First aid is defined as: the immediate emergency treatment for a given heath condition with the aim of preserving life.

 

The aims of first aid are:

 

• To preserve life

• To reduce pain and suffering

• To prevent the situation deteriorating

• To promote recovery 

 

 

When dealing with a fist aid situation it is vital to maintain personal health and safety before dealing with the emergency situation.

 

If it is not possible to safely deal with the situation call for assistance.

 

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Approaching an injured casualty

When a dog is injured and frightened, it will feel vulnerable and may lash out when approached. Even the friendliest of dogs may become aggressive

if they are in pain and fearful.  In order to reduce the risk to the handler and to reduce stress levels

in the dog it is vital to approach the dog correctly and safely.

 

When approaching an injured animal:

 

• Approach slowly and calmly

• Use a reassuring tone of voice

• Approach from the side and not from behind (this may startle them) or directly from the front (this may scare or intimidate them further). 

• Assess dangers and remove risks where possible

• Take necessary equipment (where possible)

   

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   Emergency Tape Muzzle

In order to protect human health it may be necessary to muzzle the dog before continuing with first aid.

In a grooming environment there may be an appropriate basket muzzle,

however in many situations requiring first aid an emergency

tape muzzle will need to be used.

 

Tape muzzles should be made from strong strips of material.

Ripped pieces of clothing, leads and scarves are effective in an emergency situation where bandages are not avalible.

 

Step 1:

• Form a loop in the material by tying a loose (square) knot without tightening.

Step 2:

• Drop the loop over the dog’s nose and mouth with the knot uppermost.

Step 3:

• Pull the ends quickly to tighten the knot and so “muzzle” the dog

Step 4:

• Cross the ends under the dogs lower jaw and bring them behind the ears and tie behind the dogs head using a quick release bow.

   

The bandage must be pulled tight in order for the muzzle to be effective.

 However, there must still be enough room for two fingers under the dogs chin.

 

 

 

 

DR ABC

 

As with human first aid, when carrying out animal first aid the DR ABC model should be followed. 

 

 

 

Danger

 

Action: assess what dangers are around and what may harm you/the animal further and remove / reduce all risks before continuing.

 

 

 

Response

 

Action: Check animal for signs of consciousness.

 

 

 

Call the dog and check for response, failure to respond by physical movement should lead to checking the eyes for pupil dilation.

This is done by opening one eye and assessing the constriction on the pupil. Gentle tapping of the corner of the eye should also result in a blinking action in a conscious animal.

 

 

 

Airway

 

Action:. If the dog is unconscious assess the dog’s airway by opening the mouth, checking the airway is clear and removing foreign objects, pull tongue to the side.

Remain vigilant for signs of recovery and take precautions against being bitten should the dog regain consciousness.

 

 

 

Breathing

 

Action: monitor respiration rate

 

• Watch the thorax/flanks and count the breaths for 15 seconds (inhale and exhale is classed as one breath). Multiply this amount by 4 to provide the average amount of breaths per minute.

  Or:

• Place the ear against the thorax and count the breaths

 

Or:

 

• Place the hand on the thorax and count the breaths

 

Or

 

• Use a stethoscope to count the breaths – a stethoscope will also identify any breathing sounds, e.g. crackling which may indicate infection.

 

Or

 

• Moisten the back of the hand and ‘feel’ the breaths 

   

 

 

Respiration rate (per minute) – small dog

                     15-60 breaths

Respiration rate (per minute) – large dog

                    15-30 breaths

 

(respiration rates can vary greatly & variations can be caused by a number of factors)

 

 

 

 

 

Circulation

 

Action: take the animals heart/pulse rate

 

 

 

A pulse rate usually reflects the dog’s heart rate – every time the heart beats, the pulse can be felt.  The pulse rate should be assessed anywhere on the

body where a vein/artery crosses a bony structure.  

 

 

 

The most common pulse point on the dog is the femoral artery in the back leg – this is the largest artery in the hind limb and it runs along the medial (middle) aspect of the femur

 

 

 

 

 

Method 1:

 

• Restrain the dog - is better to have the dog in a relaxed position so that its physiology does not become affected and provide an inaccurate reading.

•  NB: If the dog becomes stressed as a result of being restrained, its pulse/heart rate will increase therefore it is important to keep the dog as calm as possible.

• Locate an appropriate pulse point.

• Using the middle and index finger palpate the artery and count the beats for 15 seconds.

• Multiply this amount by 4 which will provide the average pulse/heart rate for one minute. 

   

  Method 2:

 

• Place hand on the chest of the dog and assess (feel) the heart rate – time for 15 seconds and multiply by 4. (this method is recommended in a dog which has collapsed)

   

   

   

  Pulse rate (beats per minute) – small dog

  100-140

  Pulse rate (beats per minute) – large dog

  60-100

   

   

 

 

 

Artificial Respiration and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

 

 

 

If you cannot detect a pulse or the dog is not breathing, you may need to perform emergency CPR (in combination with artificial resuscitation).

 An animal that is not breathing may still have a pulse, but if the heart has stopped there won't be any breathing.

