Summer is already coming to an end, but dangers in the form of insects will lurk for our pets for a long time. I really liked this article, it doesn’t answer all the questions, but it will make you think.
BITES, INSECT STINGS.
Most often, dogs are bitten by their relatives, but cases of being bitten by poisonous snakes are also not uncommon. If you did not see how this happened, then finding bite marks on a dog’s body is not an easy task, while measures to save the injured animal should be taken immediately.
Symptoms: agitation, trembling, vomiting, loss of energy, excessive salivation, dilated pupils and rapid pulse.
First aid: prompt injection of specific serum, application of a tourniquet above the bite site (for a bite on the paw), cauterization of the wound with a hot iron, iodine, drinking plenty of fluids (strong tea, coffee, vodka). It is necessary to take the dog to the nearest veterinary hospital as soon as possible.
When stung by a scorpion, there is swelling and pain at the sting site, the dog may limp and whine.
First aid: administration of specific serum, antihistamines (half a tablet of histamine or suprastin, strong tea, coffee with vodka). The injured animal should be taken to a veterinarian.
Stings and stings from bees, wasps, hornets and ants usually cause only a local reaction in dogs. However, in some animals, the reaction to a bite can be unpredictably violent, requiring immediate veterinary intervention.
First aid: try to carefully, if possible, using tweezers, remove the sting, then apply a bandage-compress with ammonia or vodka to the stung area. Give the animal half a tablet of an antihistamine, for example Suprastin.
DANGEROUS INSECTS
Summer and fall can bring additional excitement for dog owners who take their pets out into the wild. Popular wisdom has long noted: “The autumn fly bites more viciously.” Of course, no “brutalization” of flies actually occurs. It’s just that in a certain season (in different places this takes place at different times) there is a massive emergence of stinging and blood-sucking insects. They cause a lot of trouble and can cause serious trouble not only to people, but also to their constant companions - dogs. If a dog is poorly trained, then it is possible that it may try to feast on a caterpillar, which is at least inedible, or diversify its diet with ants. So, the topic of today's "Tips" is dangerous insects.
WHO SHOULD YOU BE AFRAID OF?
Let’s immediately make a reservation that we will not talk about the traditional enemies of the canine family - fleas, ticks and lice eaters. We will tell you about insects that your dog may encounter by chance while walking through the forest or frolicking in the meadow.
In first place in terms of danger to dogs are representatives of the Hymenoptera family. These are well-known bees, wasps, and bumblebees. Less common are hornets and scolias belonging to the same family. The former are similar in appearance to a wasp, but are significantly larger in size. The latter have the same impressive dimensions as the hornets, but differ from the latter in coloring. Instead of the traditional wasp stripes, the body of Scolia is decorated with two noticeable yellow spots.
The hornet and scolia are distinguished by one more feature: they can sting without landing on the skin (as people say, they “beat”). But this is dangerous only for hairless or cut-haired dogs; the rest are protected by fur.
The least dangerous of all the insects listed above are bees. They are known to sting only once, and not always the entire supply of poison carried by the bee ends up in the body of the victim. Wasps and their relatives are much scarier. Their sting does not have serrations, so the wasp can sting several times, and it will release every drop of poison.
Other insects pose a much lesser threat. Bloodsuckers - mosquitoes and horseflies - do not have poisonous glands. The main danger that awaits a dog bitten by such an insect is an allergic reaction. It occurs in the bloodsucker's saliva, which contains an anticoagulant substance that prevents blood clotting. An anticoagulant is a complex protein compound that causes an allergy (think of a blister after a mosquito bite). But a bloodsucker attack can lead to serious consequences only in extremely rare cases, if the dog (or person) has an extremely severe allergic reaction.
On the next level of danger you can put the midge and the like. Contrary to popular belief, the midge is not a bloodsucker, it is a predator. Powerful “jaws” allow the little aggressor to instantly snatch a piece of dog (or your) skin and fly away with the prey. A single attack only leads to damage to the epidermis, and the worst consequences can be itching and redness of the skin. But if a whole swarm attacks the dog, the skin will be damaged over a significant area. Damage of a similar nature is caused by ants (if the dog is so stupid that it sticks its nose into an anthill). Moreover, they also “treat” the victim’s wounds with formic acid.
Of the caterpillars, the most harmful are the creatures painted in bright “poisonous” colors (however, you don’t need to put quotation marks). Scientists have found that pigments containing poison give particular brightness to the color of insects. If the caterpillar is painted in muted camouflage green-brown tones, then, as a rule, its body does not contain potent toxins. But there is not much to say about caterpillars. Firstly, cases of a dog eating these insects are very rare: the potential prey moves very slowly and therefore is not of “hunting” interest. Secondly, in cases known to veterinarians, a swallowed caterpillar causes only mild food poisoning (for information on what to do in case of poisoning, see Friend No. 4, 1998).
