans but also to pets. Dogs can have allergic reactions, cardiac issues, get into poisonous materials, and much more.
Giving your fur baby a forever home means you’ll be expected to provide permanent care, even in the event of an accident or emergency. Without being able to speak, animals can still communicate. It’s up to you to recognize the signs that your dog might need emergency care.
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If your pooch experiences a physical accident, fall, or other severe trauma, you might need to take it to the vet immediately. Some indicators of urgent care may include:
- Rapid breathing
- Weak or fast pulse
- Lethargy
- Aggression
- Seizures
- Bleeding
- Isolation
Knowing how to act during an emergency starts with knowing what can cause an accident. Be aware of foods, substances, and materials that your dog might get into or consume. For example, chocolate and most candies, grapes, dairy, another pet’s food, some houseplants, lawn fertilizers, antifreeze, and household cleaners are very toxic to dogs.
Fortunately, there are some first-aid options you can perform at home. If your hound is bleeding, elevate the wound and apply pressure with a cloth until you are able to go to the animal hospital. If your dog is choking, you might be able to remove the blockage with your fingers.
If the object cannot be removed, apply repeated, sharp pressure on the chest to hopefully dislodge the object. Antiseptic creams usually treat minor burns from hot water, oil, chemicals or ice. For more specifics on how to treat allergic reactions, seizures, poisoning, cardiac issues, etc., check out our resource.
Dog Medical Emergency Guide created by Figo Pet Insurance, a top pet insurance provider.
