Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

a high concentration of oxygen helps to overcome these effects. A veterinarian
will be able to provide this therapy using an oxygen mask, a nasal tube, or an
oxygen cage.
If the dog has an open wound in the chest (pneumothorax) with air sucking
in and out, pinch the skin together over the wound to seal the chest.
Maintain the seal with a bandage wrapped around the chest and transport the
dog to the nearest veterinary facility.
The first step in treating drowning is to remove water from the dog’s lungs.
Hold the unconscious dog upside down by his middle (hold a small dog by his
back legs) and allow as much water as possible to run out his nose and mouth.
Then quickly position the dog on his right side with his head lower than his
chest (accomplish this by placing a blanket or coat beneath his hindquarters)
and begin artificial respiration. Check for a pulse. If there is none, begin CPR
(see page 8). Continue until the dog breathes on his own or until no pulse is
felt for 10 minutes. Dogs who drown in cold water are often hypothermic and
can sometimes be resuscitated even though they have been under water for a
considerable time.
Following resuscitation, the dog should be seen and treated by a veterinarian.
Inhalation pneumonia is a frequent complication.
Electric Shock
EMERGENCIES • 21
Electric shock (electrocution) can occur when dogs bite electric cords or
come into contact with downed wires. A lightning strike is a rare cause of
electrocution, but a dog does not have to be struck to be seriously injured or
killed. A tall tree with deep roots and spreading branches can act as a conduit
for a bolt of lightning, conducting electricity through the ground to any animal
in the immediate vicinity. Most lightning strikes are fatal. The singed
hair and skin give evidence of the cause of death.
A dog who gets an electric shock may be burned. The electric shock may
cause an irregular heartbeat with circulatory collapse, followed by cardiac
arrest. Electric current also damages the capillaries of the lungs and leads to
the accumulation of fluid in the air sacs, a condition called pulmonary edema.
A characteristic sign of electric shock injury is finding the unconscious dog
on the floor near an electrical outlet. Electric shocks cause involuntary muscle
contractions of the dog’s jaw that may prevent him from releasing his hold
on a live wire. Dogs who survive electric shock may cough, have difficulty
breathing, drool, have an offensive mouth odor, and have burns in the mouth.
Treatment: If your dog is found in contact with an electric cord or appliance,
do not touch the dog. First shut off the main power and pull the plug.
If that’s not possible, use a piece of wood to move the source of the electricity
off the dog, or to move the dog away from the electricity. If the dog is