How To Revive An Unconscious Dog
A pet that has lost consciousness is one of the frightening situations a pet owner would experience. Although pet owners are always advised to remain calm when faced with emergency situation to be able to help the pet, keeping calm would be very difficult to do. Treated and loved as the baby of the family, a dog that got sick or one that fell unconscious will make the whole family panic.
Loss of consciousness is one of the difficult health concerns of dogs due to the fact that there is a whole range of reasons why this condition would occur. Bleeding wounds can be dealt with easily while an unconscious dog would have no ability to respond. An unmoving dog that has pale lips and gums and glassy unseeing eyes would be reason enough for a pet parent to panic. A dog that has lost conscious may or may not breathe. The dog may or may not have a pulse either.
Loss of consciousness is one of the sign of a lot of health concerns. Ingestion of toxic substances and foreign objects that could create a blockage in the airways can be the reason why the dog's loss of consciousness. Epileptic attacks, head injuries that cause cerebral hemorrhage are some of the reasons why a dog can become unconscious. An unconscious dog need immediate first aid treatment as this condition can be fatal if the pet has stopped breathing. Unconsciousness can lead to the death of the pet especially if the pet has stopped breathing and no first aid treatment was administered given that all the vital organs of the body will be starved of oxygen.
First aid for an unconscious dog that is breathing and has pulse is to conserve body heat. The dogs must be wrapped with a blanket or covered with a jacket while being transported to a veterinary facility. The dog's hindquarters must be slightly elevated than the head.
For an unconscious dog that is not breathing, the head must be extended and the airway cleared of any foreign object. First aid treatment is to initiate rescue breathing. Close the dog's mouth firmly and breathe deeply into the nose. The breaths administered should inflate the lungs and make the chest move. If the unconscious dog has no pulse or heartbeat, CPR must be started immediately. For every ten heart massage two rescue breathing must be given to the unconscious dog. Administration of artificial respiration and cardiac massage must be continued while the pet is being brought to the hospital.
Learn more about dog first aid as well as unconsciousness at Sarah's Dogs.
