Ask the Trainer

   “Dog First Aid: Essential Items for Your Pet’s First Aid Kit”

It was a normal day. I started getting ready for work and my dogs were just laying around. I went to have a shower and when I came out, to my horror, my dog had somehow found a bottle of ibuprofen and ingested some. Having recently completed a pet first aid course, I knew that this was a life-threatening event! I grabbed my dog and got her into the car while dialing my veterinarian’s office. I couldn’t reach anyone, so my next call was to the emergency hospital. Fortunately, I had both numbers saved in my phone. While I was on route, I finally reached someone.  They confirmed that yes, I needed to bring her in immediately.  My quick action and that of the veterinary staff at the hospital ensured that my dog was able to live a long life without any detrimental effects from the ibuprofen.  

In a separate incident, another one of my dogs ran outside and collided with a metal garden trailer my father had left on the patio. The dog came inside having shaved off a layer of his skin from the side of his leg. He was bleeding profusely.  I grabbed my pet first aid kit where I had the supplies to temporarily cover the area and stop the bleeding while I got him to the vet.

These events reminded me how quickly things can happen. Our furry friends are curious and adventurous, which means accidents can happen! Knowing what to do and having a well-stocked pet first aid kit at home is essential for handling minor injuries and emergencies until you can reach a veterinarian. Here’s what every pet owner should include in their kit:

Basic First Aid Supplies

• Sterile gauze pads and bandages – For covering wounds and stopping bleeding.  A woman’s sanitary napkin is ideal for protecting a wound and absorbing any blood without sticking to the dog’s fur or the wound itself.  

• Vet wrap – This adhesive type of tape can be used to secure bandages without sticking to fur.  This can be obtained from your veterinarian, online or a pet supply store.

• Tape – This is necessary in the event you need to secure pads or gauze to a wound to prepare for transport

• Cotton pads, balls and swabs – Useful for cleaning wounds or applying medication.

• Tweezers/Tick Remover – Handy for removing splinters, ticks, or debris.

• Scissors (blunt-tipped) – For safely cutting bandages or gauze.

Medications & Treatments

• Hydrogen peroxide (3%) –This very common fluid available at any pharmacy can be used to clean wounds, act as an antiseptic and, if directed by a veterinarian, can be used to induce vomiting.

• Benadryl – For allergic reactions or insect bites.  It is best to consult your veterinarian in advance to determine how much Benadryl should be given to your animal.  Mark the bottle with the dosage recommendation so, in a future emergency, you do not have to call your vet.  

• Saline solution – Useful for rinsing wounds or clearing eyes. You can obtain some from your veterinarian or keep eye flushing solution on hand.

• Styptic powder or pencil – Helps stop bleeding from minor cuts or torn nails.

Additional Essentials

• Gloves (latex or nitrile) – Protects both you and your pet when handling injuries.

• Muzzle (soft or emergency type) – Even the sweetest dog may bite when in pain.  At Unified K9 we instruct all our clients to play muzzle conditioning games that condition dogs to stick their noses in things, in preparation for the day where a muzzle may be required. During an emergency, your pet is already in distress, and this simple activity will minimize their stress if they are already accustomed to having something around their muzzle.

• Emergency contact list – Keep your vet’s number, the numbers to your veterinary emergency hospital and an animal poison control hotline handy.  If you suspect your pet has ingested poison and you’re unsure of the correct protocol, the poison control hotline can assist you with any emergency actions you may need to take before you can get your pet to a veterinarian.

First Aid Know-How

Beyond having the right supplies, knowing how to use them is key. Consider taking a pet first aid class or keeping a first aid guide for reference. Recognizing signs of distress, treating wounds properly, and knowing when to seek professional help can make all the difference in an emergency.  There are several pet first aid teaching organisations that run workshops – such as Walks ‘N’ Wags, The Canadian Red Cross, and others.  Each has their own website, where you can find out about upcoming classes.  If you can not find a first aid course near you, these organizations offer online course options as well.  

A well-prepared pet owner is a responsible one – keeping a first aid kit stocked and ready ensures you can handle unexpected situations with confidence!

Written by

Karen Baxter, CDBC, Dipl.CBST, L-CCC, CPDT-KA, FDM

Certified Behaviour Consultant and Trainer

Member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants

Owner of Unified K9 Behaviour Centre

289-383-4136

www.unifiedk9.ca

   Dogs Looking for Homes

Open your heart and your home to a rescue dog. You’ll be glad you did.

For complete information about the adoption process, please visit

www.speakingofdogs.com/adoption-process

Roy, a 10-year-old Pomeranian/ Chihuahua mix has a beautiful black and sable coat and a fluffy tail that never stops wagging. He weighs about 10 pounds and is neutered. After being surrendered to a shelter by his owner, he was given a complete medical work up by our vet, including a heart ultrasound. He is up to date with vaccines and had dental work which resulted in the removal of most of his teeth. Roy has been diagnosed with collapsing trachea and is on medication for this condition.

He is good with other dogs but perhaps a little too interested in cats and female dogs for their liking, although he respectstheir boundaries. He is good with visitors and older children and has shown no aggression to animals or people. Roy eats wet food and is housetrained. He goes outside for bathroom breaks and will also use a pee pad in the house. Roy walks well on a leash and enjoys exploring the fenced backyard. (He is currently being fostered in the Waterloo area).

He is not destructive and can be left alone for several hours in the home. He has not been crate trained. He can go up and down stairs on his own and enjoys snoozing on a dog bed or on the people bed at night. Roy is not a treat or toy guy but enjoys pets and cuddles. Roy’s best home scenario would be a house or apartment with owners who are retired, work part time or from home. He is a happy, friendly little man, a very sweet boy who is accepting of new situations and certainly deserves a fabulous next chapter.  Roy, Roy, he’s our best boy!

