• Disclaimer: Hello Guest, Doberman Chat Forums presents the opinions and material on these pages as a service to its membership and to the general public but does not endorse those materials, nor does it guarantee the accuracy of any opinions or information contained therein. The opinions expressed in the materials are strictly the opinion of the writer and do not represent the opinion of, nor are they endorsed by, Doberman Chat Forums. Health and medical articles are intended as an aid to those seeking health information and are not intended to replace the informed opinion of a qualified Veterinarian.”

Basic First Aid Kit for Dogs

DobieLvr

Novitiate
Basic First Aid Kit -
Basic supplies
• 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
• Imodium AD
• 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
• Super Glu

Other suggested items are:
• Blanket
• Tweezers
• Muzzle
• Hemostats
• Rectal thermometer
• Ziplock bags
• Paperwork, including the dog's health record, medications, local and national poison control numbers, regular veterinary clinic hours and telephone numbers, and emergency clinic hours and telephone number.
 
wow thank you jst. This is actually very informational. I mean I have one but some of this stuff isn't in there. :D
 
You're welcome! This is really the short list...lmao Mine is a cheapo tool box from wally world.
 
How about adding GasX to that for bloat and the powder for nail bleeding, for got the name of it.

I always had a kit made up for my Cody, being VWD always had to be ready....
 
I have those in mine...Kwik Stop and Gas X
Anyone else have things that they use that aren't listed?
 
Print this out for your first aid kit...



Normal Vital Signs

By knowing what's normal in your dog, like body temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate, you can better tell if your pet needs medical care. Here are some norms to consider:

Body Temperature

Body temperature in animals is taken rectally. The normal body temperature for a dog is 100 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. If your pet has a temperature less than 99 or over 104, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Mucous Membrane Color

The most commonly examined mucous membranes are the gums. The color of the gums is a good indicator of blood perfusion and oxygenation. The normal gum color is pink. If your pet has pigmented gums, lowering the eyelid can also give you an indicator of mucous membrane color. Pale, white, blue or yellow gums are cause for concern and you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

Capillary Refill Time

Briefly apply pressure to the gums and release. The area should blanch and rapidly return to the normal pink color. This test is referred to as the capillary refill time and is a crude method of assessing circulation. Normal refill time is 1 to 2 seconds. If the refill time is less than 1 second or over 3 seconds, immediate veterinary care is recommended. To practice, you can do a quick capillary refill test on yourself. Press down on the tip of your fingernail. The pink skin underneath the nail will blanch. When you release the fingertip, the color rapidly returns to normal.

Heart Rate

You can feel your pet's heartbeat on the left side of the chest at the area where a raised elbow will touch the chest. Your pet should be calm and quiet. Place your hand over this area of the chest and feel for a heartbeat. You can also use a stethoscope if you have one. Count the number of heartbeats for 15 seconds and multiply that number by 4. Be aware that a dog's heartbeat will normally slow down and speed up with each breath. This is not an abnormal heart rhythm and does not require veterinary care.

If you cannot determine your pet's heartbeat, you can try to determine the pulse rate. The easiest pulse to feel is the pulse associated with the femoral artery, which is best felt inside the back leg in the groin area. Place your first two fingers up high on the inside of your pet's thigh. Slowly feel the area until you can detect a pulse. This method may take some practice and you may want to ask your veterinarian for guidance during a routine exam.

For dogs, a normal heartbeat varies on size:



Small dogs and puppies normally have heart rates of 120 to 160 beats per minute.


Dogs over 30 pounds have heart rates of 60 to 120. The larger the dog, the slower the normal heart rate.

If your pet has a heart rate outside the normal range, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Respiratory Rate

Counting the number of breaths per minute and determining the breathing pattern can be very important in an emergency. Learn the normal breathing rate and pattern for your pet.

Count the number of breaths your pet takes in one minute. Avoid counting when your pet is panting. A good time to count the normal breathing rate is when your pet is asleep.

Normal respiratory rates:


For dogs: 10 to 30 breaths per minute. Dogs can also pant normally up to 200 pants per minute.

