BY TRAINER AND OFFICER

Dave Rigg

Firstly, I’m not a veterinary surgeon nor do I have any medical qualifications for either humans or animals. The advice given here is a result of serving as a police dog handler in the Greater Manchester Police in the United Kingdom, conversations with veterinary surgeons and my own researches. Any actions you take with respect to your own dog are entirely your own.

There are lots of ways you can help a sick or injured dog but it is important to remember that dogs are not humans. A lot of medicines that are perfectly safe for humans can be very dangerous to a dog, a single Ibuprofen tablet can kill a small dog, so always seek the advice of a veterinary surgeon before giving your dog any medication suitable for humans. Having got the usual scary warnings out of the way, your service dog is not only your partner, he’s the best friend you will ever have, including your wife or girlfriend (boyfriend), so anything you can do to help the dog when it’s sick or injured will make you both feel better.

Wounds and Cuts

These are probably the most common injury to dogs when working or in the field. Cuts to the pads often occur when the dog steps on broken glass at the scene of a burglary where the offender has broken a window to gain access to premises or the dog has run over sharp stones when searching or tracking. If possible clean the wound with water or a very dilute solution of disinfectant. Cut pads and paws will sometimes bleed heavily and can be quite deep. If this happens check that there are no foreign bodies i.e. shards of glass or sharp stones, still in the wound and wrap the foot in with a gauze pad and apply pressure with a roller bandage. Try and enclose the whole paw with the bandage. If a piece of glass is deeply embedded in a wound do not try to remove it yourself as serious damage can be caused by pulling it out, seek medical advice immediately. NEVER use an elastic band or similar restrictive binding as these can cut off the blood supply. In most cases the dog should be seen by a veterinary surgeon as some wounds may require stitching and it is possible that the wound could be contaminated or infected in which case a course of antibiotics would be necessary. If you can’t stop the bleeding the dog should be seen by a veterinary surgeon as an emergency.

Injuries to Claws

One of the most painful injuries a dog can suffer and they tend to become infected very quickly they are usually accompanied by heavy bleeding. Dogs will lick them constantly which can add to the damage. If possible apply a bandage or at least cover the injured paw with a sock or similar item to prevent the dog making the injury any worse. If the bleeding is heavy bandage as for a cut paw described above. Always have the injury checked by a veterinary surgeon as soon as possible as infections are common and often the claw will need to be clipped under sedation or anaesthetic.

Dog Bites

Dog bites are always a problem because they are nearly always infected and often the damage cannot be seen. Even if the wound only appears to be a small puncture wound on the surface internal damage may have been caused. Have the dog checked out as an emergency if the dog is lethargic or suffering from shock. This is especially important if the wounds are to the neck or body. If the dog appears bright and alert clean the wound and make an appointment to see your vet.

Stings and Insect Bites

Normally the first sign of an insect sting is a swollen muzzle or paw. Check to see if the sting is still present and try to remove it wherever possible. A word of caution here, if the dog has been stung by a bee the poison sac containing the bee venom is still attached to the sting and continues to pump venom into the wound for several seconds to minutes after being ripped from the bee’s body. If you try and pull the sting out with tweezers you will just inject more venom into the wound. The best way to remove a bee sting is to scrape it out with either your fingernail or a penknife at the same time trying to avoid squeezing the poison sac. If the swelling is severe and around the nose, mouth or throat it can cause breathing problems and a vet should be consulted. If you catch the sting early enough you can reduce swelling by giving the dog Piriton (antihistamine) tablets. One adult 4mg tablet for a small dog, two to three tablets for a Labrador-sized dog. Otherwise, keep the dog quiet and cool and bathe the area with ice-cold compresses.

Fractures

In the unfortunate event of a suspected fracture treat the dog as you would a human being. Try to move the injured limb as little as possible. The dog will usually hold the limb in the most comfortable position for himself. If it’s necessary to remove the injured dog, say out in the field, try and splint the limb with whatever is available using broad bandages, handkerchiefs etc. If the fracture involves an open wound with bone protruding, cover it lightly with a piece of lint or gauze and bandage in place lightly. Get the dog to a veterinary surgeon as quickly as possible. With some fractures it would be better to summon the vet to the scene if at all possible in case the dog needs to be destroyed to avoid further suffering.

 Fits

Fits typically start when a dog is sleeping or resting and can be recognised by sudden uncontrolled spasmodic movements often accompanied by champing of the jaw and muscle twitches across the head and neck. The dog will often fall onto its side and will not be aware of its surroundings. The dog may be aware that something is ‘not quite right’ and come to you for reassurance. Most fits only last for a matter of minutes. Afterwards the dog may be drowsy and disoriented and often hungry. If the dog is having a fit don’t try to restrain it, this can make the fit worse and get you bitten. Remove any furniture or objects nearby that could injure or hurt the dog. When the fit has stopped keep the room dark and quiet to avoid further stimulation. If the fit has only lasted a minute or two and the dog is coming around keep him quiet and arrange for a check-up at the vet’s. If the fit lasts for more than 10 minutes or the dog keeps having repeated attacks it should be considered as an emergency and taken to a vet immediately.

Lameness

Non-weight bearing lameness accompanied by a lot of pain could indicate a fracture (see above). In less severe cases it could be a thorn in its pad, embedded grit or a cut pad. Also check for swelling from a possible infection and a damaged or injured claw. Dogs will normally lick an injured paw, so if there is no licking of paws the problem will probably be higher up the leg. Strains, sprains and arthritis are often spotted when a dog first gets up after resting. Keeping the dog quiet and restricting exercise for a few days can help in mild cases, otherwise have your dog examined by the vet.

