Our dogs will always have mishaps because of their playful and curious personality, but sometimes, a real emergency can occur because of unexpected circumstances. In this listicle, let’s spot signs and recognize some situations that may be dangerous to your dogs and how to respond to them.
Always remember to seek medical help whenever you suspect that your dog is having an emergency. This could very well save his life. Without any further ado, let’s start the list.
10. Heatstroke
All dogs are at risk of heatstroke during hot days, especially when left inside cars, and even on days when we have to go out and do errands with our canine pals. There are several Heatstroke symptoms that we have to watch out for when we are outdoors, including common signs such as excessive drooling, intense panting, vomiting, and a high body temperature.
How To Handle: Immediately move your dog indoors or in a shaded area, and provide them with cool water to drink, which can help lower their temperatures safely. Pointing a fan or air conditioning towards them can also give them instant relief. If the symptoms persist, go to the vet immediately to have them checked.
9. Choking And Difficulty Breathing
It’s no secret that dogs have a curious nature and will put anything in their mouths. This could be dangerous when they are left unattended. They could choke on small or sharp objects like buttons, shards of bones, or large chunks of food. They can display signs like coughing, wheezing, or heaving.
How To Handle: Gently pry your dog’s mouth open and check if something is blocking his airway. If you can reach it try to remove it with one or two fingers. Knowing how to do the Heimlich maneuver on dogs can also be a lifesaver. Always go to the vet even if you’re successful or not to have him checked for other possible injuries.
8. Difficulty Urinating
If your dog shows difficulty in urinating, it could mean a few things like bladder stones, urinary tract infections, or even blocked passages. These can be easily seen in male dogs, and females should be monitored more closely. Common symptoms are pain while urinating, bleeding, and frequent urges to urinate but they only expel a small amount.
How To Handle: Difficulty in urinating can be a sign of multiple diseases. Bring your dog to the vet to get evaluated and to get medicine fast. Providing them with the proper medication can bring relief to your dogs in a few minutes.
7. Eye Injuries
We all know that dogs have a playful nature, and if they play too much, sometimes injuries to the eyes can occur. They can go under furniture to roll around, and unwanted particles can irritate their eyes, or they can hit their faces on sharp corners around the house. When that happens, you will see redness, pawing at their eyes, and frequent tearing up.
How To Handle: Get your dog to the vet immediately to get them checked and get the proper ointments or drops as advised. Treat this as a high priority to prevent long-term damage, as eye injuries can escalate over time.
6. Trauma
Dogs are identified as high-energy animals and may suffer trauma due to their excessive running and jumping. Falls, bumps, car accidents, and fights with other animals can cause trauma to their bodies. If this is the case, they may limp, get cuts, or may even experience difficulty moving, which could all be symptoms of broken bones or internal bleeding.
How To Handle: Bring your pet to the vet immediately, have them checked and undergo laboratory tests if needed. This will also ensure that they get the right treatment if there are injuries they might have gotten while playing or moving.
5. Allergic Reactions
There are several things that your dog can be allergic to, from minor to major things found in home or outdoors. Things like bee stings, contact with certain plants, dust, and ingesting certain foods can all be factors of allergy among other things. Signs that your dog is having an allergic reaction can include swelling of certain body parts, difficulty breathing, and hives.
How To Handle: Bring your dog to the vet for evaluation. Keeping antihistamines on hand can also be helpful but should only be given under your vet’s supervision.
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4. Severe Bleeding
Bleeding is never a good thing for any pet as they could be suffering from a physical or internal injury, and both scenarios are equally dangerous. Observe your dog and the source where the blood is coming from, because that could determine your first course of action.
How To Handle: If it is physical, apply pressure above the wound for 5 minutes, wrap a bandage tightly a few inches above the affected area, then take him to the vet to get examined. If he is vomiting blood, it could be a sign of internal bleeding and should be rushed to the vet immediately for proper treatment.
3. Accidental Ingestion Of Toxins
Dogs are always on the lookout for anything they can chow on and they can swallow things that they shouldn’t. They could go through your trash and ingest something that can be dangerous. Common things that are toxic to dogs are chocolate, xylitol (an artificial sweetener mostly found in gum), chemicals like household cleaners, and certain plants. They can display signs like vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy.
How To Handle: If your dog displays any of these symptoms and suspects he’s eaten something bad go to the vet immediately and evaluate what he ate. As with anything involving toxins, time is of the essence.
2. Bloated Belly
Bloat or Gastric Dilatation- Volvulus is a sickness more common in larger breeds of dogs. The stomach fills with gas and twists, cutting off blood circulation and making the stomach swell painfully. If your dog belches without vomiting and their stomach swells this could be a sign of bloat.
How To Handle: Bloat is painful and fatal to dogs when left untreated. This condition requires fast action and immediate treatment to save your dog’s life.
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1. Seizures
Seizures could be a sign that your dog is having epilepsy or other medical conditions. If your dog is experiencing loss of consciousness, drooling, and convulsions could be symptoms of a serious ailment. Watching your dog having a seizure could be a scary thing but you have to maintain a clear head.
How To Handle: The most important thing to do is not panic. Move any heavy furniture and any dangerous objects away from your dog. Avoid touching his mouth as you might injure yourself. Calmly wait it out and bring him to the vet once he relaxes for proper treatment.
From The Club
Dog emergencies can be scary and alarming and they often need medical attention. Observing and recognizing the signs can ensure all of our dogs’ health and safety. And as an added tip always keep your vet’s number on hand to make it easier for you to ask for medical advice and set up appointments faster.