Once a dog has had a serious encounter with a poisonous insect at least once, it will lose the desire to hunt anything that flies and buzzes for a long time (if not forever). Most likely, the fear that electrical appliances (clippers, vacuum cleaners, mixers, hair dryers) cause in many dogs is explained by the fact that they make a sound similar in character and frequency to the buzzing of a wasp.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE BITED
The effect of bee or wasp venom on a dog’s body largely depends on where the bite was made. If it gets into the skin, then in most cases it will end in itching, redness and slight swelling. Much more dangerous and common are cases when an insect stings a dog in the oral mucosa. In this case, the dog is the attacking party, trying to catch the “unidentified buzzing object.” In practice, unfortunately, everything can look quite scary. A wasp flew by, the dog clanged its jaws, then whined, and a minute later fell - this is a fairly typical picture of a dog colliding with a poisonous insect.
This happens because the dog unwittingly exposes the most vulnerable area to the bite. In addition to the fact that the mucous membrane is not able to protect the animal as well as the skin, the oral cavity is full of blood vessels and lymph nodes. The blood and lymph flowing in them can spread the poison throughout the body in a matter of minutes. Toxins reach the brain especially quickly. It is extremely dangerous when the bite occurs under the tongue: here, in addition to a large number of lymph nodes, there is a large nerve node. Insect venom poses the greatest danger to small dogs. Their size and relatively high heart rate create optimal conditions for the rapid spread of poison.
The effect of poison on a dog’s body occurs in two ways. Firstly, it is intoxication. Here, the greatest danger is held by hornets and scolias, which carry a supply of poison that can incapacitate even a large dog. But much more dangerous is the second way through which the poison realizes its deadly power. The name of this path is allergy.
CAUTION - ALLERGY
Allergy is a local or general reaction of the body in response to the intake of specific substances and chemical compounds. We can say that in this case an inadequate reaction of the immune system occurs.
With an allergy, the body is affected by the product of its own vital activity - histamine. Under normal conditions, histamine is a complex “internal” antidote. It is able to block intercellular exchange, preventing the spread of toxins. When an allergen enters the body, histamine begins to be produced in huge quantities. This causes swelling of the membranes and swelling of the intercellular substance.
External manifestations of allergies can be varied: from redness of the skin or a blister from a mosquito bite to extensive swelling. In severe cases, Quincke's edema occurs - an acute allergic edema that can develop in just a few minutes. Most often it occurs in the neck area, where it can involve tissue throughout the entire cross-section. Unlike superficial edema, when relatively small blood vessels are compressed, edema over the entire cross-section of the neck can compress the carotid arteries. In severe cases, the trachea is compressed, which can lead to the death of the animal from suffocation. This situation requires emergency veterinary attention.
URGENT CARE
The main means of first aid for a dog when bitten by a poisonous insect are heart medications and antihistamines. Of the heart remedies, cordiamine is primarily recommended. It is best to give a subcutaneous injection, but you can also give the medicine in the form of drops (preferably under the tongue). For small dogs the dose is 0.3-0.5 ml, for medium-sized dogs - 0.7-1.2 ml and for large dogs - 1.5-2.0 ml.
Use antiallergens: diphenhydramine, suprastin, tavegil - preferably also in the form of intramuscular injections. The dosage for small, medium and large dogs is 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 ml, respectively. If it is impossible to give an injection, then you should give tavegil or suprastin in tablets: a small dog should take half a tablet, a medium one - one, and a large dog - one and a half to two tablets.
It doesn't hurt to give your dog diuretics. For injections, Lasex is recommended - 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 ml, depending on the size. A replacement can be tableted furosemide in a dosage of half a tablet - one to one and a half tablets according to the size of the dog.
If you are bitten by a bloodsucker or midge, you can use any antipruritic ointments: celestoderm, dermazin, lorinden. In this case, antiallergens can be given in tablets.
INSECT AND SNAKE BITES.
OS BITES
If your dog is bitten by a wasp, apply anti-inflammatory ointment to the bite site. If the bite is in the throat, take any tube of suitable diameter and insert it into the animal’s trachea so that the swelling does not suffocate it. Contact your veterinarian immediately.
SNAKE BITES
If possible, apply a tourniquet to prevent the venom from spreading, wash the wound with soap and water, and contact your veterinarian immediately.
