Recently, I took Okami to the dog park. It was early and we were the only ones there. As we played, Okami sprung down onto her front paws, then immediately popped back up and lifted her front, left paw. I could tell something had happened and started over. She limped away from me and I let her go. After about 30 seconds of limping she started licking her paw. I went to her and saw that the dew claw was hanging out at an off angle and there blood coming from it. Because her paws were dirty from the mud created by the previous night's rain, I couldn't get a good look at it. Using a rag I keep in the car and water from the fountain, I cleaned off her paw and saw that the dew claw had cracked about halfway up. Fortunately I keep a first aid kit in my car at all times. I cleaned the claw off with an anti-septic wipe and then taped it down before calling the vet. The vet suggested they cut the nail off where it was broken, and thought I felt relatively confident it would be ok as it was, I decided to take their advice.

This was far from a serious situation, and I doubt there would have been any danger if I hadn't taken the steps I had before getting Okami to the vet. However it was the first time I have ever seen my dog hurt (other than the bloody gash on her side when I found her) and I can tell you is that it felt really good to know that I had both the knowledge and tools to do SOMETHING to help my dog in the interim.

They say that a quarter of non-natural dog deaths could have been avoided if someone had immediately rendered first aid rather than waiting till the dog got to the vet. For myself, I can't imagine a worse scenario than watching the animal you love hurt and in pain while you are helpless to do anything about it. To that end I would HIGHLY suggest everyone attend a dog first aid course. You can usually find one at your local humane society. If you can't find a dog first aid course, take a regular first aid course and then supplement it with some dog-specific first aid reading. The similarities between rendering aid to dogs and humans are stronger than the differences.

Poor baby! Wow I really need to get something like that. I'd be totally unprepared. Great post!

SaraB wrote:

Poor baby! Wow I really need to get something like that. I'd be totally unprepared. Great post!

The nice thing is you don't need a dog-specific first aid kit. Just construct a good quality human first aid kit (most of the less serious first aids kits are nothing but band-aids and some aspirin) and add some dog-specific elements. Now you have a kit that can pull double duty.

I took a Red Cross Dog CPR and First Aid course a few months ago. Aside from learning how to do dog CPR, and how to properly splint a broken leg and construct a muzzle using whatever you have on hand, everything else was pretty basic stuff that I knew off the top of my head without any need for a class...just common sense. It is a very valuable class though, I'm glad I took it.

Patched up quite a few of my own dogs as well as dogs at work. Very helpful knowledge to have.

I totally agree about being prepared. I have a dog first aid kit with vet wrap, gauze, anti-septic, wound balm, eye wash, pain meds and hardware like scissors, tweezers and wooden popsicle sticks. Vet wrap is the duct tape of the dog world. Here's a pic of Mikko with a similar wrap job that I applied when he tore his dew claw.

I had to learn doggie cpr when I was working as a vet assistant. I
Really glad I knew it because I actually had to put the skill to use once. I got a dog first aid kit as a gift a few years ago and its nice to know it will be there when I need it!

That is an awesome idea that I never would have thought of on my own. Thanks for posting.

I have to say I never thought have having a doggie first aid kit. I will definatly get one now.

I want to add that if you should know where the closest Emergency Vet is located to you and have thier number saved in your cell phone. I wasted precious time locating an E. Vet # when Dakota had his last seizure. My vet has it on their voice mail when their office is closed so I didn't worry about having the number on hand. The day Dakota passed....the voice mail had not been turned on. I know the extra minutes would not have saved his life in this instance but it could have been a different type of emergency that could have mattered. I will never let that happen again.

I would have never thought about this either! I need to get one asap before our upcoming husky camping trip! Thanks for the info!

I always liked that Elara's dew claws were removed, cause it's easier to trim her nails and she can't scratch me with them. But sheesh, how many people have had issues with their dogs hurting their dew claws? I know a couple of people at the dog park ran into similar issues.