What to do in case of emergency?
BackYour dog has been hit by a vehicle or has experienced a violent impact
URGENCY LEVEL Critical.
Emergency procedure / First aid
FIRST AND FOREMOST, avoid any risk of further accidents:
- Remove the injured animal from the road or danger
- If the animal can move on its own:
- Place them in a calm and warm place. Cover and comfort them.
- You can give them a small amount of water.
- If there is significant limping, support or carry the dog depending on its weight.
If the animal is conscious but unable to stand:
- You should suspect a spinal injury. In this case, to preserve the chances of recovery, keep the animal in the position it has adopted
- If possible, do not move them, cover and warm them, keep onlookers away, and signal the location of the accident to prevent further incidents.
- Otherwise, move them to a protected place while following recommendations for transporting an animal. Do not carry them in your arms; use a board or a rigid structure to avoid causing further harm.
If the animal is unconscious:
- Move them while following recommendations for transporting an injured animal, avoiding any maneuvers that could worsen the injuries and ensuring in particular to keep the spine straight.
- If they is no longer breathing, meaning you no longer see the chest and belly rising with each breath, you should consider that the animal has sadly passed away.
Stop the bleeding
- To stop bleeding, the simplest and most effective method is to apply pressure to the wound with sterile compresses or with a clean cloth if that is all that is available. You can also, for example, apply a tightly wound bandage on the end of a limb. Avoid using a tourniquet, which should not be kept on for more than about fifteen minutes in any case.
- Keep the animal lying down, head lowered.
- It may be necessary to use a muzzle to avoid being bitten by the animal during first aid treatments.
Alert the emergency veterinarian
Regardless of the animal's condition, they must always be presented to a veterinarian. Shock or internal bleeding can occur several hours after the trauma. Medical resuscitation is essential, and the risks are highest in the first six hours after the accident.