This occurs quite often in the summer, especially in animals that spend a long time free-ranging outside the city. Bites cause sharply painful tissue swelling, in some cases it is possible to develop acute allergic reactions such as anaphylactic shock with a fatal outcome, because Most bites are accompanied by the introduction into the blood (with saliva) of quite powerful allergens, which are toxins for the dog’s body. In any case, before taking dogs to places where they may be attacked by various insects (bees, ants, wasps, flies, etc.), it is necessary to treat them with repellents - preparations that repel insects and ticks.
As for snakes, most of them do not attack on their own, but only when provoked, so in places where encounters with these reptiles are possible (warm, humid, swampy meadows), it is better not to walk dogs.
Symptoms of bites mainly boil down to the appearance of a sharply increasing in size, very painful swelling, sometimes general symptoms are possible in the form of shortness of breath, chills, fever, weakness, and sometimes vomiting; if the animal is prone to allergies, an allergic reaction may develop, accompanied by pulmonary edema, acute heart failure and death.
Treatment consists of relieving general and local symptoms. First of all, it is necessary to give the dog a sedative (tincture of valerian, valocordin 1 drop per 1 kg of weight in a teaspoon of water), an anesthetic (analgin, baralgin 1/2 - 1 tablet), an antihistamine (suprastin) - if there is no vomiting. Apply a cold disinfectant compress (ice with any local antiseptic such as dioxidine, chlorhexidine, etc.) to the bite site. When bitten by snakes, it is strictly not recommended to cut the bite site. In any case, the bitten animal must be immediately taken to the nearest hospital for anti-shock and detoxification therapy.
And one moment. For snake bites, specific serum is not administered to the animal. Firstly, the very question of their introduction is controversial, because Their effect even on people has not been fully studied, and secondly, to administer the serum it is necessary to know exactly the type of snake, and, as a rule, the owners are not able to report this.
“The mosquito is a small animal, but you can’t get rid of it.”
Proverb
You need to know them by sight
Mosquitoes, midges, midges, moose flies, burn flies, horseflies
Insects of the order Diptera, where only females suck blood. They use blood proteins to form eggs. All types of blood-sucking insects are called the general word “gnus”. Most of the “gnat” occurs in spring and the first half of summer. "Gnus" loves damp places with tall grass. The greatest concentration of midges will be near water bodies and wet meadows. The largest blood-sucking insects are horseflies. Their bite is the most painful. Mosquitoes, midges, midges are most active in the morning and evening. Horseflies and burner flies, on the contrary, prefer hot afternoons. Moose flies, small flying insects with a broad, flat body, widely spaced legs and two wings, appear in late August and September. Elkweeds are active in warm weather. When an insect lands on the “victim’s” body, it sheds its wings and crawls for a long time before biting. Without wings, a moose fly can be mistaken for a tick. All blood-sucking insects are movement-oriented. That is, they actively pursue a moving object.
Ticks
Bees, wasps, hornets
Flying insects with a sting containing poison. The sting is located on the back of the abdomen. Insects are brightly colored; they have yellow or orange with black stripes. Insects use their stings in rare cases and only for protection. They don't attack themselves. These insects often bite overly curious dogs who try to poke their nose into their nest or try to catch the striped buzzer. The hornet has the most painful bite and the most powerful poison.
Ants
Red forest ants bite the most painfully and noticeably. They are larger than their counterparts, actively move and build large anthills. Ant bites in the area of the paws and muzzle are received by those dogs that try to dig out an anthill.
First aid for insect bites
Short-haired (or cropped) dogs, hairless breeds, puppies and animals with white fur are especially susceptible to insect bites. Due to their small size, dwarf dogs are more sensitive to bites than their larger counterparts. There is a high likelihood of allergies to bites in dogs and cats prone to food allergies.
When bitten, a blood-sucking insect injects saliva into the skin, which causes irritation, swelling of surrounding tissues and itching. The extreme degree of an allergic reaction is anaphylactic shock and Quincke's edema. These life-threatening conditions can develop in allergic animals when exposed to a large number of bites. But sometimes one hornet bite is enough if the insect has bitten the animal in the head area. The animal's muzzle, neck area, paws swell very quickly, just within a few minutes, breathing becomes frequent, first deep, then superficial. The animal is worried, the dog whines, and the cat constantly meows. In this case, urgent veterinary attention is required. As first aid for increasing swelling, it is necessary to inject Suprastin (or Tavegil) 0.5 ml for a dog up to 7 kg and 1.0 - 1.5 ml for a dog from 10 to 30 kg. and take the animal to the clinic. Suprastin will slightly slow down the development of an allergic reaction, but will not stop its development. Subsequent treatments include diuretics, cardiac support medications, and corticosteroids. The dosage and frequency of administration is determined by the doctor!
