One of the most overlooked Dog Grooming tips is always have a First Aid Kit handy when grooming your dog.
This is one element of dog grooming that most people do not even consider because they wrongly take it as a given that nobody will get hurt during the process.
After all, grooming is harmless, right? Wrong. Anything can happen at any given time and when you think about it, you will be using scissors and other sharp objects when grooming your dog.
Unfortunately, that can lead to an awful lot of injuries to you or your dog and that is obviously not a good thing!
You have to be prepared for all eventualities when grooming your dog because not all events are avoidable.
If you have a dog and human first aid kit to hand then you can soon have any injury patched up and good to go again!
So what do you need in a first aid kit for dog grooming purposes? Well, the following should always be easily available and to hand:
- A muzzle
- Aspirin
- Large and small non-stick bandages along with bandage scissors and tape
- Sterile gauze wrappings
- Pressure bandages
- Betadine antiseptic solution
- Tweezers
- Blood-clotting gel or styptic powder
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Triple antibiotic ointment, which should not contain benzocaine or lidocaine
- Electronic ear thermometer for dogs
- Vaseline
- Cortisone cream
- Disposable latex gloves
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Syrup of ipecac
- Kaolin product for dogs
- Mineral oil
- Unflavored pediatric electrolyte (Pedialyte)
All of the above are readily available at drugstores up and down the country. Most are inexpensive so this will not cost you a fortune. However, it is definitely better to be safe than sorry so make sure that everything is easily accessible just in case.
There are many reasons as to why you may need a first aid kit to hand. The following are just a few of the illnesses, ailments and issues that may well arise during the grooming process at one stage or another. As such, you should be on the lookout for all of them:
Cuts
Cuts come in two main types. The first is the scratch variety. This can be treated with antiseptic solution and a little gauze until the bleeding stops.
However, if it is a deeper cut then you will have to take your dog to the vet’s office immediately. The vet will either stitch or staple the wound in addition to cleaning it up effectively.
If there are any hairs remaining in the wound after the vet has finished, then use the tweezers to remove them carefully and ensure that it is completely clean.
If bleeding begins again when you do this then use the styptic powder to stop it. Then treat it again with antiseptic just to be on the safe side.
To prevent secondary infections, the dressings should be changed regularly until the stitches are ready to be removed.
Skin Irritation Or Rashes
Skin irritation is quite common in dog grooming situations and can occur for a number of reasons. For example, it may be because the clippers burn your dog or it may be a result of a product you use, such as shampoo.
Either way, it must be treated to prevent it getting worse. Clipper burn can be treated using Aloe Vera or even a clipper coolant.
However, if you make sure that the irritation is treated immediately and it then gets worse, you will have to take your dog to the vet for a prescribed solution to the issue.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is effectively a problem when your dog’s body temperature drops below the average. It occurs far more often in winter than it does in summer and can occur during grooming if you groom your dog outside or in a cold house. It is relatively easy to spot because your dog will shiver and appear listless.
If the illness progresses too far then your dog will fall into a coma so make sure that you move him or her immediately to a warm room. Use a blanket to warm him or her up and slowly bring the temperature back up to normal. If you fail to do so then you need to call a vet immediately to remedy the condition or else your dog may die.
Allergic Reactions To Products
Allergic reactions to all sorts of dog grooming elements is not uncommon. You may face this in the early stages of grooming because of the various new products that you would be using on your dog. However, there are all sorts of different allergic reactions to watch out for.
For example, the reaction may be as mild as a rash but as severe as diarrhea and vomiting. How it appears determines how exactly you should treat it.
You should treat any minor allergic reaction as you would skin irritation. Ensure that you remove the product that caused the issue from your grooming regime.
If it is a more severe reaction then you should call the vet for advice. It may be that you need to administer medication, in which case you will need to consult a vet first.
Dehydration
Dehydration is not uncommon during the first few stages of grooming. Your dog may not drink enough water on account of nerves or getting too excited.
You can check to see whether your dog is dehydrated via the gums.
If they are dry or sticky then dehydration is present. Try to get your dog to drink a little or, if he or she refuses, then you should most definitely visit the vet for a quick solution.
If your dog does not begin to drink again soon then he or she could die so it is definitely essential to take your dog for treatment immediately.
These are the situations and necessary actions you need to do in case something happens, especially when you are using new dog grooming supplies you still need to master.
Bear in mind that you are grooming your pet. Be careful all the time!
Warmly,
Sharda
To Learn the Secrets To Simple and Effective Dog Grooming check out The Secrets to Easy Dog Grooming Here