First Aid

First Aid for Poisoning

• Induce vomiting (1 tsp of salt per glass of water) — only if the poison was ingested recently
• Administer activated charcoal — 1 tablet per 5 kg of body weight
• Take the animal to a veterinarian immediately
• Do not give milk — it increases the absorption of toxins

For Heatstroke

• Move to a cool, shaded place
• Cool the neck, paws, and belly with a wet towel
• Give small amounts of water to drink
• Take to a veterinary clinic immediately

For a paw cut

• Rinse with 0.05% chlorhexidine
• Apply a sterile bandage
• Do not wrap too tightly—this can restrict blood flow
• Take to the vet if bleeding does not stop

When to see a vet immediately

• Refusal to eat or drink for more than 24 hours
• Vomiting or bloody diarrhea
• Difficult or rapid breathing
• Seizures or loss of consciousness
• Abdominal bloating (especially in large dogs—intestinal torsion!)
• Inability to relieve themselves for more than a day
• Tick bite with signs of piroplasmosis

Prevention

• Deworming: every 3 months
• Flea and tick treatment: monthly from March through October
• Annual vaccination against major diseases
• Veterinary checkup: at least once a year