For white dogs with delicate skin and puppies, the mass emergence of midges is especially dangerous. A large number of bites causes simuliotoxicosis– a disease caused by poisoning by insect toxins that enter the dog’s body through a bite. The dog becomes lethargic, indifferent to what is happening, vomiting and loose stools appear. In severe cases, seizures and death may occur. Small midges annoy animals not only with their bites. When these small flies fly out en masse, dogs begin to sneeze and cough because the insects get into their nose, mouth and eyes.
Bees, wasps and hornets most often sting the nose, lips and cheeks. The dog squeals in pain, tries to rub its muzzle on the grass and objects, and rubs the bite site with its paw. The bite site swells and becomes painful to the touch. Small dogs may vomit and become lethargic. Sometimes the general body temperature rises.
Treatment
The animal tries to scratch and lick the itchy places. This should not be allowed, since with constant licking and scratching, the bite sites turn into an ulcer that does not heal for a long time. Place a protective collar or blanket around the animal's neck.
Near the bite sites, the hair should be carefully trimmed. The bite sites themselves can be washed with a weak decoction of chamomile or oak bark. Repeated gentle rubbing with a baking soda solution helps relieve itching and reduce tissue swelling. Fenistil gel relieves itching well. Applying something cold (such as a water bottle) will help reduce itching and swelling.
For anxiety and severe skin reactions to bites, Suprastin 1/4 tablets for a dog (or cat) weighing up to 10 kg 2 times a day and 1 tablet 2 times a day for a dog weighing more than 15 kg will help. If the animal is lethargic and does not eat well, or bleeding ulcers appear on the skin, then be sure to show your pet to a veterinarian.
Animal repellents
Aboriginal breeds of sled and hunting dogs are accustomed to living in places with a lot of midges. Their body is more resistant to the toxins of insect saliva; they have a dense undercoat, through which it is difficult for insects to reach the skin. Dogs know that there are fewer mosquitoes in the smoke of a fire or in a person’s hut. Dogs also hide from mosquitoes by burying themselves in wet moss.
Pets have long lost these skills and are completely dependent on humans. Once in an environment that is already hostile to them - the forest, they become quick prey for blood-sucking insects and suffer greatly from this. And only a caring owner can help them. Animals need to be treated with repellents - substances that repel insects.
Many "human" repellents are very toxic to animals. Cats are especially sensitive to such chemicals. Even a small contact of these substances on their skin can cause serious poisoning. In most cases, they are not suitable for processing animals. You should also use fumigators with caution in a house where a cat lives. Volatile drugs may cause poisoning if inhaled.
Special aerosols are made for animals based on natural ingredients. For example, the aerosol “From mosquitoes and midges” from Agrobioprom and “Smart spray” from Api-San contain essential oils of lavender, cloves, citronella, geranium, and fir. “Smart spray” contains amylosubtilin, which neutralizes animal odor. Suitable for cats too. It is possible that if you are in mosquito-infested areas, you will need to use it quite often. Since essential oils disappear quite quickly.
Many manufacturers of aerosols, collars and flea drops promise protection against blood-sucking and stinging insects. Aerosols containing fipronil have proven themselves to be effective. This is the well-known “Frontline”, Rolf Club spray for cats.
An insectoacaricidal and repellent drug from the group of synthetic pyrethroids, which includes cyfluthrin “Sanofly” (Api-San) promises protection not only against fleas and ticks, but also against mosquitoes and midges. For small insect infestations, flea collars can be effective. But for dogs that need to work in the forest (for example, hunting or tracking dogs), collars will be ineffective. When processing animals, you should carefully study the instructions, choose the drug strictly in accordance with the type of animal and its weight, and avoid contact with the mouth, nose and eyes during processing.
The topic is well known. It especially hits small dogs. The injuries are severe, most often incompatible with life. But let's not talk about sad things. Let's talk about how to help a dog with a bite wound.
It should be noted that there are cases when emergency veterinary assistance is needed. You provide first aid only.
There are situations when you can get by with home treatment, provided that the dog that attacked yours is vaccinated against rabies. So let's start in order.
1. Let's look at a case when you may not need to contact a veterinarian.
Two dogs of equal strength fought and inflicted bite wounds on each other. The dogs are uncoupled, feel well, and there is no significant bleeding observed. In this case, do the following:
- Immediately ask the owner of the dog with whom your dog has mated where he lives and the exact address. Is the dog vaccinated against rabies? Does the dog have any infectious diseases? Arrange a meeting at which both of you will show each other your passports with rabies vaccination stamps.
