What to Do If Your Dog Is Burned

Most dogs tend to fear fire enough to avoid it but sometimes they touch something hot inadvertently or singe themselves by brushing too close to a fire. They can also scald themselves by knocking over a hot beverage or suffer burns as a result of electric shock. They can also suffer from chemical burns or burns from toxic cleaners or chemicals. They also get sunburned when they loll around in the sun for too long. Even a dog’s nose can be sunburned on a day when the UV rays from the sun are too high in intensity. Here are the emergency treatments for various types of burns.

Heat burns

This can be the result of exposure to the sun, fire or scalding. \

1. Do not apply butter, grease or any ointment to the burned area.

2. Soak a cloth in cold water and hold it gently in place over the burned area

3. Send for the vet if the burn seems serious. A superficial burn is painful, reddens the skin and singes the hair, but the latter will not pull out easily. A serious burn is actually less painful because the nerves have been destroyed. The skin may be white, black or brown, and the hair will either be gone completely or will pull out easily. Do not allow the pet to lick the burn.

4. Keep the burn covered with a wet dressing covered with thick dry towels. Make the dog lie down, restrained in warm blankets. The vet may have your dog wear a plastic collar to help prevent it from licking the wound later

5. Give fluid as for dehydration, unless the dog is vomiting. If the dog is dizzy then it needs to go immediately to the vet.

6. Keep your pet warm and get him to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Chemical burns

1. Wash burned area with lots of plain water, especially if the chemical burns is around the face. Avoid spreading the chemical to the eyes or mouth.

2. If the burn is the result of acid, rinse with solution of 1-teaspoon bicarbonate of soda to one liter of water. If alkali, use plain water only.

3. Apply soothing ointment.

4. You should, of course get the dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible who will know how to exactly treat the specific type of chemical burn that your dog has. Be sure to bring the bottle with you so the vet knows exactly how to respond to the injury.

This should go without saying but never leave a pet that has been burned to ,heal., Mother Nature will not just take care of it. Get your animal the help it needs and take it to the vet immediately. Most of all use common sense. For instance, do not try to give fluids to an animal that is unconscious.

How Dogs and Cats Get Poisoned

Poisons can cause kidney failure, blindness, coma or death. A big culprit is anti-freeze.Have you got objects or substances lying around your home that could injure your pet? Here are some common sources of poisoning for dogs and cats.

Batteries – Pets can become attracted to the coppery taste of a used battery shell. Usually the animal will also have burns around his mouth if he ingested a dead battery.

Cocoa Bean Mulch – This is a common fertilizer made from cocoa beans that is used to encourage flower gardens to grow. Cocoa beans contain caffeine and theobromine, substances, which cause seizures, tremors, vomiting and death in cats and dogs. This is attractive gardening mulch but it really is dangerous for your pets.

Chocolate – Known as chocolate toxicosis, symptoms of poisoning include tremors, convulsions, diarrhea, vomiting, hyperactivity and increased heart rate. The caffeine and a chemical called theobromine in the chocolate cause this. Only twos ounce of chocolate can kill a full-grown dog , even less can do in a cat. Never every give your cat or dog chocolate as a treat and don’t give them the foil wrappers form chocolate treats to play with.

Copper Coins – Pennies minted after 1982 contain a level of zinc that is toxic to dogs. If your pet swallows a penny take him to the vet immediately as zinc toxicosis from pennies can cause seizures, tremors, vomiting, kidney failure and death.

Macademia Nuts , If your dog accidentally eats one of these nuts he can suffer muscular weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, tummy pain and muscle stiffness. If you suspect your dog has helped himself to macadamia nuts take him to the vet.

Moth Balls – Mothball contain camphor that can cause vomiting, lethargy seizures, kidney failure and coma. Kittens often see these as small toy balls that they should play with.

Pesticides – Any type of pesticide is as toxic to your pet as it is to humans. If the sign says “Keep Off the Grass” keep off it. If the grass is full of pesticides your staffie could suffer from vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, respiratory problems, bleeding from the are very attracted to the sweet taste of anti-freeze so you need to keep it locked up even if it is in your garage.

Pine tree needles – Ingesting fallen needles from a Christmas tree can cause dog and cat’s serious gastrointestinal discomfort that may require treatment from a vet. This is because the pine needles can actually cut the inside of the intestines and cause infections that could be fatal to the poor animal. In essence watch out for cat or dog the same way that you would and adventurous toddler. The one thing young humans and pets have in common is their predilection for getting into toxic stuff. Home is not the only place where this stuff can become a problem. Don’t let your dog nose around in garbage if you take him or her out for a walk.

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