Caring for injured or mobility impaired dog

Caring for injured or mobility impaired dog

For many of us, our dogs are our precious babies. No one would want to imagine any harm to happen to our dog. Let’s face it, things do happen.  When our dog gets injured, it is a heart breaking event that many of us tend to panic.  We lose our train of thought and all we can think about is run to the nearest veterinarian. You can relate right?  Let me tell you some suggestions on Caring for injured or mobility impaired dog.

As pet owners, the health and safety of our dogs are of foremost priority. However, in emergency situations, we need to keep calm and think clearly. It is important to assess the situation and make sure we are in the safe area before approaching our injured dog. Putting our own safety first is in the best interest of our pet. Remember, we cannot help our injured pet if we ourselves get injured.

After we have calmed ourselves down and we have determined that we can safely approach our dog, do so with caution.  A dog who is in severe pain may be aggressive and irritable.  The first thing to do is calm your dog down. Let your pet know that you are there for him.

Observe your dog.

List his symptoms so you won’t forget when you see the vet. Does your dog cry or become aggressive when you touch him ? Which body part is hurt ?  Can your dog stand-up and walk ? Do not force your dog to walk.  Carry your dog  and ask for a companion to help you carry your dog if your dog is too heavy for you to carry alone.  You may need to use a strong blanket as a makeshift stretcher to help your carry a large dog. Make sure your dog is secure when transporting him. Use pillows or any cushion such as rolled up towels to provide proper support during transport.

If your dog’s injury is severe, take him to the nearest animal hospital. If not, bring your dog home and let him rest. Observe your dog for a few hours and watch out for additional symptoms. In case his condition appear to be worsening, call your veterinarian and make an appointment right away.

While waiting to get the proper medical treatment, comfort your dog by your presence and by speaking to him.  Do not try to hug your dog as you may be adding pressure that could aggravate his injury. Additionally, dogs that are in severe pain may react negatively when hugged.

A word of caution, I am not a medical expert nor a veterinarian, so I would strongly advise that you heed the words of your pet’s vet.   After your pet has gotten the proper medical care and has been brought home, you want to inspect the kind of leash that your pet is using.  With your pet’s injury, a good quality harness may be a better choice than a leash. Pets who are mobility impaired may even need to use a  dog lift support of some sort, to help with healing and prevent further injury.

Caring for injured or mobility impaired dog is not an easy task. You’ll need lots of patience for your pet and for yourself as well. Remember, our dogs bring us enormous happiness, so never lose your temper.  A dog’s injury will surely heal in no time.

As I am so thankful for my very own adorable pet , Thank YOU for reading our blog.  Keep Calm and Stay Safe.

Useful Links:

Your Dog will get a restful sleep on this Anti-Anxiety Calming Pet Bed

Dress Up your Dog for any special occasion with a cute pet bandana

Dog Lift Support for Mobility impaired or injured dogs

Invest in Good Quality Dog Harness

Common Dog Injuries and how to treat them

Search for the nearest pet hospital in your area using 1800PetsAndVets