- Then go home and examine the dog thoroughly, looking for any skin lesions. All wounds, scratches. Lubricate the scratches with brilliant green. Do not use iodine when first aiding your dog, forget about it altogether.
Then look for wounds that look like holes in the skin. These wounds need to be paid close attention. If there are many such wounds, immediately give the dog an analgin tablet. Make sure to do this. Bite wounds cause severe pain. Don't cause your dog additional pain. So, these holes from the teeth need to be noted. How? We need to trim the fur around them. It is best to pour Miramistim or Chlorhexidine onto these wounds. These drugs are excellent antiseptics and will not hurt the dog. Tying wounds is completely optional. And even if the dog tries to lick them, do not interfere. Such wounds heal quickly, but an inflammatory focus remains inside, and an abscess may appear at the site of the wound. That’s why the longer the bite wound doesn’t heal, the better. Such wounds - holes should never be sutured.
- Now we evaluate the severity of the bites inflicted. If you assess the dog’s condition as serious, call a veterinarian immediately. It may be necessary to bring the dog out of painful shock. If the dog’s condition is normal: the dog is cheerful, plays, eats, drinks, goes for walks with pleasure, then we continue to monitor the wounds for another 7 days, watering them every day, for example, with Miramistin. I also use Mastisan or Mastiet-forte to treat the inner surface of such wounds. Wonderful products that can be used from the third day of the bite until the wounds are completely healed.
We have discussed the option with a successful outcome, where there were no lacerations or severe bleeding.
Lacerated bite wounds.
Now let's move on to the more traumatic part of our course. These are lacerated bite wounds. Most often, lacerations occur as a result of improper actions by the dog owners themselves. The first thing you want to do when dogs are mated is to pull them apart. And with great effort, one owner drags his dog in one direction. And the owner of the second fighting dog drags it in the other direction. As a result, lacerations appear. This is when the skin on the dog is partially torn and hangs off in a flap. Horrible to read. It's even more terrible to watch.
Therefore, let’s first look at how to separate fighting dogs.
Read carefully: fighting dogs, namely two dogs of equal strength entering into a fight.
- Let dogs off leashes.
- Do not hit the dogs under any circumstances, this will only heat up the fight.
- Both owners simultaneously take the dogs by the collars and twist them as tightly as possible. Sticks are inserted into the mouth to open the jaws. Having opened their jaws two times at the same time, the dogs are separated in different directions.
What will it give? This will help you avoid lacerations, especially on the head and abdomen.
Advice given. Whether you adhere to it or not is your business.
Let's look at a difficult situation when the owners took their dogs away and saw lacerations. These wounds may bleed heavily. Dirt and foreign objects may become trapped in them.
So, if the bleeding is not severe, do not stand and argue with the owner of the other dog, but immediately run home. If the dog cannot walk, pick it up and run.
The first thing you should do is pain relief. Advice for those who know how to give injections: give analgin intramuscularly from 2 to 4 ml. For those who do not know how to give injections, advice: give the dog 2 analgin tablets. Do not squeeze analgin, a large dog needs 2 tablets, not half.
Now let's examine the wounds. If the wound is large and the flap of torn skin is more than 2 cm, then a veterinarian is needed to partially suture the wound. Do not use hydrogen peroxide, iodine or even brilliant green under any circumstances. It is strictly forbidden to pour all this into the wound.
It is necessary to wet a napkin with a warm solution of furatsilin and apply a non-pressure bandage and wait for the veterinarian to arrive.
If the skin flap is torn off by less than 2 cm, then you may be able to handle it yourself. Wash the wound with a solution of furatsilin using a rubber bulb or a teapot. Pour Mastisan or Mastiet – Forte into the wound, and you can apply a bandage.
If you find that muscles or blood vessels are damaged, then after washing the wound, pour food gelatin into the wound and apply a tight bandage for an hour. If the bleeding does not stop after 20 minutes, call a veterinarian immediately.
A veterinarian must be called if the dog is not feeling well (lying indifferent, trembling, pale mucous membranes, rectal temperature less than 37 degrees).
Lacerations in the abdomen, groin and anus are very dangerous. If these areas of the body are damaged, you urgently need a veterinarian and the sooner the better.
Your baby got caught in the teeth of a big dog.
