Dog First Aid Tips from Veterinarians

Handling an emergency with your dog can send you into a panic. A little preparation and praying you never need to use it can go a long way to calm your nerves and help your dog stay calm.

I reached out to several veterinarians to get their advice on how to handle the most common injuries and scenarios you may find your dog in.  

• Burns
• Cuts or open wounds
• What to do if a dog gets bitten by another dog or animal
• Broken nails
• Over-heated or heatstroke
• Limping or lameness
• Poisoning
• Bee stings
• Choking

IMPORTANT: If your dog is severely injured, you should contact your vet right away.

Dr. Joanna Woodnutt, MRCV, suggests, “Always call the emergency vet at the earliest opportunity – they’ll be able to give you personalized advice over the phone. If possible, get someone else to call and drive you to the vet whilst you continue first aid. Remember that dogs in pain can lash out unexpectedly, and even the most placid dog can be a risk.”

Burns

According to PetMD, “The primary rule with burns of any kind is never put ointment, creams, butter, or margarine on them- it does not help.”

For minor burns from fire, hot objects, liquids, or electrical burns, PetMD recommends running cold water over the burn as quickly as possible. Apply a cold compress and then contact your vet.

For chemical burns, flush the area with cold water for 20 minutes, a mild shampoo or baking soda can be used.

Always contact your vet for help after a burn. Remember, a phone call is free, and they can give you personalized instructions on how to best treat your dog.

Cuts or open wounds

It is easy for your dog to injure a paw pad or be cut by a stick or other sharp object while playing or hiking.

Here are 5 tips from Dr. Jamie Richardson, BVetMed

1. If the wound is bleeding, apply gentle pressure to try to stop the bleeding.
2. Try to assess the depth of the wound. If it’s deep enough that you’d worry about it on yourself or think it might need stitches on a human, you should see a veterinarian. Minor wounds and superficial grazes are often treatable at home. If in doubt, see a veterinarian.
3. If the injury is minor, you can clean the wound with antiseptic cleaning fluid and apply topical Neosporin.
4. To bandage the wound (either to keep it clean at home or to keep it clean while you’re en route to the vet), cover it with a non-adherent dressing, optionally fix the dressing in place by wrapping it with a thin layer of gauze, then cover with a bandage. We recommend stretchy, elastic bandage material that sticks to itself. (You can buy all of these from a normal human pharmacy.)
5. Ensure you do NOT bandage too tightly.

What to do if a dog gets bitten by another dog or animal

My biggest fear… my dogs being attacked by another dog or a wild animal in our backyard woods. If your dog has been bitten, clean the area with an antiseptic wound wash and call your vet. These can become infected and become much worse if left untreated. 

Dr. Joanna Woodnutt, MRCVS, shared her thoughts on how to handle a dog that has bite wounds:

If your dog has been bitten, whether by another dog or another animal, the first thing to do is get them away safely. Do not get between two animals fighting – it’s far safer to throw water over them or force a board between them.

Once your pet is safe, you should exchange details with the other owner, if there is one, just like you would in a car accident.

Next, check your dog over. Be aware they’re likely to be uncomfortable and may lash out. If their wounds are on their neck or face, chest, or are bleeding badly, you’ll need to take them straight to the nearest emergency vet.

If they are bleeding, you should treat them by applying pressure, but your goal is to get them to the vet as soon as possible.

Wounds on the trunk or legs that don’t break the skin are less concerning but should still be checked as soon as possible. With all that fur, it can be easy to miss a deeper wound, so you should trust your vet to decide if they’re safe to go home or not.

Where the animal isn’t another dog, the risk of severe injuries is thankfully lower, although you should be cautious about the risk of rabies from wildlife and venomous snakes or spiders.

Damage to the eyes is common in cat-on-dog fights, so you should get your dog checked if they are showing any signs of pain, such as squinting or discharge, even if you can’t see anything wrong.

Broken nails

Veterinarian Dr. Corinne Wigfall says torn nails are a common occurrence. They can be fully or partially torn.

A completely torn nail will bleed and can be very painful. To stop the bleeding, you can apply a small amount of styptic powder or cornstarch or place a light bandage before heading to the veterinarian for a full check-up and, most importantly, some pain relief.

A partially torn nail can be hard to identify, and you may notice your pet limping before you see the split nail. Split nails are common in dogs who have overgrown nails, so keeping your pet’s nails short is a key part of prevention.

If the nail has split below the quick or sensitive part of the nail, you can trim away the split nail with a pair of nail trimmers. Be careful when trimming nails as it’s very easy to accidentally cut into the sensitive part of the nail and make your pet bleed. This is also painful and reduces trust between you and your pet. Take very small amounts off at a time to avoid accidental damage. Asking a trained professional to teach you how to trim nails is time well spent.

If the split goes all the way to the base of the nail (where the fur begins) you need to seek veterinary help.

Recommended reading: Dog dewclaw removal – to remove or not remove?

Here are 3 tips from Dr. Jamie Richardson, BVetMed

Nails that are broken or cut too short can seem to bleed a lot, but don’t panic, as it’s usually not as bad as it seems. 

1. If the nail is still bleeding, you can try putting a pea-sized amount of flour or cornstarch on a paper towel or cotton ball, then applying it to the bottom of the nail and holding it there for a few minutes. Make sure not to rub the flour in, as this disturbs the clotting process. 
2. You can repeat this a few times and often it’ll stop the bleeding on its own. 
3. If the bleeding doesn’t stop after five minutes, the cut nail is still dangling/attached and you can’t remove it, or your dog seems to be in pain, you should bring them to a veterinarian for help.

Over-heated or heatstroke

Heatstroke can happen to the healthiest dogs. Make sure to avoid the hot sun on extreme weather days. Make sure your dog has plenty of water and shade.

