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Dog medical emergencies?

Have you ever taken a dog first-aid class?
Do you have a dog emergency first-aid kit?

Note: I'm not talking about "do-it-yourself" in place of vet care, but knowing how to react and having the tools to get the dog to the vet in a slightly safer condition. (Bandaging bleeding, knowing the heimlich maneuver, etc.)

Public Comments

1. A local pet store by my place had a free pet first aid seminar. I took that. They gave us a small kit and a list of items that would be go to add to it.

So yes to both questions.

2. I have never taken a class but I have read many books on dog and cat first aid.

Yes I have a first aid kit for my dogs and cats.

The second it looks like an injury is too much for me to handle myself off to the vet!

3. Yes, I have completed the course (as well as for other domesticated animals) And yes I have a dog first aid kit(filled twice as much as my human one too)
I was required to complete animal (I chose dog, horse, and cat specific medical first aid) during my Vet Tech. courses.

4. I have, actually, taken a first aid class.

Every dog owner really should have that information at their fingertips. You may never need it, and then again you may. Its best to be prepared.

The things that they taught us in the class were the basic splinting, bandaging, calming a fretting and injured dog, Heimlich maneuver, etc.

And the first aid kid included:
Gauze sponges -- 50 four-by-four inch sponges, two per envelope
Triple antibiotic ointment
Rubbing alcohol
Ear syringe -- two ounce capacity
Ace self-adhering athletic bandage -- three-inch width
White petroleum jelly (Vaseline or similar)
Eye wash
Sterile, non-adherent pads
Pepto Bismol tablets
Generic Benadryl capsules -- 25mg, for allergies
Hydrocortisone acetate -- one percent cream
Sterile stretch gauze bandage -- three inches by four yards
Buffered aspirin
Dermicil hypoallergenic cloth tape one inch by 10 yards
Hydrogen peroxide
Kaopectate tablets maximum strength
Bandage scissors
Custom splints
Vet Rap bandage

I, luckily, only had to use it once for Max's sprained paw when he was a puppy, but when you have pets, you need to be prepared.

5. Yes I have done a course at our shelter. I also have the first aid kit I bought there so I should be able to cope with most things until I can get the animal to the vet which of course would be done right away.

6. Yes I have taken several. I also how to do CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver on dogs & pups and how to properly do mouth to mouth too.
Also know basic and not so basic things to do for a dog in first aid.

It's very easy to find classes if you have a mind too. Many vets sponsor courses as does the red cross too. Also breed clubs!

If you have the will there is always a way.

7. I haven't taken a first-aid class, but I did help out a vet for a while when I was in college and grew up on a ranch, so I'm pretty familiar with general first aid, we were some distance from the nearest vet and the livestock vet couldn't always get out there 'right then' so I've done a lot of bandaging, stabilizing, wound cleaning, and even stitched up a sheep's abdomen when the neighbor's dog attacked it and the vet couldn't get out there until the next day! I keep on hand basic first-aid items, so I'm pretty well-prepared. Beyond basic bandaging or wound-cleaning or trying to clear a choking animal's airway (which would not leave time to phone), I always phone the vet before doing anything of a first-aid nature.

8. yes, and yes.

I volunteer as a foster home for the SPCA in my area, and we are required to have a first aid kit in our homes. one kit per two dogs.
and we are required to take classes. i am trained in mouth-to-snout, Heimlich, chest compressions etc.

I'm very glad that i know all these things! I'vee had to use that training on my own dogs a few times over the years.

I have taken training for infants/children/adults as well!
you never know!

Edit:
oh yeah! forgot to add, i also have 2 in my van. 1 human First-aid kit, and 1 animal first-aid kit.
Cannot tell you how many times i've used that one on strays.

9. I have not taken a first aid class. I do know the procedures fairly well, though.

I have a very extensive first aid kit, though. I've got suture, scalpels, tourniquet, wound dressings...you name it. (but only because I know how to use them all)

10. Yep, I've taken a Red Cross First Aid course for pets. We had a hands on CPR and Heimlich manuever as part of the class. We also received first aid manual from the class too.

I also have a first aid kit from some raffle or secret santa sort of gift but for my dogs it's useless.

I have assorted antibiotics on hand, flagyl, norvosol-r (fluids), cool packs, homeopathic treatments, Benedryl, Neosporin,Liquid Bandage, rescue remedy, anti-gas, several themometers, ear cleaning products, etc.
And lots of the generic items too.



11. Not sure if there are 'first aid classes' for dogs but there are first aid kits -- actually any first aid kit would suffice but there are specialized ones for things like bloat and such. The heimlich doesn't work terribly well on dogs because their abdomenal/chest cavity is formed differently than humans but you can sort of 'try' with a compression maneuver to dislodge something - not always or even often successful. CPR is modified as well due to the difference in structure but if you understand the theory behind the actions, it should be easy to 'adapt' - we have even had to adapt to humans with differing body structures - dogs are no different. Bandaging and bleeding, the same although a decently trained dog is usually a whooooole lot more easy to deal with in an injury situation than a lot of humans! haha