Aashray for Sick And Helpless Animals

(A Charitable Trust Since 21st June 2011. Registration No. 4/75/329/-360/147)
(Exemption Under Section 80 G)
Varanasi, U.P, India (221002)


Dog first aid

Dog first aid

Contents of this document are solely meant for informative purposes, please consult a vet before administering any oral medication to a dog. The dosage depends on dog’s weight and overall health condition.

All of these medicines can be easily procured from a local pharmacy or a pet shop. They are also not costly and may go a long way in saving an animal’s life.

The first aid tips can be used for both pet and community(stray) animals.

1. Treating Maggot Wounds:

a. What is a maggot?

A maggot is the larvae of a fly. A fly is attracted to any open wound and flesh on animal’s body. Flies lay eggs which then turn into larvae(maggots) and then a fly, which lays more eggs. Maggots have a really fast life cycle and in no time can transform a small wound into a big one. They drill through an animal’s skin and if not treated in time can also cause irreversible damage to internal organs.

b. What do they look like? What does a wound infested with maggots look like?

c. What you can do?

Treating a maggot wound in its initial stages is not only an easy task but may prove to be a life saver for the animal, with some very basic treatment the maggots can be eliminated.

If the wound is severe and has become large please contact your nearest veterinarian.

d. What all do you need for administering a first aid?

i. Betadine Solution, do not use Dettol or Savlon as that stings and may prove harmful if ingested by the dog. Remove the dead maggots with cotton.
ii. Once clean, apply Topicure spray liberally on the wound. Remove any left out dead maggots.

If the dog does not allow you to apply the spray skip to step iii

iii. Put HIMAX cream on the wound. Both ii and iii not only prevent the flies from attacking the wound but also prevent the dog from licking off the cream/spray. It is a must have in the first aid kit.

Both ii and iii are ayurvedic medicines and are safe to be used on regular basis. If in case you do not have the above two medicines and are also not able to procure/buy it, you can use Neosporin powder which is easily available at any medical store.

iv. In case the wound is big, regular dressing with gauze and cotton must be done, and changed regularly. First aid steps i-iv can be safely done for both an adult dog and a puppy.

v. Depending on the size of the wound administer antibiotics to the dog for a certain duration, usually 5 days. But the duration and dosage are best be determined by a qualified vet. Some common medications include Cephalexin 300 or 600mg(once/twice daily), Ivermectin 10mg(once weekly with a liver tonic like Liv52), Sporidex etc These medications are widely and easily available at a pet store.

e. What if the dog is not allowing me near and I cannot do steps i-iv? Skip straight away to step v, but please consult with a vet before administering these medicines. Do not, do not under any circumstance give these antibiotics to a puppy who is less than a year old without first consulting the doctor

How to give any medicine to a dog?

If you are not sure about the dog’s behaviour it is best to conceal the medicine in a piece of meat, sweet, paneer, cheese, wet dog food. Do not dilute and give the medicines with milk.

2. Heat Stroke

a. Physical symptoms of a heat stroke?
Excessive panting, high temperatures, heavy breathing, drooling, reddened gums, vomiting, diarrhea, mental dullness or loss of consciousness, uncoordinated movement, and collapse.

b. Administering first aid?
i. Move the dog away from sunlight to cool and ventilated space.
ii. Soak the dog’s body with water, you can use a wet towel and place it over the dog covering entire body, do this till his breathing normalises.
iii. Do not dip dog’s head in water.
iv. Allow the dog to drink as much water as possible, if possible, mix glucon D or electral in the water.
v. Reach out to a vet, as replenishing body fluids through Intravenous drip will be crucial in a case of a serious heatstroke.

3. Managing Ticks and fleas in Dog

a. What are ticks?

Ticks are small parasitic organisms that live in wooded areas and fields. These arachnids need blood from humans or animals to survive. Ticks tend to be carriers of various serious diseases; which they may transmit to the people they bite. They cause tick fever in dogs.
b. What do ticks look like?

A tick small in size can become as big as the one shown above by sucking on the animal’s blood.

c. How can you remove ticks from animal’s body?

If there are a few ticks, they can be easily removed with the help of your hands or a pair of tweezers/forceps. Please be careful to get the tick’s head out of the animal’s skin and care must be taken that it is not left inside. As it may cause infection. Also, tick’s body must not be squeezed while it is attached to the dog, as this will cause the blood to flow back in the skin, increasing chances of infection. The best way to remove the ticks is to twist them off the dog’s body. Several videos on youtube explain the process in detail. Once removed apply either Betadine or Himax at the spot where the tick was attached.

d. What to do if the number of ticks is too many and in areas such as ears, eyelids, groin etc?

Do not attempt to remove the ticks on your own. As it may result in excessive blood loss from the animal’s body and may cause a wound to develop. Please consult a vet as soon as possible.

e. Managing Ticks in a dog

Powder like Notix can be used, if infestation is way too much a Fipronil spray may be prescribed by the doctor or can be used. Please take care that both these are not supposed to be applied on the face, near eyes or nose and the dog must not lick it off its body till the time they are absorbed. Supplementing a dog’s diet with garlic has also proven an effective remedy against ticks and fleas. Take half a clove from a garlic, cut it into a few small pieces and add it to the dog’s meal. A mix of one-part apple cider vinegar and one-part water is a useful tick repellent.

f. What are fleas?

Fleas are tiny parasites that survive by ingesting the blood of warmblooded hosts like cats, dogs, and humans.

g. What do they look like? Signs of fleas?

Itching and uneasiness in dog. Look out for Flea Dirt, it is the fecal matter that fleas deposit on the hosts. Flea dirt looks like tiny black specks on your pet’s skin and fur. Fleas spread very rapidly and if not checked in time can spread across the entire house of the pet owner.

h. Managing fleas in a dog

Powder like Notix can be used, if infestation is way too much a Fipronil spray may be prescribed by the doctor or can be used. Please take care that both these are not supposed to be applied on the face, near eyes or nose and the dog must not lick it off its body till the time they are absorbed.

Several natural remedies such as use of spray made from mix of equal parts apple cider vinegar and water, adding very small amounts of garlic to dog’s diet can prove effective in managing ticks and fleas.

Some common medication for dogs with average approx. price* For treating skin issues and wounds (must haves, along with Betadine lotion):

For ticks and fleas:

Multivitamins and supplements (some common one’s):

The liquid syrups can be given with a help of a 5ml or 10ml syringe.

The tablets can be crushed, mixed with water and given through a syringe.

If you are not sure about the dog’s behaviour it is best to conceal the medicine in a piece of meat, sweet, paneer, cheese. Do not dilute and give the medicines with milk.

Please DO NOT USE the below mentioned in any condition to treat wounds on dogs or animals, as they not only lead to inflammation of wounds but can also prove fatal if ingested by the animal,

1. Phenyl

2. Kerosene Oil

3. Turpentine oil used for paints

4. Dettol/Savlon