Welcome to The Labrador Club

Canine First Aid

First Aid is what the name indicates, immediate treatment in case of emergency. It is generally a stop gap until professional help can be administered. First aid for dogs follows the same principle as for humans but do not give human medications without first seeking veterinary approval. The most common situation requiring first aid is that of an injury caused by trauma i.e., an injury caused by physical force. Traumatic injuries may be as minor as a cut pad, or as major as those associated with a road accident but they often involve some degree of bleeding (haemorrhage) either internally or externally.

External Bleeding

Symptoms and signs – blood dripping, oozing, or spurting from the body. More than one drop per second can be considered a heavy blood loss.

Your dog has lost a dangerous amount if:

a. His gums are pale and dry.

b. The membrane inside his lower eyelid is pale.

c. He appears depressed.

First aid – quickly remove any foreign body e.g., glass, from the wound and apply pressure directly to the wound.

Pressure may be applied by:

a. a sterile pad held firmly in place by a bandage.

b. an unused ironed handkerchief held in place by a scarf, shirt, etc. bound around the wound.

c. your hand.

Maintain this pressure for at least five minutes.

Blood clots naturally in two to three minutes, and in the case of small cuts and abrasions, bathing with a weak saltwater solution (one teaspoon of salt to 250mls of warm water) is all that is necessary, but in all cases of more severe blood loss veterinary assistance should be sought.

Internal Bleeding

This is generally serious but, because there is no visible sign of blood, often undetected.

Watch for pale mucous membranes (gums and inner eyelids) and depression.

First aid – Keep your dog still, warm, and quiet. Not much else can be done without veterinary attention.

Fracture

These are generally also associated with trauma. Symptoms and signs:

1. Abnormal shape of limb (compare one with the other)

2. Inability to use limb or move part of body normally

3. Pain when area over bone or limb is touched or manipulated. Dogs, however, do not always exhibit the obvious signs of pain one would expect from an animal with a fractured bone, and it is not unusual for a dog with a broken leg to hop along quite happily on the other three.

Poisoning

0800764766 - National Poison Centre

If you suspect that your dog has just eaten poison but is able to stand and wag his tail, make him vomit. This can be achieved quickly by pushing a knob of washing soda down his throat.

Contact your veterinarian and tell him what you think the dog has eaten. If you don’t know the source of the poisoning, take a sample of the vomit with you to the Veterinary Clinic. Your veterinarian will almost certainly want to see your dog. Take the poison container with you.

Most common poisoning in Labradors occurs when a food lure has been used to disguise a poison as in slug and rat bait.

Common Poisons

Slug Bait

Symptoms – Trembling, shaking, salivating, and in later stages, convulsions like a fit.

First aid – induce vomiting (in early stages). Veterinary attention is vital as this type of poisoning is generally fatal when untreated.

Rat Bait

Initially there maybe no signs but if you know that rat bait has been eaten veterinary attention is vital. Most rat bait poisons are warfarin-based and kill rats by preventing blood from clotting. They will kill your dog in the same way as he will bleed internally. Signs may not show for up to 10 days and are the same signs as found in internal bleeding.

Initial signs are lethargy, pale mucous membranes and any small cuts will not stop bleeding. Veterinary attention is vital.

Lead Poisoning

Commonly caused by chewing old lead-based paint – which is extremely rare in New Zealand these days.

Symptoms – fitting spells

First aid – prevent injury while fitting. Veterinary attention is essential.

Drowning

Symptoms – loss of consciousness when the dog is taken from water.

First aid – put on slope, head down, press ribs firmly about twelve times a minute.

If the dog has a heartbeat but not breathing use mouth-to -nose artificial respiration.

Continue until breathing resumes naturally. Keep warm and quiet. If veterinary attention is available obtain same.

Hyperthermia or Overheating

Symptoms – excessive panting, fainting, or total loss of consciousness.

First aid – cool the dog as quickly as possible e.g., hose with cold water, put into cold bath or swimming pool, sea, river – anywhere that is closest and quickest. If you have a thermometer, take temperature every 10 minutes till normal (Normal C38.5, F101.5) Once temperature has been lowered and dog is breathing normally keep him as quiet as possible and contact your veterinarian. A dog shut in a car in full sunlight is in a death trap.

Fishhooks

Symptoms – the hook is often visible but check tongue and inside cheeks if your dog begins to paw at his mouth and dribble excessively.

First aid – if the hook is accessible, with wire cutters cut the barbed end of the hook off and pull the rest through. If this is not possible, veterinary attention will be necessary. Although fishhooks, unless swallowed are rarely fatal, they are very distressing for both dog and owner; don’t leave baited hooks lying around. If nylon is hanging out of the dog’s mouth – do not pull the nylon trying to dislodge it.

Electrocution

Symptoms – loss of consciousness.

First aid – remove the source of power. Give artificial respiration – see drowning. Contact veterinarian. The most common cause of electrocution occurs when puppies chew through power cords.

Gunshot Pellets

Symptoms – If you miss the duck and hit your dog you will know! If someone else shoots your dog the small round wound made by the entry of the shot maybe visible, and the shot felt as a lump under the skin.

First aid – remove any obvious shot with tweezers, bathe with salt water. However, wounds due to shots seldom become infected, and unless close to vital organs, cause no great problem. Contact a veterinarian if you suspect the shot may have penetrated deeply, he may wish to X-ray to confirm, or allay your fears.

Stings

Symptoms – sudden swelling, usually around the muzzle and the eyes, but sometimes paws. In extreme case of allergic reaction, breathing may be difficult.

First aid – Bee sting. Remove the sting and apply any alkaline solution e.g., baking soda. Wasp sting. Apply acid solution e.g., vinegar. Contact veterinarian if swelling impedes breathing, or if the dog appears distressed. In most cases an aspirin or disprin is helpful.