Strokes

To be strictly correct, dogs do not suffer strokes in the same way as human beings do. However, they can get a similar condition known as Idiopathic Vestibular Syndrome. This tends to occur in older large breed dogs. Typical symptoms are a head tilt, flicking the eyes from side to side and being very unsteady on their feet, often falling over onto the same side repeatedly. The dog is understandably disoriented and confused. Some dogs panic and vomiting can occur. Treatment in this case involves keeping the dog quiet and calm. You may need to give support to the dog to move around. The dog needs to be seen by a vet as soon as possible and there are treatments available that can help and most dogs will make a full recovery. If your dog is very distressed, it should be seen by a veterinary surgeon as an emergency as sedation can be used to calm it.

Ear Problems

Often seen during or after a walk and can develop suddenly. The most common culprit is a grass seed. If the problem is more gradual then an infection is the most likely cause. DO NOT be tempted to probe in the ears with cotton wool buds or anything similar. Remember what your mother told you as a child, "Never put anything in your ear smaller than your elbow". The same applies to your dog. At best you will only push the object, grass seed or whatever it is, further into the ear canal and at worst you could damage the inner ear permanently. Try and stop the dog scratching the ear, it will make things worse, arrange to have the dog seen by a vet as soon as possible if you suspect grass seed as the cause.

Eye Problems

Grass seeds, conjunctivitis, thorns, scratches to the eye or an ulcer may be the problem. Here, the best thing is to stop the dog rubbing the eye or the problem will quickly get worse. If you suspect dust or a chemical has got into the eye try and flush it with lukewarm water or if you have a sterile eyewash use that. Normally a sore eye should always be examined by a vet as soon as possible and as an emergency if the eye is painful, weeping or rapidly getting worse.

Vomiting and Diarrhea

When a dog has an upset stomach the golden rule is to starve the dog for 12 hours. Do not give ANY solid food at all during this time but make sure the dog has plenty of fresh, clean water or dioralyte to drink. Most cases of vomiting and diarrhoea involve the dog eating something that has disagreed with them, so starving, followed by a light diet will settle the problem. Boiled (boneless) white fish or chicken mixed 50:50 with white boiled rice will normally settle the problem. Start the dog off on small quantities of food 4 to 5 times a day for 3 to 4 days then gradually change back to the normal diet. If the problem persists and is not settled with starving or if there are repeated bouts of vomiting, or the dog is depressed, lethargic, not drinking, then it should be examined by a vet.

Heat Stroke

Dogs that collapse normally occur in two categories – either collapsed from leg and joint problems – typically older large breed dogs with arthritis or from shock due to severe internal disease such as a ruptured spleen, vomiting and diarrhoea or heart, liver or kidney problems. The former will be bright, often still eating and are interested in what is going on around them. The latter are very miserable and off their food. Whatever the cause, a collapsed dog should always be seen by a vet, especially if the dog is going downhill, has pale gums or is in pain. Treat as an emergency and contact the vet immediately. Although it can be difficult to transport these dogs they are always better seen a veterinary surgery where more equipment is available to do a full examination and intensive treatment can be given if necessary. If the dog is biting due to pain use a muzzle if available. If no muzzle is available you will have to improvise by using a bandage, necktie, dog leash or belt to make a muzzle. Tie it firmly under the jaw then tie the loose ends behind the dog’s neck. A blanket can be used as an improvised soft stretcher to transport the dog to the car.

Poisoning

Unfortunately, dogs like nothing better that to eat toxic substances such as rat poison, slug bait, plain chocolate (yes, plain chocolate can be toxic to dogs) human tablet like Neurofen in nice shiny foil and our biggest enemy hidden narcotics. In most cases it is best to make the dog vomit as soon as possible. Most poisons take a couple of hours to be fully absorbed into the stomach so inducing vomiting is useful up to two hours after ingestion. The best way to accomplish this is to put a small handful of Washing Soda Crystals on the back of the dog’s tongue and hold his mouth shut until he swallows it or starts retching. You may need to repeat this two or three times before anything happens. If no washing soda is available, then try very salty water and mustard instead. The only exception to this rule is if the dog has swallowed something caustic e.g. bleach, as this can cause further damage on the way back up. In all cases, contact the vet with details of the poison and in what quantity it has been taken. Keep any tablets, packaging or whatever can be recovered and take it with you to the vet’s surgery. They can check with the national Poison Centre to see what treatment is necessary. If you are doing a search for illegal drugs in a building, vehicle or an outside stash or drugs that may have been dumped by a fleeing criminal – KEEP YOU EYE ON YOUR DOG AT ALL TIMES. Remember – prevention is better than cure!

I hope these few simple first aid tips will be useful to you. Remember, this is basic first-aid until you can consult a veterinary surgeon. Chose a vet that has a good knowledge of dogs and if you can find one who likes police / service dogs you are onto a winner. Keep in his / her good books and you will forge a good working relationship that will last a lifetime. There are a lot of good vets around but very few who excel in their work.

Most patrol cars carry a first-aid kit that can double up to provide the basics for you and your dog. With the addition of some Washing Soda Crystals and perhaps a set of artery forceps to remove thorns and ticks you should be able to cope with most emergencies as they occur.

Stay Safe

Dave Rigg
Crackdown Drug Testing Ltd.
DrugBeat Certifying Agents in The United Kingdom

_________________________________________________

For information on purchasing a white german shepherd puppy – contact Cindy @ 479-966-7654 or email capri57@wildblue.net