Health and Welfare

First Aid Kit

Every Springer owner should have a basic First Aid Kit in their home as well as keeping one in your car.

A triangular bandage (can be used as a dog muzzle, the most loving of dogs when in pain could bite)

Dog boot (this will protect an open wound on a dog's pad from dirt which could make the wound worse)

Blunt-ended scissors (for trimming hair around a wound)

Tweezers (removal of stings and thorns)

Steripods (eye/wound rinse)

Gloves

Micropore tape

Gauze pad

Cotton wool

Thermometer

Vaseline for use with thermometer

Melolin patch (shiny side to wound)

Medium padded wound dressing

Plastic syringe/pipette for flushing out wounds

Small bandage (vetwrap is a self-sticking bandage that many owners use

2 antihistamine tablets (bee/wasp stings, adder bites and allergic reactions) one tablet to be given

Antiseptic wipes/cream/powder or wound wash to clean a wound, colloidal silver is a very good natural antiseptic

Hibiscrub is an antimicrobial wash, must be diluted as appropriate according to the manufacturers instructions.

Always keep your Veterinary Clinic's telephone number with your first aid kit and in your mobile phone in case of emergency

A Dog's Vital Statistics:

Pulse and Heart Rate:
Normal resting rates:
Small dogs 90-120bpm
Medium dogs 70-110bpm
Large dogs 60-90bpm
Pulse should be strong, regular and easy to locate

Checking the pulse
The easiest place to locate a pulse is the femoral artery in the groin area. Place your fingers on the inside of the hind leg and slide your hand upward until the back of your fingers touches the abdomen. Gently move your fingers back and forth on the inside of the hind leg until you feel the pulsing blood. Count the number of pulses in 15 seconds and multiply that number by 4. This will give you the beats per minute (bpm).

Temperature
Normal for dogs: 100 - 102.5 degrees
Thermometer should be almost clean when removed
Abnormalities are indicated by blood, diarrhea, or black, tarry stool.

Respiration
Respiration can be checked by watching for chest movement
If there is none visible, double-check by holding a hand or tissue in front of dog's nose to feel or see movement as it breathes.