Determining the breathing pattern is also important. In a normal breath, the chest expands as the breath enters the chest. The chest then sinks as the breath leaves the chest. Exhalation requires no effort. If you notice your pet using his abdominal muscles to breath, gasping, making loud noises, taking shallow breaths, panting excessively or exhalation seems to be difficult, consult your veterinarian immediately.

If you are unsure if your pet is breathing, place a cotton ball or tissue immediately in front of the nose and mouth. If you see movement of the cotton or tissue, your pet is still breathing. Another method is to use a mirror. Place the mirror in front of the pet's mouth and nose. If you see condensation on the mirror, your pet is still breathing.
 
CPR for Dogs

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Dogs(CPR)

CPR should be performed until you have reached a veterinary hospital.

As much as we try to protect our pets, accidents do happen. So, it is important to be as prepared as reasonably possible. One way to be prepared is to know how to give cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

CPR is an emergency technique used to help someone whose heart and/or breathing has stopped. Although somewhat modified, the same techniques used for people – rescue breathing and chest compressions – can be used to help treat an animal in distress.

The first lesson to know about CPR is that it doesn't restart a stopped heart. The purpose of CPR, in both humans and animals, is to keep them alive until the heart begins beating on its own or a cardiac defibrillator can be used. In people, about 15 percent of those getting CPR actually survive. In animals, CPR is frequently unsuccessful, even if performed by a trained veterinarian. Even so, attempting CPR will give your pet a fighting chance.

The ABCs of CPR

In both humans and animals, you must follow the ABCs: airway, breathing and circulation, in that order. If you suspect your pet is in distress, immediately look at his posture. Note the presence of blood, vomit or feces; his breathing pattern and other bodily sounds; and any materials, such as possible poisons, around him.

It is vital to know for sure that your pet isn't breathing or doesn't have a pulse before beginning CPR; it is dangerous to apply CPR to an animal (or a person, for that matter) if he is breathing normally and has a pulse.

Look for the chest rising and falling or place a mirror in front of his nose and watch for condensation. When checking for a pulse, remember that animals do not have a distinct carotid (neck) pulse. To determine if the heart is still beating, place your hand on the left side of the chest.



Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Click on the video below to see the demonstration on how to perform CPR on your dog.



Airway

If your pet has stopped breathing, check to see if the throat and mouth are clear of foreign objects. Be careful about placing your fingers inside the mouth. An unresponsive dog may bite on instinct. If the airway is blocked, do the following:


Lay your pet down on his side.


Gently tilt the head slightly back to extend the neck and head, but be very careful: Do not overextend the neck in cases of neck trauma.


Pull the tongue out of your pet's mouth.


Carefully use your fingers to sweep for any foreign material or vomit from the mouth. Unlike CPR for humans, you can reach into the airway to remove foreign objects.


If necessary, perform the Heimlich maneuver.



Breathing

If your dog is breathing, allow him to assume the position most comfortable for him. If he isn't breathing, make sure the airway is open, and begin rescue breathing. Again, remember that even an unresponsive dog may bite on instinct.



Make sure the neck is straight without overextending.


For medium to large dogs, you will be performing mouth-to-nose breathing. Close the mouth and lips by placing your hand around the lips and holding the muzzle closed.


Place your mouth over the dog's nose. For dogs under 30 pounds, cover the mouth and lips with your mouth. Your mouth will form a seal.


Exhale forcefully. Give four or five breaths quickly.


Check to see if breathing has resumed normally. If breathing hasn't begun or is shallow, begin rescue breathing again.


For dogs over 30 pounds, give 20 breaths per minute.


For dogs less than 30 pounds, give 20 to 30 breathes per minute.

Now check for a heartbeat. If no heartbeat is detected, begin cardiac compressions with rescue breathing.

Circulation

For most animals, chest compressions are best done with the animal lying on his side on a hard surface. For barrel-chested dogs such as bulldogs and pugs, CPR is best done with the animal on his back.

Make sure your pet is on a hard surface. The sidewalk or ground should work. If the animal is on a soft area, chest compressions will not be as effective.

For small animals (less than 30 pounds)


Place your palm or fingertips over the ribs at the point where the raised elbow meets the chest.


