It's every pet owner's nightmare: you're out for a walk with your dog when suddenly, they yelp in pain and start limping. What do you do? In this blog post, we'll walk you through the steps of how to treat an injured dog at home so that you can be prepared for anything.
First and foremost, remain calm. Your dog will be able to sense your fear and it will only make the situation more stressful for them. If possible, safely move your dog off of the pavement and onto grass or another soft surface. This will help to avoid further injury and will make them more comfortable. If your dog is bleeding, apply firm pressure to the wound with a clean cloth to stop the bleeding. If the bleeding does not stop after 5 minutes or so, call your vet or an emergency animal hospital immediately.
Once you have taken care of any immediate medical needs, give your dog a small amount of water if they are able to drink it. Too much water at once can make them sick, so just let them have a few sips every 5 minutes or so. If they are in too much pain to drink water, then don't force it; they will likely be dehydrated by the time they get to the vet anyway.
Now it's time to transport your dog to the vet. If possible, have someone else drive while you hold your dog in the backseat so that they don't have to move around too much. If you're on your own, put them in a crate or other safe enclosure in the backseat so that they cannot jump around or fall while you're driving. And we know it goes without saying, but drive carefully!
We hope that this blog post has given you a good overview of how to treat an injured dog at home until you can get them to the vet. Remember to stay calm, apply pressure to any wounds that are bleeding, and give them small sips of water every few minutes if possible. And most importantly, drive carefully!
Do you have a dog first aid kit? If not, now is the time to get one! Having a kit on hand can be lifesaving in an emergency. It's also a good idea to keep a list of emergency numbers handy, including your veterinarian's number and the nearest animal hospital. Don't wait until it's too late - make sure you're prepared for anything by getting a dog first aid kit today!
