Gun dog FIRST AID!

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brandonwaddle

New member
Well I need some help! I build my own first aid kits, and i feel my dog should have a quality first aid kit with common field mishaps in mind. "ACE" my year old gsp is a vet magnet! last season he got into some thick brush and cut his soft belly wide open (Ill post pics). My dogs health is a huge worry of mine.View attachment 4202

As owners of working dogs, we spend extra money on quality food, treats, vitamins exc. And when looking for a first aid kit for our hunting buddies, all we find is cheap poorly thought out kits or over priced kits. So with your help lets make a shopping list of items that have come in handy in the past or things you wish you had when your k9 gets in a pickle.
 
There was an excellent Thread on this subject A couple years ago But I cant find it. Yes You need to be ready for Injuries to You and your Dogs.
 
brandonwaddle said:
Well I need some help! I build my own first aid kits, and i feel my dog should have a quality first aid kit with common field mishaps in mind. "ACE" my year old gsp is a vet magnet! last season he got into some thick brush and cut his soft belly wide open (Ill post pics). My dogs health is a huge worry of mine.View attachment 4202

As owners of working dogs, we spend extra money on quality food, treats, vitamins exc. And when looking for a first aid kit for our hunting buddies, all we find is cheap poorly thought out kits or over priced kits. So with your help lets make a shopping list of items that have come in handy in the past or things you wish you had when your k9 gets in a pickle.
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Talk to your vet about a first aid kit for sporting dogs. She or he should be able to give you a list of things that would be useful in the field. Severe injuries it's more a matter stabilizing the dog till you can get to a vet for treatment.

Here are some things I find useful:

Gauze bandages
Vet wrap - for covering bandages.
sterile saline solution (for cleaning/irrigating wounds)
muzzle
Boots
Thermometer
Hemostat or small pliers
eye wash
nail clipper
antibiotic ointment
EMT Gel for clotting and protecting superficial wounds (Styptic powder clotting broken nails)
Staple gun (ask your vet how to use it)
Superglue - yep... for cuts on pads (be sure to thoroughly clean the cut before you use it though)

oh.... and don't forget something for skunks. I'm partial to the homemade brew of Hydrogen peroxide, dish soap and baking soda concoction as it works. There are some products out there though that are a little easier to use that don't have to be mixed just prior to use.

It's a good idea to go thru your kit yearly and throw out anything over it's expiration date and replace.
 
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Key points for me are this:
1. EMT gel, fixes most anything for the immediate cuts, rips, tears, etc
2. Gauze
3. Good set of pliers for quills.
4. BIG ZIP TIES for conibear traps. Know how these traps work and you might save your dogs life!
 
Have a health record/shot record from your vet. It may be invaluable if they were to need care.

Also an electric razor is good to have for medium to long haired dogs. Any iodinated cleaner like Betadine to scrub out the wound and help with posy closure infection. If you can't find it the solution to the pollution is dilution so irrigate with copious amounts of clean water. Sterile irrigation is always better but tap water with a drop of bleach if you are in a pinch.
 
In cholla cactus country, I always carry a comb and leatherman on me. You don't necessarily need a muzzle, a handkerchief will do. Lubricating eye drops to wash out the eyes. Bundle of qtips for ear issues.

Baby powder for yourself from the chafing and abx ointment.

That is just a start. Used my first aid bag once each trip for past 3 years on someone's dog
 
Benedryl Or Clairitin I use clairitin as a 10mg dose is good for 70lbs dogs

Betadyne for disinfection

Stapler

Rimidahl

Quickstop styptic powder

plus the usual gauze/vet wrap

Big wire ties for conibear traps

Skunk off

Eye wash

Canine aspirin

Canine first aid book

And Dr Joel my vet. He is a good hunter and a great vet
 
Gatzby said:
Benedryl Or Clairitin I use clairitin as a 10mg dose is good for 70lbs dogs

Betadyne for disinfection

Stapler

Rimidahl

Quickstop styptic powder

plus the usual gauze/vet wrap

Big wire ties for conibear traps

Skunk off

Eye wash

Canine aspirin

Canine first aid book

And Dr Joel my vet. He is a good hunter and a great vet
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Gatsby! Is Joel Ehnen your vet? He is mine as well. I can't vouch for his hunting skills, but he does a nice job with my dogs and the litters I raise.
 
goldenboy said:
Gatsby! Is Joel Ehnen your vet? He is mine as well. I can't vouch for his hunting skills, but he does a nice job with my dogs and the litters I raise.
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You bet
Dr J is the best around.

A few weeks back at a hunt test in Virginia MN a dog showed symptoms of stomach torsion. Joel loaded him in his truck and raced to Duluth. Went to the ER vet, did the surgury himself and saved the dogs life.

All Pets Vetrinary
 
Gatzby said:
You bet
Dr J is the best around.

A few weeks back at a hunt test in Virginia MN a dog showed symptoms of stomach torsion. Joel loaded him in his truck and raced to Duluth. Went to the ER vet, did the surgury himself and saved the dogs life.

All Pets Vetrinary
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It's tough to beat a vet that understands hunting dogs and the life of a bird dog. He gets it and isn't weird about a dog getting dirty or doing what a dog was bred to do. We need to meet sometime and do a little hunting!
 
goldenboy said:
It's tough to beat a vet that understands hunting dogs and the life of a bird dog. He gets it and isn't weird about a dog getting dirty or doing what a dog was bred to do. We need to meet sometime and do a little hunting!
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Sounds good

Did you know Tom Lane's Thistle Rocks IKE took fourth in the open last weekend! That is a huge accomplishment. The toughest competion is in Minnesota every summer.
 
In addition to your own kit - I always write down the name of all of the local vets in the area Im headed - including 24 hr or emergency vets. Some actually go so far as to put them in their phone ahead of time.
 
UplandHntr said:
In addition to your own kit - I always write down the name of all of the local vets in the area Im headed - including 24 hr or emergency vets. Some actually go so far as to put them in their phone ahead of time.
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Funny you should mention that. Here is a nifty little website where you can look up vet clinics in the area you might be hunting and jot down addresses, phone numbers etc...

http://www.veterinarians.com/
 
Gatzby said:
Sounds good

Did you know Tom Lane's Thistle Rocks IKE took fourth in the open last weekend! That is a huge accomplishment. The toughest competion is in Minnesota every summer.
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Gatzby, I have bred my golden's to a few of Tom and Lynne Lane's dogs. I watched Ike run in a field trial a couple months ago in Glendorado. He is a nice dog!
 
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