My dog, a very small lapdog, was 3 years old when she fell into the mouth of a St. Bernard. Well, it wasn't this dog's fault. Button just flew out of the entrance with a loud bark and right into the teeth of a calmly walking huge dog. As a result of a slight clenching of the jaws, my dog received a fracture of the femur and a laceration in the hip area. Or simply put, an open fracture. The eldest daughter was walking with the dog. She ran home screaming and crying. Both my girls were shocked. I relieved button shock with an injection of prednisolone and analgin. My daughter could not calm down for a long time, although I tried to pour a little Corvalol into her. The dog's paw healed within a month. Button is no longer with us, she died at the age of 13. But my daughter and I sometimes remember this horror to this day. So learn from other people's mistakes. And not on our own.
Therefore, I am writing for owners of little ones and those who are planning to buy a dwarf dog. Raise your dog so that when it meets another dog, it does not rush at it with a loud bark, but quickly climbs into your arms. And she sat quietly like a mouse. Then you will really avoid the tragedy that often happens to dogs of dwarf breeds.
And so, what to do when you see any unfamiliar dog whose weight is at least twice the weight of your baby.
1. Urgently take the dog in your arms and preferably in your bosom. And be sure to turn away from a passing dog. If an unfamiliar dog becomes interested in you and your dog, yell at the top of your lungs at both the dog and its owner. Loud and creepy. Just don’t say the phrase: “Take your dog away.” This will be impudence on your part. Just shout that you are afraid of the dog, you are very afraid and different words that will not offend the owner of a large dog.
2. If the dog is such a size that it cannot fit through your coat, then take the dog on a leash and hide it behind you. Don't let her bark. At the same time, try to call the owner of the large dog.
3. Still, you were unable to avoid the tragedy, and a large dog grabbed onto your pet. Keep in mind: the forces are unequal. Don't kick a big dog, you will warm him up to more cruel measures. Don't pull your dog's leash, it's useless. By yanking the dog that has grabbed the baby out of its mouth, you will cause even greater harm to your dog. Scream, squeal, call the owner of the attacked dog. If he doesn’t know what to do, grab someone else’s dog’s collar, twist it as hard as you can and insert a stick between the teeth. Any stick you find nearby, and as soon as the dog unclenches its teeth, pull it away from your baby. Restrain your dog securely, otherwise he will attack again. And give it to the owner. Now run quickly to your dog.
Sometimes dogs after such a conflict behave as if nothing had happened. This is deceptive behavior. I saw a dog walk 100 meters on broken legs when it got hit by a car. Therefore, do not let your dog run away, or better yet, move at all. Take him in your arms and run home, you can go straight to the veterinary clinic so as not to waste time. Now it is more important to save the dog’s life, and not to figure out who is right and who is wrong.
If the veterinary clinic is currently unavailable to you, then your actions are as follows:
1. At home, place the dog on the table on a white diaper. It must be white so that you can see the blood that will make its way through the fur. And start looking around. If you feel unwell, take 40 drops of Corvalol. This will give you the strength to continue. Don’t cry over the dog, don’t lament and, most importantly, don’t scold the careless owner. This takes a lot of effort. And you need them to save your pet. And then, if the danger has passed, you can cry.
2. We assess the condition: is the dog conscious, is it holding its head, is it looking at you, is it licking and swallowing.
Is the spine damaged? An unnatural posture and the inability to stand on its paws indicate that the spine is most likely damaged. Call the vet immediately. It is also urgent if the dog is unconscious.
If your condition is serious, do not waste time. Every minute counts here. A doctor and only a doctor can save a dog if it has at least one chance to get out.
So, we made sure that the dog is conscious and the spine is intact. Anesthesia is carried out both before and after the examination.
Corvalol from 10 drops to 40 is diluted in a spoon with a small amount of water and poured into the mouth.
Inspecting the dog:
1. Head, eyes, ears. Every millimeter, we mark all scratches and wounds.
2. I look at the neck carefully and in detail, sorting out the wool.
3. Torso, be sure to examine the stomach, chest, anus, back.
4. Paws.
If there are many wounds and they are bleeding, it is better to call a doctor. I recommend calling a doctor for a small dog. Since shock after injuries, if not removed in time, leads to subsequent complications on the heart.
The rest is in the previous article: how to treat wounds and so on.
A very sad topic. I understand. There are many tragedies. Lots of tears. A lot of grief.
Let's avoid such sorrows. I've had both small and large dogs, and I've learned one thing: don't be careless. According to the laws of the dog world, a small dog cannot bark at someone who is larger and stronger. There is no such truth in the dog world: you cannot offend the weak. This is human moral law. He has nothing to do with dogs.
I have heard many times from the owners of small dogs words that struck terror into my heart. These are the words: “My dog won’t hurt anyone, she just barks and that’s it.” Think about this phrase. The owners themselves sign the verdict for their little ones. Sami! You see.
