Doggie first aid

[Scott Linden]

As most of you know, I've been contracted by Skyhorse Publishing to write a book on what dogs teach us (I'm thoroughly unqualified to do the opposite). I'm including a section on skills a bird hunter should have, as you know. That might include essential dog first aid fixes. What are the most common first aid challenges you've faced in the field? Thanks.

[Cajun Casey]

Split ears and other clean lacerations are the most common where I am because of the prevalence of barbed wire and old oilfield and agricultural equipment.

[steamer]

how to properly get your dog loose from different types of traps .

[KyCountry]

how to properly get your dog loose from different types of traps .

+1

I've had to familiarize myself. Very overlooked.

[campbellj21]

Split ears and other clean lacerations are the most common where I am because of the prevalence of barbed wire and old oilfield and agricultural equipment.

+1 to that, plenty of barbed wire and run-ins with random scrap metal (mostly old corrugated metal from an old barn or something) overgrown with brush.

[Francois P vd Walt]

Split ears and other clean lacerations are the most common where I am because of the prevalence of barbed wire and old oilfield and agricultural equipment.

+1 to that, plenty of barbed wire and run-ins with random scrap metal (mostly old corrugated metal from an old barn or something) overgrown with brush.

+1 cut ears !

[Ghosted3]

Heard storys of poor EPs and their gnarled tails at the end of a hunt in some rough, thick stuff.

Corry

[SHORTFAT]

Ticks!.. Not to mention Porkies & skunks! :roll:

[Mountaineer]

Cut ears, tongues...from multiflora, greenbrier, etc.
Nylon stocking helps with the ear and shaking...not the tongue.

Heat issues and hydration.

Bolting food in the evening or the opposite....not wanting to eat.
Beware of a torsion.

Steel traps and bowhunters.

Up-to-date vaccinations.....Kennel cough, if dogs get around farm dogs, especially.
Basic antibios. to carry.

[Cajun Casey]

Water poisoning

[ibbowhunting]

bowhunters.

.

?????

[AZ Brittany Guy]

Blown pads
Jumping Cholla removal
Porcupine quill removal
snake bite treatment (for on the way to the EM clinic)

[RayGubernat]

Lots of good things to be aware of from a first aid point of view. Here's a few more.

Surgical stapers and their use, Suture needles and suture materials inclucing stainless steel braided wire. How to tie a surgeon's knot.

Crazy Glue, EMT gel, 4" vetwrap, Bactine liquid, duct tape and such...their various uses.

Puncture wounds, esp. in pads and feet. Hemostats, pliers. Foot care in general, especially when hunting in new terrain or on a road trip.

Seeds and assorted crud in beneath the dog's inner eyelid. Q tips, sterile saline in a squeeze bottle and knowing how to roll a dog's eyelid back. 20 cc syringe for irrigating and how to use it.

Allergic reactions and stings(Benadryl is GREAT stuff).

RayG

[Ghosted3]

bowhunters.

.

?????

Bowhunter's (not all but it only takes a few to get a bad rep.) have been know to get pissed at a barking dog running the deer or turkey away, therefore holding a grudge to all dogs and popping an arrow when they get a chance at a roaming dog if they do not see the owner close by. Personally, if this were to ever happen to me, I may fire back because that is my family member out there with the way myself, wife and 2 kids see it.

Corry

*edit* I might have to bookmark this thread due to some of the great info, thanks to everyone who has tossed in the great stuff!

[Scott Linden]

Great stuff everyone - keep it coming. On the trap question - I've actually got a video on my blog that has been well-received. Take a look:

http://scottlindenoutdoors.com/wingshoo ... bear-trap/

[Johng918]

Sand spurs in pads,face and mouth.
Briars tearing mouth,tongue,face,shoulders and tail.
Gunshots from hunters shooting birds too low or on ground(never one of mine but have seen it).
Heat.
I live in Florida so number one is SNAKE BITES.

