Category — pet care

Big Old Dog is the curious sort and frequently gets into some interesting situations. He’s been bitten by a rattlesnake, sprained his ankle, strained ligaments and occasionally gets bumped, scraped, or bruised. In a nutshell, he’s kind of a canine klutz (please refrain from the “Dogs resemble their owners” comments.) I was reminded of that very recently as I was bandaging a cut his leg; I was glad I know enough first aid to wrap it properly until he could get it looked at by a vet. But dogs aren’t exactly like people, so it doesn’t hurt to have a quick crash course in “Pet First Aid”. Here’s what I have been learning:

• I didn’t know you can give your pet CPR. PetEducation.com is a fantastic resource for dog first aid and emergency care tips.
• The American Red Cross makes pet first aid books, kits, and even courses at some chapters. The kits come with DVDs that demonstrate the first aid techniques discussed in the book.
• CanisMajor.com has a great, thorough first aid kit checklist. A lot of the supplies listed are ones you may already have in your human first aid kit.
• I had no idea that a dog’s normal body temperature is between 101-102 degrees, or that a large breed dog generally has a resting heart rate of 60-80 bpm. Pets.ca has very detailed information on what’s normal for a dog and what symptoms and signs that demand emergency care.

Big Old Dog will be spending the weekend recuperating, but I am optimistic that he will be back on his feet soon. The vet said he surprised everyone this morning when they took him for a walk; he was trotting along happily, as if nothing has happened at all. Of course, that was right before the pain killer kicked in, so he’s not quite so active at the moment. But like I said, I am optimistic.