When your dog is having fun running around in nature’s great outdoors, there is always a good possibility that he will be bit by bugs or even a snake, as well as stung by creatures like scorpions and bees.

Most of these outdoor injuries are minor and although your dog may experience some discomfort, these small bites and stings will pass after a day or two. But if you are a little more concerned about your dog safety and the possibility that he may be suffering more pain than he lets on, the following information can help you prepare for these types of injuries:

When your dog is stung or bitten by insects

Most insect bites are just a minor annoyance to a dog, similar to how it feels when you or I get bit by a mosquito. There is just a small red spot with some swelling, but life goes on, and after a day or so, the bite mark subsides. On the other hand, if your dog is allergic to the bite or sting that he experiences, this may cause a severe reaction that is often proved to be life-threatening. You’ll know if your dog is allergic to specific types of insect bites and stings if he is showing such conditions as joint pain, vomiting, swelling, diarrhea, and fever.

In today’s busy lifestyles, it can be difficult to find the time to give your dog the exercise he needs. When you spend long hours at work, then come home and have to take the kids to their various activities, plus find time to eat and a few minutes of down-time for yourself, poor Fido may be left out in getting his required daily exercise. If this is the case in your house, or if you just want to be able to spend a relaxing time with your pet, without having to worry about his exercise healthy, then you may want to look into getting a dog walking service.

Dog walking services will help your dog get the daily exercise he requires. Then you do not have to worry about it. There are many professional dog walking companies, or if you wish you can hire a personal dog walker. A personal dog walker is usually a private person you hire to take your dog for a walk for a set length of time each day. You can hire a friend or even a young person to do this task for you. Many personal dog walkers advertise their services in your local newspaper, or you can ask around at your veterinarian’s office or pet shops for reputable dog walkers.

Your dog can easily go into a state of shock, caused by any amount of pain, toxin, or injury. And when it comes to the treatment of shock, veterinarians are not in full agreement as to the term treat for shock.

One side states that treating for canine shock includes the administration of intravenous fluids, oxygen, and possibly blood transfusions; procedures which are not possible for the layman to undertake.

Of course this is agreeable, however, on the opposite side of the controversy there are also veterinarians who feel that if the dog owner will implement a few emergency procedures, the onset of shock can be prevented and in cases where shock is already present, the effects can be minimized.

Basic Procedures You Can Do

So, while the full procedures for treating for shock include some things not within the scope of the layman, we will still us the term treat for shock in describing those procedures which can and should be implemented by anyone on the street.

The first step in the emergency first aid procedures for treatment (or prevention) of shock is to keep the dog calm and warm. Anything available to accomplish this should be used: blankets, hot water bottles, your own coat anything to keep the dog warm and keep its temperature from falling.

When your dog is injured and there are signs of blood flow, it may be both external and internal. If your dog was hit by a moving vehicle and you do not see any blood, always assume that there is an internal injury that may be causing bleeding. A veterinarian should be the one to assess the possibility. However, at the scene of an accident there is no veterinarian and if you notice severe bleeding on the outside, then the following steps will help you be better prepared.

Applying Direct Pressure

To apply direct pressure in order to stop the bleeding, take your hand and press down on the injured area. If possible, try to cover your hand or use a cloth as this will help a blood clot to form faster. This cloth can also be combined with the bandage. If the cloth becomes blood soaked, you may be inclined to remove it in order to replace the cloth with a cleaner one. This is a mistake. Never remove a cloth from the bleeding area because it could damage the clot that is currently forming. Instead, place the new cloth on top of the blood-soaked one.

When coming upon an injured dog at the scene of an accident, it must be transported out of the area immediately and back to safer ground. This process can be a bit complicated if you do not know what you are doing in terms of evaluating the dog’s injuries and whether or not you have help from someone else to move the animal.

Spinal Injuries

If you must move a dog that has a spinal injury (which include signs of unconsciousness, different sized pupils, shock, blood flowing from different orifices, or paralysis) then you must utilize the best method possible which depends on the size of the animal and whatever materials you have at your disposal.

If it is clear that a spinal injury exists, find an object that has a firm surface such as a flat sled, plywood, or even a window screen. Slowly ease the dog onto the surface area. Make sure he is laying on his side. Be sure not to twist the dog’s body as you are moving him. Another option is to utilize a towel or a blanket in order to move the dog. It is always best to have some help so that you can better slide the injured dog onto the board or blanket, as well as having someone to ride in the back seat with the dog to the hospital.

