Pet First Aid: Toad Poisoning

There is a strange fascination many young dogs have with toads. When dog meets toad, the dog will often try to pick up the toad in his mouth. Why is this bad? All toads secrete mucus through their skin; the mucus can irritate the dog’s mouth and cause some serious drooling. Most toads are harmless. When is this really bad? When your dog encounters a poisonous toad. There are two types of poisonous toad seen in the United States: the Colorado River toad and the marine toad. Colorado River toads are found in the southwestern United States from the Pecos … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Sticky Situations

Over the weekend, Moose and Lally and I were invited up to a friend’s house. The house sits up on a hill overlooking the Willamette River in Washington state. Around the yard grow wild blackberries (yum) and there are several walking paths through the less tamed areas of the hill. In other words, it’s pretty much puppy paradise! Much to my dismay, Moose came gimping out of the bushes after dinner. I grabbed his feet and checked each one out. His left front paw had all sorts of sticks and stones stuck to the pads — it seems my Moose … Continue reading →

Hot Spots: Treatment and Prevention

If your dog has a circular, red, weeping sore — it may be a hot spot! Treating a hot spot isn’t just about dealing with the wound; you also have to take a look at the cause and work to prevent the hot spot from coming back. You can try to treat a hot spot at home without calling the vet, but an office visit and a course of antibiotics may be necessary to clear things up entirely. Try this at home: Trim the hair away from the sore to prevent matting, help stop the infection from spreading, and expose … Continue reading →

Hot Spots: The Basics

If your dog has a raw, open, oozing sore, it may be a hotspot! Also known as a superficial pyoderma or pyotraumatic dermatitis, this is a surface skin infection that can pop up quickly and be very painful or unpleasant for both dog and owner. How do hot spots start? Any dog can develop a hot spot, but there are some things you can watch out for. Dogs with heavy coats may develop hot spots when shedding, if undercoat hair gets trapped next to the skin. Dogs with histories of skin allergies may be susceptible to hot spots. Dogs who … Continue reading →

Lally’s Neck Sore And…

Here’s an update on Lally and her mysterious neck sore. It wasn’t a cut or puncture from her adventures in the bushes. It wasn’t a sore from collar friction, either. Our wonderful new vet checked Lally out and found… an ear infection. Both ears have a bacterial infection. The sore was either caused by too much scratching — trying to itch the ear and irritating the neck — or from wandering bacteria from the ear. Either way, Lally has a hot spot about the size of a quarter on her neck. The folks at the vet clinic shaved away all … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Neck Sores

This morning, I noticed a weird matted spot on my dog Lally’s neck. On closer investigation, I found a sore around the size of a quarter on the right side of her neck, just above where her collar sits. Time to put my pet first aid skills into action! First, I soaked a washcloth in warm water. After wringing it out, I applied the warm washcloth to Lally’s neck to help soften and clear away the dried blood. Once I could pick the hair out of the way, I could see the sore. It didn’t look like a cut, scrape, … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Warfarin Poisoning

Warfarin is one of several compounds that may be used in rodent poisoning. Many dogs and cats (especially farm pets) are poisoned by warfarin each year — either from eating the rodent bait or by eating a rodent that has eaten the bait. This is the most common cause of poisoning in pets. Warfarin causes internal bleeding because it blocks the body’s production of clotting agents — proteins that allow the blood to clot. The body has a supply of clotting proteins already, so it may take a day or two after the poison has been ingested for symptoms to … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Pressure Points

Bleeding can often look more serious than it really is. Many wounds will start to clot within ninety seconds, with a scab forming within hours. That first rush of blood from a wound helps clean out debris and bacteria! But deep wounds — especially ones that damage veins, nerves, and arteries — can be very serious. An injured vein will bleed dark red blood evenly. An injured artery will spurt bright red blood with each heartbeat. Artery damage is more serious than vein damage, though both can be life threatening. There are a few places where arteries are relatively close … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Abdominal Wounds

Because only a layer of skin, fat, and muscle protects the stomach, an abdominal wound can be very serious. The organs in the abdomen are easily injured — bruised or torn — by a car accident, a fall, or other impact. If there is ANY puncture or open wound, you should contact your veterinarian. It can be very hard to tell at home if a smaller wound has penetrated the abdomen and the internal organs are exposed. Even an abdominal bite can be a serious injury. Your first aid will concentrate on keeping your pet alive while you get to … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Electrical Burns In The Mouth

I once caught my dog Lally chewing happily on the vacuum cleaner cord. Thank goodness she didn’t get a nasty shock — the vacuum wasn’t plugged in at the time. But pets who like to chew (especially puppies and kittens) may be tempted to gnaw on an electrical cord. That puts them at risk for a mouth burn and/or electrical shock. Signs that your pet has gotten an electrical burn in his or her mouth: Blisters, especially on the gums, lips, and tongue Erratic heartbeat Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Loss of appetite Refusal to eat or drink Lethargy … Continue reading →