If your dog is showing excessive panting, drooling, red gums, vomiting, diarrhea, uncoordinated movement, or even loss of consciousness, move him into a cool room, give him water, and call your vet right away.

Here are several tips from Dr. Jamie Richardson, BVetMed

If your pet is mildly overheated (temperature between 102.5°F – 105°F, panting heavily, seems unwilling to exercise/play):

1. Splash cool water on their body or use cool towels on their body, particularly on their neck, belly, armpits, and paws. Do not use freezing cold or ice water, and do not submerge them in cold water in the bath, as this can cause their blood vessels to constrict and cause their body to go into shock. 
2. Bring your pet into a room with air conditioning or position a fan near them to help with slow cooling. You can also use cooling treats like ice cubes or a frozen Kong toy. 
3. Continue to check their temperature until it returns to normal (101-102.5°F). If it remains elevated, take them to the veterinarian ASAP for treatment.

If you think your pet could be suffering from heatstroke (temperature above 105°F, hyperventilating, dry red gums, thick salivation, rapid pulse, confused and weak):

• Place cool wet towels on their body to cool them gradually
• Take them to the nearest emergency vet immediately.  

Limping or lameness

If your dog won’t put weight on one or more legs, inspect his paws for any injuries. Then move upward on the leg, touching to see if he has any sensitivities.

Dr. Jamie Richardson, BVetMed tells us limping/lameness can be caused by a number of reasons, and it’s always best to get it checked out by a vet as soon as possible. 

If you know or suspect that the lameness is due to an injury or there’s a potential for broken bones, you should try to secure the limb to restrict movement and prevent your pet from bearing weight on it until they’ve been assessed by the vet:

1. You can make a makeshift splint for a pet’s limb using a magazine. Wrap the magazine around the limb and secure it with bandages. 
2. If possible, lay your pet down on a blanket and use it as a makeshift stretcher to transport them to the vet.
3. Bear in mind that even the friendliest of animals can lash out in fear if they’re in extreme pain. It may help some pets to feel calm by placing a towel over their head.

Poisoning

If you know your dog has ingested something poisonous, call your vet right away. You can also contact the Pet Poison Helpline. https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/

Here are 3 tips from Dr. Jamie Richardson, BVetMed

1. If you suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous, you should contact your vet for further advice ASAP. Depending on the type of poison, amount ingested and time since ingestion, the treatment may be different. (For example, sometimes your vet’s first course of action will be to try to induce vomiting, but they may not do this if the poison was ingested too long ago or if it could potentially be corrosive to the esophagus if it came back up.)
2. Alternatively, you can also call the Pet Poison Helpline for advice 24/7 at (855) 764-7661 (note that they charge a fee).
3. You should always take your pet to the nearest emergency vet ASAP in cases of poisoning. If possible, take the packaging of whatever they’ve ingested with you to provide as much information as possible.

Bee stings

Many years ago, I had a dog that was allergic to bee stings. The poor puppy’s face swelled up like a beach ball.

Dr. Jamie Richardson, BVetMed gave us these tips:

If you know or suspect your dog has been stung by a bee, the most important thing to do is to monitor them for any concerning signs, including signs of an allergic reaction and/or an airway blockage (frequent coughing, gagging, wheezing, or excessively drooling).

Symptoms typically occur within 30-60 minutes after the sting; however, in rare situations, they can occur hours afterward, so it’s important to keep a close eye on your pet all day. 

If you notice any concerning signs, such as if they were stung on the mouth or muzzle, if they were stung multiple times, or if they’ve ever had a bad reaction to a sting previously, you should take them to the vet ASAP.

If your pet received a single sting somewhere on the body other than their mouth or muzzle and is not displaying any concerning signs, it’s often safe to monitor and care for their symptoms at home: 

1. If the stinger is stuck, try to gently remove it by scraping against it with your fingernail or something rigid like a credit card. Don’t use tweezers as they may squeeze out more poison into your pet.
2. An ice pack or cold compress may help to minimize swelling and lessen some discomfort. You should also prevent your dog from scratching at the sting site; an e-collar (cone) might be useful.
3. Your veterinarian may recommend giving a dose of antihistamine at home to help prevent and reduce swelling. You should call your vet to discuss whether this is suitable for your dog and get specific advice on the correct dosage for them. 
4. If your vet gives the ok for you to administer an antihistamine like Benadryl at home, ensure that this is simply Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) and NOT Benadryl-D, which contains a decongestant that may be toxic to some dogs. 

Choking

It’s a fact that dogs like to chew and put things in their mouth. Make sure to take away any bones or toys that are small enough to swallow. If you have human children, make sure their toys are out of reach from your puppy.

Here are 4 tips from Dr. Jamie Richardson, BVetMed, if your dog is choking:

Choking is thankfully fairly rare in pets, but it can happen on occasion. 

1. Do a ‘finger sweep’ in their mouth. Take your finger and sweep it as far down their throat as you can to try to dislodge any object.
2. If that doesn’t work, you can pick up a small dog, with their back to your belly, place your hands under their ribcage, and do the Heimlich maneuver just as you would do in humans.
3. For large dogs, you cannot pick up, lay them on their side, and apply pressure under their ribcage in a similar way.
4. If your dog begins to lose consciousness or you cannot clear the blockage, get them to the vet ASAP.

Prepare Yourself and Your Dog

Conditioning your dog to being touched, held, poked, and prodded is good practice for every dog owner. If a dog is comfortable having his paws touched, ears looked in, legs lifted, etc., it will make life much easier if and when an emergency does happen. Plus, your vet will thank you!

Have you ever been in an emergency with your pup? What happened, and how did you both handle it? Please share in the comments below.