Gun dog first aid

If you have a hunting dog, the odds are good that you’ll have to administer first aid one day. The field with all its sharp and jagged things — barbed wire, ice, slick rocks, protruding sticks, old metal, and thorns — can be a dangerous place for creatures who bolt through it at breakneck speeds and low altitude. Just ask my dog… That’s why I spoke to Dr. Marie McKibbin, a veterinarian with 36 years of experience, to learn more about first aid for the hunting dog. Scrapes and cuts She says the most common hunting dog injuries she treats are cut pads or paws, usually from bro­ken glass or jagged rocks. Another frequent injury is facial and ear lacerations due to dog fights. Scratched corneas and puncture wounds from sticks, thorns, and porcupine quills are also com­mon, while broken bones and gunshot wounds occur occasionally. Blood alerts you to most of these injuries, but sometimes, especially with thorns and broken bones, you might only notice your dog worrying the wound or adjusting the way it normally moves. Heat stroke and exhaustion Common illnesses including heat stroke, exhaus­tion, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) as well as hot spots and adverse effects from insect bites. McKibbin says a dog suffering from heat stroke, exhaustion, or being overheated usually pants in a staggering and unsteady manner. Their ears, and back of their gums by the molars also feel very hot. A foamy mouth, along with dark red gums or tongue are also good indicators. A hypoglycemic dog will have white or pale gums and feel normal or cool to the touch. First aid When you notice any of these injuries or ill­nesses, stop hunting and assess your dog. McKibbin advises that, after careful evalu­ation, treat the most urgent things first. “Respiratory or cardiac arrest trumps bleeding and broken bones,” she says. The most likely serious emergency most of us will have to deal with is an over­heated or hypoglycemic dog. Both require immediate field care, followed by an imme­diate visit to the vet or emergency clinic. In the field, heat stroke can be treated by wetting the dog’s coat, belly, ears, and feet with lukewarm water and then fanning it constantly, followed by a visit to the vet. Wet towels work well for this. For hypogly­cemia, honey or syrup smeared on gums helps raise blood sugar levels. Repeat until you get your