Eclampsia

Occurs in lactating bitches and is the result of low calcium blood levels.

Symptoms – mild to severe shaking with some rigidity of limbs.

Treatment – veterinary attention necessary and urgent. Recovery rapid.

Common Ailments and Injuries

Skin and Coat

The essential ingredients for a healthy skin and coat are correct diet, exercise, and parasite control. However, despite all care, problems do occur.

Symptoms

a. Excessive scratching, biting, chewing at himself rubbing along furniture or fence etc.

b. Dull dry coat and flaking skins, excessive hair loss

c. Bald patches

d. Wet, pink areas

Treatment – if any of these conditions occur, veterinary attention should be sought.

External and Internal Parasites

The treatment of external parasites has changed enormously in the last few years, particularly with regard to flea control.

There are two ways to get rid of fleas – kill the adult fleas or break the life cycle so that new fleas are not born.

1. Kill the adults – this must be done as safely (for your dog and family) as possible. No longer do we have to use products that will kill fleas but are harmful to mammals – the days of sloshing sheep-dip over the dog are long gone. There are new products on the market that are harmful to fleas and ticks and safe for your pets. It pays to check with your veterinarian for the latest developments in flea control.

2. Breaking the life cycle of the flea – these products usually stop the flea eggs from hatching, or the larvae from pupating – either way there are no adult fleas. This is very effective in cutting down the number of fleas over all but does not help when the dog is out of his environment and picks up fleas. Those fleas will not reproduce themselves in the dog’s home environment, but they can still cause skin problems in a dog with a flea allergy and are therefore best treated with mature flea killer.

Ringworm

Symptoms – Round, bare patches or pinkish scaly skin, varying in size from 10 cent to 50 cent pieces. Contagious to other animals (including humans). Ringworm is not a worm; it is a fungus.

Treatment – available from your veterinarian.

Mange - (sarcoptic and demodex)

Symptoms – bare patches, very often in young puppies seen around the eyes and muzzle, gradually spreading over the body. Some sores with pus.

Treatment – veterinary attention is essential.

Internal Parasites

Roundworm

Symptoms – distended stomach, dry dull coat, occasional vomiting, or diarrhoea. Roundworms can be a problem at any age but are more particularly associated with puppies. Regular dosing is most effective (see your veterinarian for the correct programme).

Tapeworm

Signs – Tapeworm segments may be seen around the anus and appear small (grain of rice size) whitish and slow moving. Tapeworm tablets are available to treat tapeworm.

Whip and Hookworm

Neither are very common but both result in ravenous appetites and continued loss of condition. Treatment is undertaken in tablet form. Internal parasites can result in weight loss and dull, dry coat. If you suspect that your dog has an internal parasite, take a faecal sample to your veterinary clinic where it may be analysed, and your dog treated according to the findings.

Anal Glands

Anal Glands are situated on either side of the anus and when occasionally they become full or impacted, they can cause irritation and discomfort. Your dog may scoot across the floor on his bottom or chew repeatedly at the base of his tail. Having the anal glands emptied by a veterinarian is quick and simple. Left untreated may results in blocked glands and the need for surgery.

Increasing the amount of fibre in your dog’s diet will assist enable the glands empty naturally as the dog passes bowel motion.

Eyes

Entropion

This is a hereditary malformation resulting in the lower eyelid rolling in towards the eyeball in such a way that the lower lashes rub on, and irritate the eye itself, resulting in great discomfort, discharge, and often ulceration of the eye. Symptoms and signs are generally evident in puppy stage and may be no more than a weeping clear discharge from the eye. Correction of Entropion is available surgically – discuss this with your veterinarian should the need arise.

Conjunctivitis

Symptoms – weeping eyes with pus, inflamed conjunctiva. Dog may rub eye with paw or rub eyes against furniture or along the floor (running the risk of further irritation and damage). Veterinary attention is necessary as the symptoms for conjunctivitis can so easily be confused with an injury to the eye itself or a foreign body behind the lid.

Teeth

Fortunately, due to the attention that has been paid by breeders to producing a Gundog with a correct mouth, very few Labradors have problems with teeth. Gums should look pink and firm and teeth white.

Symptoms – of pain or problem in the mouth

a. Pawing at mouth

b. Rubbing muzzle along the ground

c. Bad breath

d. Inability to eat properly.

The older dog’s teeth may become worn, and tartar can build up, so regular veterinary check-ups are a must for the old dog.

Puppies, while replacing milk or deciduous teeth (at about four and half mouths of age) could experience slight discomfort in the mouth but it is short lived and rarely requires veterinary attention.

Ears

Ears should be clean, dry, pink and have no unpleasant odour, and any deviation from this requires veterinary attention.

Symptoms of ear problems:

a. Excessive shaking of the head

b. Scratching the ear

c. Ears that don’t match – one may be at a different angle from the other

d. Discharge from the ear

e. Foul smell

Feet

Cut pad – see haemorrhage.

This is a very common injury, particularly during summer in seaside and picnic areas.

Check for glass in the wound and remove. If any, apply antiseptic powder, a non-stick dressing and bandage firmly. A deep cut may need to be stitched but a dressing to prevent re-opening the wound is essential in all but the most minor cuts.

Torn Claw – painful but fortunately neither common nor severe. Clip away any loose claw and dress as for cut pad.

Foreign Body – a grass seed is most common, but splinters of wood may also work their way between the pads and up into the foot.

Symptoms – chewing and looking at foot. Often lameness as well. Redness of the skin, possibly some swelling. The foreign body may be visible.

Treatment – where there is no sign of the foreign body that you feel sure is there, veterinary treatment is required. However, if you can see and remove the foreign body with tweezers, bathing with salt water should be all that is required.