A big dog will not tolerate such impudence from a less powerful dog. And in most cases, he will choose a situation where he can take revenge on the baby. Who is to blame in this situation? Think for yourself.
I have to look out the door before I take my Rottweiler for a walk. Because on the floor above there lives a tiny Pekingese who constantly gets into fights with my Elka. And the dog’s owners also blithely let him walk without a leash in front of them. This behavior of a small dog makes them smile.
I don’t know how long I can prevent a tragedy. But I will try to do my best.
How to help if a dog has been bitten by mosquitoes depends on the complexity of the situation. In most cases, attacks go unnoticed by pet owners and go away on their own without special treatment. Mosquito bites are a little more dangerous if the insects have bitten a puppy, an animal prone to allergies, or representatives of decorative breeds.
Signs of an attack
Do mosquitoes bite dogs? The answer is yes. Puppies and dogs with short hair are especially susceptible to attack. But dogs with thick fur often suffer from bloodsuckers. The presence of bites can be determined by the animal’s behavior and external signs.
After a bite, the female injects a special secretion that prevents blood from clotting and makes feeding easier. The body reacts to damage to the skin or the introduction of a foreign substance with an allergy. The degree of its manifestation depends on the individual characteristics of the body and the sensitivity of the skin.
On a note!
During a normal reaction, swelling, redness, and itching appear on the pet’s body. The size of the blister is no more than 5 mm. The bites are placed randomly. Pests bite on the neck, back, ears, and muzzle. If a mosquito bites the eye, severe swelling and watery eyes appear. Photos of mosquito bites on dogs are presented below.
Danger of bites
Allergies of varying severity occur in all dogs. The situation requires special attention when unpleasant symptoms intensify, the scale of redness of the spots increases, and an additional rash is observed. The dog constantly itches, becomes restless, irritable, and loses sleep.
If your dog has been bitten by mosquitoes and midges, it is necessary to quickly disinfect the wounds. This procedure will help prevent infection, stop inflammation, and eliminate itching.
Used as a disinfectant:
- tincture of medicinal herbs - valerian, motherwort, calendula, oak bark;
- sour cream;
- juice of lemon, cucumber, potato, aloe vera;
- ammonia alcohol, medical;
- hydrogen peroxide;
- toothpaste;
- onion juice, garlic;
- propolis tincture;
- vodka;
- tea tree essential oil.
On a note!
In case of an allergic reaction on the skin, it is allowed to lubricate the sore spots with Fenistil-gel. This is like first aid. You need to take your pet to the vet soon. Activated carbon can help against intoxication.
Prevention
To prevent insect bites, they are used in the form of drops, collars, or sprays. One of the most effective and safe drugs is Smart Spray for Dogs. The product protects against mosquitoes, mosquitoes, ticks, and other midges.
The active components are oils of medicinal plants, which repel mosquitoes with a persistent odor. Contains cloves, lavender, geranium, lemon balm, eucalyptus, castor bean, citronella. The repellent agent has antibacterial properties, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, analgesic, tonic, healing. Used to prevent attacks by blood-sucking insects and to eliminate bite marks.
Dogs are allowed to be sprayed up to 4 times a day. The drug is completely safe, does not cause an allergic reaction, and is suitable for puppies of any age. It should be sprayed from a distance of 20 cm from the surface of the wool. Aerosol protection after one application lasts a maximum of 2 hours. A bottle with a capacity of 250 ml costs an average of 260 rubles.
Both in winter and with the beginning of the spring-summer season, trips to the country and into the forest, the issue of emergency care for skin injuries in dogs is very acute. And that's why.
The fact is that even a harmless mosquito or a short walk under the scorching sun can turn into serious problems with a dog’s skin and cause systemic health problems.
But, let's talk about everything in order.
- Insect bites
- Sunburn in dogs
- Frostbite in dogs
- Pyotraumatic dermatitis in dogs
Insect bites
Dogs and their owners usually encounter insect bites in the spring and summer: in parks, in the forest, in the country. The culprits are bees, bumblebees, wasps, spiders, mosquitoes, gadflies and other insects.
First of all, dogs that have been forgotten to be treated with special preparations or have completely neglected this procedure fall into the risk zone.
The situation after an insect bite, especially a poisonous one, develops very quickly. If the bite is in the area of the animal’s muzzle, strong, clearly visible swelling, hardness and itching immediately form. The itching may be moderate to severe, the injury site will become red, and the local temperature will rise.
