Giving dog first aid is an integral procedure that all pet owners must take time to learn. Just as is the case with human first aid, this is a set of guidelines whose sole purpose is to relieve the dog of pain as well as to improve its overall health. In a nutshell, giving your canine first aid entails ensuring that you create a calm environment before administering first aid to the dog. This should then be followed up by a visit to the vet to establish that the dog is making progress. While this sounds very simple, pet owners will attest to the fact that it is in fact more challenging than it sounds. Why is this?
This happens because if it is the first time your dog is experiencing an injury of such a magnitude, it is most likely scared and confused, and in many cases, exhibits both reactions. Granted, this is the same way many of us behave when we are sick or in pain, so it should not be peculiar with your canine pet. The only difference arises from the fact that while we are able to look ahead with the hope of treatment and subsequent recovery, it does not always work this way with dogs even after carrying out dog first aid.
This simply means that many animals, and these includes dogs, live in the present and cannot anticipate future happenings. Consequently, first aid remains a foreign procedure for your beloved canine. It is the reason why adequate preparation as far as dog first aid is concerned plays an integral role. Bearing in mind that dogs are very good at reading body languages, it is imperative to make sure that you are sending the right signals. A critical aspect of providing first aid, whether for canines or for humans is to exhibit confidence in your skills. This way, the victim you are attending to remains focused and hopeful. When it comes to first aid for dogs, one sure way to help you cope is to practice the steps to be followed for common injuries with the dog.
Training for dog first aid once will not suffice. This has to be done severally so that the dog becomes familiar with the steps and to prevent the issue of first aid from becoming a foreign concept. While this may not be practical for major injuries, it certainly is doable for simple procedures such as obtaining the dog’s temperature, checking for healthy paws as well as checking to see whether the dog has eaten anything poisonous. Doing so will make it easy to establish a routine that will not become peculiar when a real emergency strikes.
Conclusion
Proper preparation prior to an emergency makes all the difference between successful recovery and long-term illness. Dog first aid is not complicated at all if you take the necessary steps of action. It also goes to show that you care for your pet after all, what better way to do this?