Kneel down next to the animal with the chest near you.


Compress the chest about 1 inch at a rate of twice per second. (Small animals have higher heart rates than people so compressions need to be more rapid.)


Begin 5 compressions for each breath. After 1 minute, stop and check for a heartbeat. Continue if the beat has not resumed.

For animals 30 to 100 pounds


Kneel down next to the animal with the back near you.


Extend your elbows and cup your hands on top of each other.


Place your cupped hands over the ribs at the point where the raised elbow meets the chest.


Compress the chest 2 to 3 inches at a rate of 1.5 to 2 times per second.


Begin 5 compressions for each breath. Check for a heartbeat after 1 minute and continue if none is detected.

For animals over 100 pounds


Perform CPR as you would for large pets.


Compress the chest about once per second.


Apply 10 compressions for each breath. Check for a heartbeat after 1 minute and continue if none is detected.

Perform CPR until you have reached a veterinary hospital. After 20 minutes, however, the chances of reviving an animal are extremely unlikely.
 
Taking Your Dog's Temperature

Taking Your Dog's Temperature

When your dog is ill, you may have to determine whether or not he has a fever by taking your dog's temperature. It's relatively easy and all you need is a thermometer. Learning how to take your dog's temperature properly can help determine if immediate veterinary care is needed.

Your dog's normal rectal temperature is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Higher temperatures may necessitate a trip to your veterinarian, depending on other symptoms. Feeling the ears, nose or head is not considered a reliable method; you have to determine your dog's internal temperature to find out for certain. This is done using an oral or rectal thermometer, either digital or mercury. Ear thermometers can also be used in dogs. They are generally fast and easy but it is essential to use a proper technique to obtain an accurate temperature reading.

Instructions for Rectal Temperatures

Some dogs will allow you to take their temperature, but others don't like it at all. It might be easier if you get another person to assist by holding your dog. Then do the following:



If using a mercury thermometer, remember to shake it with a quick flick of the wrist until the mercury is below 94 degrees. Then lubricate the thermometer with petroleum jelly, KY jelly or other water-based lubricant.


Have your helper hold the head and front part of the body by tightly hugging your dog.


Lift the tail and insert the thermometer slowly and carefully into the rectum, located just below the base of the tail. Insert the thermometer about 1 inch and hold in place – two minutes for mercury thermometers or until the digital thermometer beeps.


Remove the thermometer and read the temperature.

Instructions for Ear Temperatures

The normal Ear temperature in dogs is between 100.0 degrees and 103.0 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees and 39.4 degrees Celsius). The ear thermometer works by measuring infrared heat waves that come from the ear drum area. The ear drum is considered to be a good indicator of body temperature as it measures brain blood temperature. It is important to place the thermometer deep into the horizontal ear canal to obtain an accurate reading. An ear thermometer such as the Pet-Temp® designed for cats and dogs works best due to a longer arm that allows for the probe to be placed deeper into the ear canal. The first few times you use it, take both an ear and rectal temperature and compare. The results should be very close if you are using the proper ear technique.

If your dog has a body temperature less than 99 degrees or over 104 degrees, contact your veterinarian or local emergency facility immediately. A high temperature could mean your dog has an infection or heat-related illness. A temperature below normal can be just as serious, indicating other problems such as shock.
 
Thank you Jan. I actually know how to do CPR on the animals and I knew about the temp thing too, but I will print this out and put it with the other IMPORTANT info for the dogs in their folder. Is great info to have.
 
Basic First Aid Kit -
Basic supplies
• 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
• Imodium AD
• 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
• Super Glu

Other suggested items are:
• Blanket
• Tweezers
• Muzzle
• Hemostats
• Rectal thermometer
• Ziplock bags
• Paperwork, including the dog's health record, medications, local and national poison control numbers, regular veterinary clinic hours and telephone numbers, and emergency clinic hours and telephone number.

Great list Jstlovesdobes. I'd like to add a word of caution for those of us with dobes having Von Willdbrands desease.

No asprin or asprin containing products like Pepto should be used ever.
 
Actually you should ONLY use non buffered aspirin for your dogs. Like Bayer or Buffrin. :D
 

Back
Top