Clean Run - July 2017 - 47

Monitor for swelling of the face and
neck that may affect breathing.
Contact your veterinarian for additional
advice. he or she may recommend that
your dog be taken to the animal hospital before administering any medication such as Benadryl, depending on
how far from help you are.
Bleeding or Traumatic Injury
applying direct pressure to a bleeding
wound is the most effective way to stop
active bleeding. You may use a towel
or gauze to apply pressure depending on the size of the wound. Do not
be tempted to lift your hand and look
at the bleeding. if the bleeding soaks
through the gauze or towel, apply additional layers on top of the material
already in place. removing the bottom
layer of material may dislodge a developing clot and increase the bleeding.
a tourniquet may be applied to distal
extremities or tails as a last resort in a
life saving measure when the limb or
tail is not expected to be saved. apply
a wide strip of cloth above the bleeding and tighten down until the bleeding stops. use tape to mark the time
the tourniquet was applied. leave the
tourniquet in place and transport the
dog to the closest veterinary hospital.
if there is a foreign object projecting
from the wound, do not remove it!
Trim the object down to a manageable size if possible. use bandaging
material to apply pressure and secure
the object in place. Seek veterinary
care immediately!
Eye Injuries
if the eye has become dislodged from
the socket, or the lids are unable to close
over the eye, keep the eye moist using
sterile lubricant or a moist compress.
if a chemical irritant is suspected, flush
the eye with running water, or saline for
a minimum of 15 minutes.
Seek veterinary medical care immediately.
Toxin Ingestion
The first step in addressing toxin injection is identifying what has been ingested, as different toxins may require
different treatments. Keep any packag-

July 17 | Clean Run

ing associated with the item. Contact animal poison control immediately for advice.
Poison control centers have veterinarians on duty who specialize in animal toxins.
The veterinarian will discuss treatment recommendations and assign a case number which your veterinarian can use to establish treatment protocols.
To expedite your call with the poison control center, note what signs you dog is
exhibiting. how long ago did the dog ingest the toxin? how much of the toxin did
the dog ingest?
Do not administer emetics (medications to induce vomiting) unless instructed to
do so by a veterinarian.
Fractures and Other Injuries
a fracture is a break in the bone. This can be a closed fracture, where there is no
external evidence of a break, or it can be an open fracture, in which there is an open
wound in the skin and the bone may be visible.
always apply a muzzle before attempting to address or stabilize a fracture. Fractures can be traumatic for your dog and result in anxiety, pain, and fear. if you are
able to rush to an animal hospital immediately, you should do so to seek veterinary
care. Once the dog is muzzled, use a blanket or stretcher to place your dog safely
into your vehicle for the trip to the clinic. Call ahead to ensure that staff is available
to transport your dog safely from your vehicle into the clinic.
if you are not able to seek immediate medical attention, such as when you are hiking or in a remote area, you may choose to apply a splint to the forelimb or hind
limb. Splinting should only be attempted on the lower limbs (a fracture below the
elbow in the front limbs or below the knee in hind limbs), and only in situations of
dire need.
if there is an open wound, place a bandage to protect the wound. Follow the steps
previously provided in the bandaging section.
Once the bandage is in place, use cardboard or sticks (make sure they are long
enough to extend from the joint above and below the suspected break in the bone)
along the medial and lateral aspects (both sides) of the limb. Secure the splint with
white tape.
Seek veterinary care immediately for any suspected fractures. Your veterinarian will
discuss all possible treatment options.
Heat Stroke
heat stroke is an elevated body temperature related to being in direct sunlight
without adequate shade or access to water. if you are worried your dog is experiencing heat stroke or heat fatigue, first obtain a rectal temperature and record
it. a normal rectal temperature for dogs is 99.5°F to 102.5°F. if the temperature is
elevated above normal, place your dog in a shady spot and direct a fan to blow on
your dog. if your dog's temperature is above 105°F, then it is experiencing a true
emergency. You may also spray rubbing alcohol onto the foot pads, ear tips, and
belly of the dog to help dissipate heat faster. Do not allow your dog to lick the rubbing alcohol. Dampen a towel with cool water and lay this over your dog with a fan
blowing directly on your dog and the damp towel. Monitor the rectal temperature
every 5-10 minutes. when the temperature reaches 102°F, remove the cool towel
and stop spraying the footpads and belly with alcohol. remove the fan, and continue monitoring the temperature for at least two hours.
when attempting to cool down your dog in the case of heat stroke, never cool the
dog off too quickly or try to continue cooling them down once the rectal temperature has reached 102°F, as you can cause them to become hypothermic (too cold).
Do not use cold water or ice to cool the dog. Do not attempt to force dog to
drink water.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - July 2017