Page 347 - (DK) The Dog Encyclopedia

FIRST AID

Lurking in the undergrowth
Stinging insects, poisonous snakes, and other dangers can
remain hidden in long grass until disturbed by an exploring
nose. If your dog is bitten or stung, attend to him quickly
and keep him calm.

ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK

Occasionally, a dog may have an extreme
reaction shortly after exposure to something to
which he is acutely sensitive—for example, bee
venom, especially if he has had multiple stings.
This severe allergic reaction, which is known as
anaphylactic shock, can be a life-threatening
situation. Initial signs of anaphylactic shock
include vomiting and excitability, rapidly leading
to breathing difficulties, collapse, coma, and
death. Immediate treatment is needed at a
veterinary practice if the dog is to survive.

excessively and appearing anxious. Carefully place to somewhere cool. Cover him with hypothermia may shiver or move stiffly and
flush out his mouth with water and seek wet sheets or towels, put him in a bathtub of appear lethargic. He needs to be warmed up
advice from your vet if you are concerned. cold water, or run a steady stream of water gradually with a blanket until taken to a vet.
Venomous snakes are encountered over him from a garden hose. Ice packs or a The vet will give him warm fluids directly
worldwide. Their toxicity depends on the fan can also be used. into a vein and treat him for shock.
species, the amount of venom injected Heat stroke is often caused by leaving your
relative to the dog’s size, and the site of the dog in the car. It is not enough just to leave CONVULSIONS
bite. The effects of a snake bite develop the windows open, even if you have parked Convulsions are caused by abnormal
rapidly within two hours. You can often see in the shade. The risk is higher if there are activity in the brain. In a young dog, the
the puncture wounds from the bite, and several dogs in the car, or the dog is hot and cause is likely to be epilepsy; in an older dog,
painful swelling develops. A bitten dog may panting from recent exercise. the reasons may vary but could include a
become lethargic and show other signs of The reverse of heat stroke is hypothermia, brain tumor. If your dog has a seizure, make
poisoning, including rapid heart rate and when the body’s core temperature falls to a note of when it occurred and any other
panting, overheating, pale mucous dangerously low levels. A dog can develop relevant details, such as whether the
membranes, excessive salivation, and hypothermia if kept in a drafty kennel, left in television was on, or whether your dog had
vomiting. In severe cases, the dog may go an unheated car or room, or if he goes into a just eaten or come back from a walk.
into shock or a coma. Speed is of the essence, pond or lake in the winter. Puppies and older Convulsions classically occur when a dog
so take your dog to a vet without delay. dogs are the most vulnerable. A dog with is dozing, and signs may be trembling and
twitching, or your dog may lie on his side
HEAT STROKE AND with his legs paddling as if running. A
HYPOTHERMIA convulsion lasts from only seconds to a few
If a dog overheats he cannot cool down again minutes. Your dog may be aggressive during
by sweating like humans do. If confined in a a convulsion or while in recovery.
car on a hot day or shut in a sunroom at A dog may have more than one convulsion
home, especially if there is no drinking water within a few hours or days of each other.
available, your dog can rapidly develop heat More worryingly, he may have a run of
stroke. This is a risky condition in which the seizures, where he is not fully conscious
body’s temperature-regulating mechanism between each episode. This is called status
breaks down. Without urgent veterinary epilepticus and is a real emergency
attention, a dog can die within as little as 20 that requires urgent veterinary attention.
minutes. Signs include panting, distress, and There are various drug options for
reddening of the gums, rapidly leading to Danger of overheating treating epilepsy, and regular monitoring
collapse, coma, and ultimately death. The Even with the window down, a car quickly becomes an is needed to ensure that the drug is at the
oven, even at only moderately warm temperatures. Left
priority is to move the dog from the hot shut in, this dog would be at risk of heat stroke. correct level to control the seizures.

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