If you think you are the right fit for Roy, please fill out an application for our consideration.

Click here to visit our adoption application.

SPEAKING OF DOGS RESCUE GIVES A LEG-UP

Over the past two decades, Speaking of Dogs Rescue has endeavoured to work collaboratively with other like-minded, responsible dog rescues. In doing so, we’ve come to know many caring and committed rescuers and, as a result, have been able to use this network to help dogs.

Speaking of Dogs Rescue, like most rescues, has a limited number of foster homes and this directly dictates the number of dogs we can help. Over the last few years, our Board has been discussing how to support even more dogs by collaborating with other rescues.

In December, we created and approved a pilot project that was launched in January – aptly named the “Leg-up” program.  This program will financially assist six Ontario registered dog charities throughout 2025.  The six rescues we chose are: No Paw Left Behind, Precious Paws, Sit with Me, Sheba’s Haven, K9 Advocacy Manitoba and LOYAL Rescue.  To date, five dogs have benefitted from the Leg Up program.  Wilma, with K9 Advocacy Manitoba, received life-saving parvo treatment. Sunny, who is with No Paw Left Behind, was able to get orthopedic surgery to relieve a painful rotator cuff condition. Marigold, also with K9 Advocacy Manitoba, needed an eye enucleation to live pain free. Little Bella, with LOYAL Rescue, needed a mass removed and extensive dental surgery, and Olive received much-needed orthopedic Femoral Head Ostectomy, also known as FHO surgery.

The pilot project will run until the end of the year, at which time we’ll evaluate the results.  As of now, it’s a promising program, and the rescues we are working with are experienced, committed, a pleasure to deal with, and grateful for the support.  They feel confident taking on medical cases knowing that they have the Leg Up program behind them. 

If you wish to support our Leg Up Program so we can help other registered dog charities, please visit our giving site at: www.speakingofdogs.com/donate .

Here are photos of our first five recipients

How Hot is your Car?

Even with the windows cracked, the temperature inside your vehicle can rise within minutes.

When in doubt, leave your pet at home.

If you see an animal in distress, please contact the Government of Ontario’s Provincial Animal Welfare Services (“PAWS”) team at

1-833-9ANIMAL (1-833-926-4625)

or call your local police service.

   Happy Tails

   a.k.a. Recent Adoptions

Cassie

Charlie

Petey

Rosie

Star

Wendy

Speaking of Dogs Rescue is Hosting a

Car Rally/Scavenger Hunt

Speaking of Dogs Rescue is a Canadian registered charity founded in 2001. We are an Ontario-based dog rescue run solely by volunteers. We are dedicated to assisting dogs from shelters, puppy mills, and owner surrenders. Our focus is especially strong on helping senior dogs, special needs dogs, and those requiring palliative care. All of our dogs are lovingly cared for in foster homes until a suitable forever home can be found. Last year, we helped almost 200 dogs find a second chance at love and life! All funds raised from the car rally will go directly toward medical care—including surgeries, diagnostics, and medication.

For those who have never been in a car rally/scavenger hunt, you don’t know what fun you’re missing! You will receive a set of clues to help you navigate through town or the countryside as you try to find the items on the scavenger list!

Enter as many people in your car as you like (register and pay for each separately).

If you have a van, the more, the merrier!

Dressing up your team is an option.

For more information about the car rally or our dog rescue, please visit www.speakingofdogs.com/rally

or email speakingofdogs@gmail.com

   Adoption Update

Dear Speaking of Dogs Rescue,

My husband and I have been so blessed to have Smidge in our family the past year and a half.  Since she doesn’t like to be left alone, my husband’s work-from-home job has been the perfect arrangement for her. We have noticed a healthy change in her since she has settled in, largely due to the diligence of the Rescue investigating her health challenges while she was a foster. When we first took her in as a foster, she was clinically obese, chronically itchy, and was emotionally shut down. With the practical and financial help of Speaking of Dogs and many tests, we discovered her hypothyroidism, ear infections and allergies. Now that those are treated and she has settled in with our family, she has really blossomed. Smidge is now at a healthy weight and has more energy at the age of 11 than she did when she first arrived.

While initially shy and shut down, her strong, sweet and funny personality has really come out. She was terrified of car rides – she would pant and cry whenever we had to take her somewhere. Now, she loves nothing more than to travel to a new place and look out the window while we drive. Through trial and error, we have discovered her favourite foods and toys (squeakyballs are her favourite – she loves to chase, retrieve, and press them with her nose to make them squeak). She is super smart and loves playing ‘hide and seek’ with us and figures out any snuffle ball or puzzle very quickly. She loves her bedtime routine and comes up to my husband and me and ‘scratches’ at us if we are not heading to bed at the proper time, as she doesn’t like to go to bed by herself.

Smidge enjoys regular head and ear massages and makes it clear she does not enjoy her feet being touched, so we respect that and let the groomers handle the nail clipping.  She has a couple of neighbourhood ‘dog friends’ although she is more of a ‘people dog’ than a ‘dog dog’.

We found the Speaking of Dogs team very helpful when we were figuring out how to best manage her separation anxiety and, while she still strongly dislikes going to the vet’s, she no longer panics during check-ups.

Thank you for trusting us with Smidge! Our lives pretty much revolve around her at this point.  It’s hard to imagine what things would be like without her!

Sincerely,

   Wiggles & Wags

   a.k.a. Thank Yous & Shout-Outs

Yard Sale Thank You’s

Thank you to Carl, Mari-Anne and friends for holding a fabulous yard sale. 

And thank you to Laura from The Wild Bird Company for the many yard sale donations she collected.

Want to help our dogs?

Consider making a donation from our Amazon wish list of priority dog supplies.