Of course, it is necessary to urgently show the dog to a veterinarian. But, during the summer season, there should always be antihistamines in the first aid kit for dogs. For example, such as Telfast, Zyrtec. "Tavegil", "Suprastin". They will help quickly stop the development of an allergic reaction to insect venom. An injection is more effective, but tablets are also suitable. Also, to reduce swelling and itching, it is worth applying cold to the bite site.
Sunburn in dogs
Discussions about sunburn in dogs are not common. But there is a problem and it is quite insidious.
The fact is that not every animal, after a long winter and cold, is ready for long sunbathing. Dermatitis occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to the sun. They are most often localized on the back of the nose and the tips of the ears. The main symptoms are scaling and redness of the skin. If the disease has become chronic, there may be ulcers.
The sad thing is that these ulcers take a long time to heal with the formation of scars. In addition, dermatitis caused by sunburn can lead to the formation of tumors in the affected areas with age.
The only possible prevention is to limit the dog's exposure to the sun. In mild situations, it is enough to cool the dog’s skin and treat it with Panthenol. But the treatment of such burns should, of course, be carried out by a veterinarian.
The dog breeds most prone to such problems are the Chinese Crested and the Mexican Hairless.
Frostbite in dogs
In winter, there is a risk of frostbite in dogs. Moreover, the problem is not so rare. as it may seem. If animals are kept in outdoor enclosures and spend most of their lives outside, they can be classified as a risk group.
Moreover, frostbite can also occur in dogs that are kept in a warm house. For example, in case of accidental contact with a frozen object.
The area injured by cold can vary from the tongue to the tip of the ears. to the tail. Of course, the limbs are often affected.
It is strictly forbidden to suddenly warm up the dog! It is at the moment of sudden warming that frostbitten skin turns red, causing severe pain. Further tissue necrosis, and in the most severe situations, skin rejection occurs.
What to do?
Note! The skin must be warmed gradually with warm water and the temperature must be adjusted.
Unfortunately, in veterinary practice there are cases of surgical intervention. Therefore, it is better to prevent frostbite. For example, build as warm as possible
Burns in dogs are divided into chemical, electrical and thermal.
Practice shows that dog owners often underestimate the severity of a burn because the consequences of the injury appear slowly. Sometimes up to several days.
Partial burns affect only the superficial layers of the skin. In addition, they may not leave traces after recovery.
Deep burns more dangerous, since all layers of the skin are affected. Moreover, thorough tissue scarring occurs, which in turn leads to irreversible skin damage: scars, cicatrices, changes in skin structure, baldness, thickening.
1st degree burns It is possible to cure in 1-2 weeks without further complications. In this case, the skin will remain sensitive, but there may be papules.
2nd degree burns more difficult to treat: the skin darkens, tissue ruptures may occur, sensitivity may be partially or completely absent, scars and ulcers may form. Even systemic complications are possible, such as cardiac dysfunction, shock, pain shock.
3rd degree burns. They are worth talking about separately. The third degree is dry, charred skin, lost fur, the degree of skin damage approaches 25%, wound healing takes up to 7 months, the functioning of the kidneys, heart, and neuropathy are impaired. Moreover, the question of surgical intervention clearly arises.
The main rule for successfully treating burns in dogs is to provide a clear and correct assessment of the damage.
In mild cases, the owner can get by with regular Panthenol and antibiotics: systemic or local. But in more severe situations, you must urgently contact a veterinary clinic and do not hesitate.
Remember! For 3rd degree burns in dogs, most medications are contraindicated! Therefore, self-medication is out of the question.
But that's not all.
Until complete recovery, the doctor and owner must treat the dog very carefully and attentively, because with deep burns the prognosis of the disease can change for the worse. And all because of previously missed violations.
Pyotraumatic dermatitis in dogs
Pyotraumatic dermatitis in dogs these are so-called “hot spots”. This disease is often confused with eczema.
Labradors, retrievers, German shepherds, and mountain dogs are most susceptible to it.
Pyotraumatic dermatitis in dogs develops quickly. It is characterized by severe itching in the area of the spots. As a rule, the muzzle, limbs, and tail are affected. The spots are wet, round, with clear boundaries and increased local temperature.
The success of treating such dermatitis depends on the correct identification of the causes that could cause it.
Local treatment consists of careful treatment of the affected areas: cutting the hair and treating the wounds with antiseptics. For example, pharmaoxidine or chlorhexedine. Your veterinarian may also prescribe antibiotics and corticosteroids. Therefore, I would like to once again emphasize that self-medication can only lead to a worsening of the dog’s condition.
Be healthy!
Always yours, Balabaki Dogs.
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