FirstAid

Dog Poisoning

March 2005

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChiSavannah/

   Your Chi�s life could depend on your acting quickly and correctly in a poisoning emergency. Do you know the symptoms of poisoning?...What to do?...When and how to induce vomiting?
Symptoms: These vary with the type of poison and dose. They include drowsiness, seizures, loss of consciousness, shivering, anxiety, lurching or staggering, drooling, pawing at mouth, trouble breathing, burns around mouth and lips, and bleeding from anus, mouth or nose. If you know your dog has ingested a poison, don't wait for symptoms to appear before acting.
What to do: Call a vet immediately. State your dog�s symptoms, and if known, the poison and how long ago it was ingested. Follow the advice received, and then rush your dog to a veterinary hospital. Take along a sample of the poison, if possible, and a sample of what the dog may have vomited. If you can�t reach a vet, call the National Animal Poison Control Center hot line at (900) 680-0000 (a fee will be charged to your phone).
     When and how to induce vomiting: Depend- ing on the poison and the dog�s condition, induced vomiting can be helpful or harmful. Induce vomiting when your vet or the Poison Control Center advises. To do so, trickle one teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide for each ten pounds of body weight into your dog�s mouth. If this does not work the first time, wait 15 minutes and try again. (You should be on the way to the vet by then.)
     Prevention is key. Keep your pet away from such substances as medications (the most common cause of pet poisoning), cleaning products, paint, rodent and pest poisons, mothballs, insecticides, antifreeze, household plants (unless you know they are safe), lead (in old paint and linoleum) and zinc (in small metal objects like screws). Substances ingested by humans but toxic to dogs include chocolate, macadamia nuts, grapes or raisins, tomatoes, onion, garlic, tobacco, alcohol and caffeine.

Sources: Hound Health Handbook, B. Brevitz, DVM (Workman Publishing, 2004); & Dog Owner�s Home Veterinary Handbook, 3rd ed., J. Giffin, MD & L. Carlson,, DVM (Hungry Minds, 2000).

EMERGENCY FIRST AID FOR YOUR CHI

    Your Chi�s life could depend on your acting quickly and correctly if s/he is wounded and bleeding profusely. Do you know the two types of major bleeding? What to do, and what not to do,to control major wound bleeding?
     Types of Bleeding: Arterial bleeding is from an artery coming from the heart�the blood spurts out and its oxygen content makes it bright red. It is more difficult to control than venous bleeding, which is from a vein going toward the heart�blood oozes out and its carbon dioxide content makes it dark red. In some wounds, both types of bleeding are present.
     What NOT to do: It is extremely important not to interfere with the clotting process. When treating a fresh wound, NEVER put hydrogen peroxide on it which dissolves clots; NEVER wipe the wound which will dislodge any clot formation; and for this same reason NEVER remove bandages or pads used to control the bleeding. Although styptic powder is useful in stopping minor bleeding, note that it should not be used in major wounds.
     How to Control Major Bleeding: When major bleeding occurs, take your dog to a vet as soon as possible. Use the following emergency measures to keep your dog alive until you can reach the vet.
    Pressure Pad: The most effective and safest way to control bleeding is to apply pressure directly to the wound. If possible, first elevate the wounded area and apply a cold pack to it.Take sterile gauze or any clean cloth like a piece of clothing and fold it into a thick pad a little larger than the wound. Put the pad directly over the wound, and press directly down for 5 to 10 minutes. Never remove a blood-soaked pad, but instead press another pad over it. Bandage the pad snugly in place and proceed to the vet. Note: If swelling occurs under the bandaged area, loosen the bandage (not the pad) so that adequate blood flow can reach non-damaged tissue.
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Profuse Wound Bleeding

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