Natural disasters can strike at any time; when they do is not the time to try to prepare. Having your family and pets prepared for such catastrophes as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods will save you time to respond and evacuate, if necessary, and could very possibly save your or your pet’s life. The images of last year’s hurricanes along the Gulf Coast told it all. Thousand of pets became separated from their owners and were left behind. Some survived but, like their owners, found themselves homeless. Others found new homes, and a few were miraculously reunited with their owners.

Plan now by ID’ing your pet.

Wouldn’t you want to be able to find your pet in case of such an emergency? Start now by checking with your vet or shelter about a microchip that can easily be implanted under your pet’s skin. They’re about the size of a grain of rice and can be read by a handheld scanner. If microchips aren’t for you, by all means have an ID tag on your pet’s collar that includes a cell phone number or a number where you can be easily reached. Keep in mind that home phone numbers in disaster areas could potentially be out of service.

Dogs sometimes have a bad habit of putting anything they find inside their mouths. Actually, let me correct that statement, dogs always seem to find a way to put objects in their mouth that do not belong there! They tend to pick up all types of stuff, ranging from balls to rocks, small toys to articles of clothing, basically anything they deem fun to play with.

Unfortunately, there are many times when a dog accidentally swallows these objects and it becomes lodged in his throat. If this object is not removed immediately then there is the chance for the animal to stop breathing and become unconscious.

Since this occurrence is very common with all pets, it would behoove of you to learn the basic moves that it takes to help your dog from choking. This can invariably save the life of your pet.

Below are basic First Aid steps which can come in handy for a choking dog:

If Your Dog Is Choking, But Remains Conscious

1. With two hands, open your dog’s mouth and look inside to see if you can see the object. If you can see it, try your best to remove it.

When dog owners attempt pet grooming at home, there are several common mistakes that are made. Pet grooming is a skill, but with the right equipment and patience it can become a household duty that will save both time and money. You have to be careful. A slip of the clippers can cause injury to your animal. This is not only physical injury, but emotional. Trust is lost once pain is inflicted and your pet may not be as cooperative at grooming time afterward.

The first common mistake is getting too close to the skin while shaving. The clippers can leave a nasty razor burn that can open the way to later infections. If you accidentally give your pet a burn while grooming, stop and apply first aid. Put on some antibacterial salve and if possible clean the wound. Hug your pet and let him know that you are sorry and it was an accident.

Though they might not understand the words, your pet will understand the tone and will react accordingly. The emotional pain is just as bad as the physical. Watch the wound carefully and if it becomes red or seeps puss, contact your veterinarian immediately. If the animal licks or otherwise irritates the wound, you might want to get a protective plastic collar to stop the behavior.

Your dog can easily go into a state of shock, caused by any amount of pain, toxin, or injury. And when it comes to the treatment of shock, veterinarians are not in full agreement as to the term treat for shock.

One side states that treating for canine shock includes the administration of intravenous fluids, oxygen, and possibly blood transfusions; procedures which are not possible for the layman to undertake.

Of course this is agreeable, however, on the opposite side of the controversy there are also veterinarians who feel that if the dog owner will implement a few emergency procedures, the onset of shock can be prevented and in cases where shock is already present, the effects can be minimized.

Basic Procedures You Can Do

So, while the full procedures for treating for shock include some things not within the scope of the layman, we will still us the term treat for shock in describing those procedures which can and should be implemented by anyone on the street.

When a dog goes into shock, what stimulants are safe to give the animal? What exactly should you do in this situation? Life or death is waiting on your decision…

Before going into the differences of professional opinion on these very important questions, note the following basic guidelines:

A) If the dog is conscious then administer sweetened, warm coffee or whiskey.

B) If the dog is unconscious then do not give it anything at all. Instead, rush the animal immediately to the closest veterinarian’s office.

The ShockStimulant Controversy

It is interesting to note that many of the popular canine medical books on the market today are in complete opposition regarding a large number of the procedures for emergency first aid. Although these publications are written by knowledgeable, practicing veterinarians, their different views cause more questions than answers.

One major point of controversy is whether emergency first aid procedures should be instituted at all. One faction claims that time wasted looking for blankets or other material to keep an injured dog warm could spell the difference between life or death.