 

Reasons why the heart may stop:

 

 

 

• Obstructed airway (choking)

• Shock

• Poisoning

• Prolonged seizure

• Coma

• Head injury

• Electric shock

• Heart failure due to preexisting condition

 

In most cases, artificial respiration and CPR will serve only as a means of keeping a dog alive until a vet can treat him.

If the dog seems to be having heart or breathing difficulties, contact a vet immediately.

 

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

 

• Follow the ABC rules

• Lay the dog on its right side on a firm surface and pull its forelimbs forward away from the thoracic cavity (recovery position).

 

• Small breeds (less than 9kg) - place the palm of the hand at the point of the third-sixth rib (centre of the chest, behind the elbow, over heart),

• cover with the other hand and apply firm compressions, at one second intervals.  Press in about 1cm.

• Medium to large breeds (more than 9kg) - place the palm of the hand at the point of the third-sixth rib (upper, centre part of the chest –

• compressions need to be at the highest part of the chest to make the most effective pressure difference within the chest cavity),

• cover with the other hand and apply firm chest compressions at one second intervals. Press in between 25-50%.

• Keep elbows straight and press down rhythmically to attempt to make the heart pump.

• Vets recommend 80-100 compressions per minute – this is more than one per second. 

• Artificial respiration should be carried out after every fifth compression (see section below).

• This process should continue until the dog regains consciousness or until veterinary assistance is received.

 

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Mouth-to-Nose Resuscitation

 

This method should only be used if the compression method is ineffective.  Please note there is a risk of physical injury to the first aider in addition to the risk of zoonoses.

As a result employees are not expected to complete these actions.

 

• Follow the ABC rule

• Open the dog's mouth, grasp the tongue and pull it as far forward as possible, clearing it from the back of its throat.

• Remove any mucus or blood with a clean piece of material / cotton wool

• Remove any obstructions.

• Make sure that you remove the collar and any other restricting item.

• If the dog is not visually breathing, place the ear on their chest and listen for breaths.

• Check pulse rate.

• If the dog has fluid in its throat or is a victim of drowning, hold it upside down by its rear legs for 15-30 seconds - but check the dog for other injuries such as broken leg beforehand.

•  If you suspect there may be a fracture, hold the dog up by the waist instead. Assistance may be required for large breeds.

• Pull the dog's front legs forward so they aren't resting on the chest, making it difficult for him or her to breathe (recovery position).

• If the dog does not resume breathing once the airway has been cleared, begin artificial respiration.

• Close the dog's mouth and keep one hand under the jaw for support. Place the hand around the dog’s nose making a seal and place the mouth to

• the hand and exhale, forcing air through the nose and into the lungs.

• Be very careful not to ‘blow’ too forcefully, as our lungs are bigger and you can run the risk of over-inflating those of the casualty causing further damage.

• Watch the dog's chest to see if the lungs inflate. Remove the mouth, repeating the cycle about six times a minute and being very careful not to inhale saliva or air from the dog.

• Continue until the dog is breathing by itself/veterinary attention arrives.

   

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  Additional Checks

  Mucus Membrane Colour

   

  Mucus membrane colour will help to determine the blood flow / circulation of the animal. Some dogs will have black gums but these will still become paler when pressure is applied.

   

  Eyes – Gently pull the eye lids apart using both thumbs, and assess the colour of the membranes within the eye.  Healthy mucus membranes should be a salmon pink colour.

   

  Gums – using one hand, open the dogs mouth and lift the lips to assess the colour of the gums.

•  If the dog has pigmented gums, then assess the skin colour of the inner lip, tongue, eye membranes or vulva.

   

  Capillary Refill Time (CRT)

  Capillaries are tiny blood vessels that lie close to the surface of the skin.  Using the flat end of a finger, press against the

• gums and hold in place for 1-2 seconds -this will divert the blood away from the area and restrict the circulation temporarily.  

• Quickly remove the finger and time how long it takes for the gum area to return to its

• ‘normal’ colour – this is known as the CRT. In a healthy animal the colour will return within 2 seconds. A slow capillary refill time indicates a lack of circulating blood.

   

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  Secondary Assessment

   

  In a first aid emergency it is essential to get the dog to the vet as soon as possible. However,

• if the ABC checks have been carried out and no treatment was required, the dog is conscious and breathing well secondary assessments should be carried out.

   

  For suspected spinal injury, then do not attempt to move the dog or allow it to attempt to stand –

• contact a veterinary practice and seek guidance.

   

  Palpate (examine by touch) the following areas:

 

• Skull – check for swellings & haemorrhage

• Neck (cervical) and body vertebrae (thoracic, lumbar & sacral)

• Thoracic cavity

• Abdominal cavity

• Each limb – attempt to manipulate the joint through its normal range of movement

• Each paw/pad

• Tail (coccygeal vertebrae)

   

  There may be heat and/or inflammation in the limbs which may indicate a possible fracture, tendon strain/sprain or ligament

• pull/rupture – limit the dogs movement, contact a veterinary practice and seek guidance.

   

  If there is swelling/inflammation of the abdominal cavity, this may indicate internal bleeding, however this will be accompanied by

• other symptoms including pale mucus membranes, fast and weak pulse rate and increased respiration rate.  In this situation you should

• not allow the dog to stand or walk.. Contact a veterinary practice and seek guidance