How to Give First Aid to Your Dog

Vomiting is one of the most commonly encountered problems in veterinary medicine. It is nature's way of permitting the dog to rid its stomach of an irritating substance such as spoiled food.

But not all vomiting is due to simple irritation. More serious causes are viral infections or diseases of the liver, pancreas, or kidney. It is important to seek professional help if there are signs of bleeding or if the dog is depressed and still vomiting after initial efforts at control have failed. Here are some tips for treating a vomiting dog:

Step 1: Remove all food and water for at least 12 to 24 hours.

Step 2: If vomiting contains blood or is frequent, contact the veterinarian immediately. If not, proceed to Step 3.

Step 3: After 12 to 24 hours of no vomiting, introduce water gradually at 1 to 2 ounces at a time. If no vomiting occurs, offer a bland diet of boiled skinless chicken and rice (50:50 mixture). If this is held down, transition to regular diet over the next 2 days by mixing an increasing quantity of regular dog food with bland diet.

Step 4: Pepto-Bismol can be safely used for dogs. Call the veterinarian for recommended dose.

A dog giving birth to puppies can be quite an amazing experience -- for both the dog and its owner. Turn to the next page to learn how to be prepared to help a dog if problems occur during the birth process.