Your Dog's First Responder

Nobody wants to think about having an accident and I'm not talking about just a motor vehicle accident. But any type of accident. What would your situation be if you were hiking with your dog and the dog suffers an injury such as puncturing their paw pad? How about falling down a hillside breaking a leg? Or even something along the line of being bitten by a nasty spider or stung by a wasp? If any of these things happened to your dog, could you properly respond and administer first responder care until you can reach an animal hospital? Could you be a lifesaving first responder for a dog? Most people probably cannot.

If you care enough to include your dog in your social activities, you should also try to educate yourself in how to administer basic first aid in the event of an injury. It could be the difference between a happy ending and a tragic one! Find a good reference book you can include in your survival kit, in your car or hiking gear. Create a small first aid kit for your dog, or include specialized items in another kit to accommodate a dog.

Learn the basics for treating conditions such as a broken leg, shock, bleeding, burns, heat stroke or hypothermia, choking and canine CPR and rescue breathing. Keep information on you such as your vet's emergency phone number and ANIMAL poison control (888-426-4435). In case you are injured as well, have something on you that indicates you are with a dog so rescue personnel will know to look for the dog in case fear has caused him or her to hide.

Some important items that you should carry in your first aid kit would include:

Dog First Aid Kit

* A muzzle or other material that could be used as a muzzle. 

* Gauze rolls, squares or pads 

* Disinfectant and hydrogen peroxide 

* Saline solution 

* Triple antibiotic ointment 

* Tweezers 

* Scissors 

* Latex or nitrile gloves 

* Antihistamine such as children's Benadryl 

* Cornstarch or flour to stop the bleeding of a torn nail 

* Blankets or towels 

* An extra leash or rope 

* Dog food 

* Freshwater

For extended trips or those where you will be hours away from civilization you may want to include a few other items such as:

* Rectal thermometer with a small container of Vaseline 

* Antibacterial wipes 

* Bulb syringe for flushing wounds 

* Sugar packets for diabetic animals 

* Natural stress relief such as Bach's Rescue Remedy 

* Skin cream to treat chapped paw pads or nose leather

Using a waterproof container will help ensure that you have what you need especially in the event of a water accident or heavy rains that caused treacherous conditions. If you don't have time to refer to a reference manual before treating the injury you can review it once the situation is under control to make sure you haven't missed something important in the treatment and care.

If you can be prepared for the worst you may come out of the situation without any regrets and a full recovery for the injured. I personally cannot imagine many situations worse than helplessly watching the life drain out of my beloved pet because I was clueless as to how to respond. Take a little time some weekend, do some research and learn the basics. You won't regret it. Here's to safe and happy travels!

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Your-Dogs-First-Responder&id=9321854

Why Does My Dog Chase Its Tail?

Just about everyone has witnessed a dog chasing his tail. It is always good for a chuckle, and this could be exactly why your dog is doing it. Often chasing his tail is just a humorous little game, but sometimes it could be a sign of something more serious. It is important to understand the underlying reason why your dog may be chasing his tail.

If your dog is very young it is likely he is just going through a temporary phase. Often when puppies discover their tails it is something new that they can play with. This is perfectly normal.

Normally tail chasing will subside as the dog gets older. They may still revert to this behavior from time to time for attention. If they discover that chasing their tail will get you to laugh and pet them they will continue to do it. Again, this is normally harmless unless it becomes a real habit.

Excessive tail chasing could be a sign that your dog is not getting enough exercise or is suffering from boredom. Often if a dog is confined to a small space, or lacks an appropriate level of exercise they could fall back on this behavior.

Other times it can be a sign of an injury, flees, or another cause of discomfort on their tail. If tail chasing is not a usual activity for your dog you should investigate if it suddenly starts happening.

Check the tail area for injury, rashes, or a cause that could lead to your dog trying to catch his tail. If there are no visible signs of the cause you should try to increase your dog's activity level. Incorporate walks in the park and additional play time. If boredom or excessive energy is the culprit this should clear it up. If exercise doesn't work and there are no physical signs of discomfort it may be time to consult your veterinarian.

Tail chasing sounds very harmless, but this sudden change in activity in an older dog can be a warning sign of greater problems. Your dog could be suffering from anxiety or psychological issues.

Often the behavior starts when there is an irritant on the tail. When he catches it in his mouth there is some relief. Later, he could resort to this activity when faced with other threats because catching his tail provided relief in the past. If the activity is not stopped early it could be difficult to prevent in the future.

If your dog suddenly starts chasing his tail, do him a favor and investigate. Hopefully he is just vying for your attention, but in some cases it is a warning sign of a larger problem.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Does-My-Dog-Chase-Its-Tail?&id=9021163