[tfbirddog2]

Lets not forget, knowing how to use a veternary staple gun so you dont have to run to the vet everytime you hunt around barbwire, it pretty simple when your vet is nice enough to show how. Yes let not forget EMT gel and spray, spray works best for gunshot wounds. If you hunt and guide as much as I do you basicaly need to know how to be a field vet,

Snakebites can some what be helpped by have the Red Rocks Biologics vaccine, its handy to know you have about a 20 to 45 minute window to get to a vet or if you keep the steroid shot with you.

Handy to keep vet wrap on you they do have it in blaze orange too.

Dont forget to carry Ascriptin it is maylox coated 10mg asprin that is easy on your dogs stomach.

[deke]

I think something on how to cool off a dog that has been running all day would be helpful to alot of people. I was shocked how fast you can cool off a dog if you just know how to do it properly. Also, Barbed wire cuts would be a good subject. Along with puncture wounds.

[ibbowhunting]

bowhunters.

.

?????

Bowhunter's (not all but it only takes a few to get a bad rep.) have been know to get pissed at a barking dog running the deer or turkey away, therefore holding a grudge to all dogs and popping an arrow when they get a chance at a roaming dog if they do not see the owner close by. Personally, if this were to ever happen to me, I may fire back because that is my family member out there with the way myself, wife and 2 kids see it.

Corry

*edit* I might have to bookmark this thread due to some of the great info, thanks to everyone who has tossed in the great stuff!

wish this wasn't true but in take all types of people to make the world go round your dog safe with me

[Scott Linden]

This might have to be a separate book!

[zzweims]

"Most" injuries can wait until you get back to the truck, house, or vet. Not so for snakebite. I won't go into the field without benedryl.

Aline

[SpinoneIllinois]

The Benadryl also helps dogs that get car-sick.
The only really strange, accidental injury I saw: A guy's two EPs both chewed through the doors of their dog box, enough to get out. It was the type with thin aluminum that sandwiches an insulating material. Box and dogs' mouths and muzzles were bloodied pretty good.

[Ghosted3]

The Benadryl also helps dogs that get car-sick.
The only really strange, accidental injury I saw: A guy's two EPs both chewed through the doors of their dog box, enough to get out. It was the type with thin aluminum that sandwiches an insulating material. Box and dogs' mouths and muzzles were bloodied pretty good.

By chance were those "high energy" dogs on meth? lol

Corry

[Ghosted3]

So many people have read and written about some of the bad things they have seen in the field and shared how they doctored up their dogs til they could get them to the vet, or sometimes that was just good enough. Does anyone have any pictures of the dogs to go along with their stories?

Corry

[displaced_texan]

Split ears and other clean lacerations are the most common where I am because of the prevalence of barbed wire and old oilfield and agricultural equipment.

Same, plus blown pads.

Duct tape is invaluable to me to keep the vet wrapped bandage from being chewed off.

I always carry trauma shears.

[RoostersMom]

• ears & tails (bloody and cut up)
  barbed wire cuts (how to use the stapler)
  removing dog from foothold trap
  hypoglycemia treatment in the field (or avoidance - I carry honey packets)
  I carry an IV setup in the dog trailer in case of snakebite, some discussion on snakebite vaccines would be good

.

[Aggie007]

I hunt mainly south texas so heat stress is main concern. I carry about a gallon of rubbing alcohol. Soak the dog down, since it evaporates so fast it will pull a lot of the heat away from the body and help cool the dog down without shocking it.

To treat wounds I use chlorohexidine, which you can buy just about anywhere. It is the only over the counter antiseptic that will kill the flesh eating bacteria. I started carrying this instead of hydrogen peroxide.

[SetterNut]

Lot of good stuff listed.

But one thing dealing with wounds is that they have to be cleaned properly before they are closed up. Some instructions on how to get the wound clean would help a lot of people.

[Brazosvalleyvizslas]

Scott, I have a picture of a Vizsla after being bitten in the face by a Rattlesnake and I have other pictures of one that was stapled up after impaling herself. Shoot mr your email addy if you wanna see them.