Emergency Boxer Dog Health Issues

A Guide to Preserving Boxer Dog Health

Emergency boxer dog health issues need to be dealt with swiftly and effectively if you are to maintain your boxer dog health...

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Have you ever thought about what you need to do should your boxer—or another dog—ever suffer a serious, life-threatening injury? What if they have a severe allergy to an insect bite or a bee sting? It's great to know your vet's phone number, but what if something happens during off hours? What if you don't know where the closest emergency animal clinic is located?

Jeepers! Enough with the questions already, right? Any emergency is stressful and scary, and one involving furry children is no exception. Even the toughest of owners can be instantly reduced to helpless balls of mush if something's wrong with their boxer dogs and they can't figure out what to do. So, let's keep that from happening, OK?

Plan Ahead for an Emergency

Preparation is key to keeping your cool when the unthinkable happens to your little ball of fur. You may think you have that covered with a first aid kit and having the phone number to your vet handy, but what if there isn't enough time to move your dog? You need to be well-versed in some of the more common animal emergencies just in case a situation ever arises. And hey, if a situation never arises, you'll still feel more confident knowing that you have the ability to deal with one.

In addition, learn from my experience... know who you can call upon if the emergency happens during the hours when your vet's office is closed. That's when every one of our doggy emergencies has occurred! Get familiar with local emergency vet clinics, where they're located, their policies, how to get there, etc. Be prepared for emergency care to be extra pricey... they know they have you over the barrel, unfortunately.

Learn Some Basic First Aid Skills for Pets

For example, know how to care for wounds. Did you know that you shouldn't use hydrogen peroxide on a bleeding wound? Nope. It slows clotting to the area, which means your dog could actually lose more blood than he would if you didn't use the peroxide at all. In fact, the best way to treat a deep, severely bleeding wound is to apply a clean cloth and hold it in place for five minutes, then tape the cloth to the wound. That original cloth should not be removed until the vet sees your dog because it can slow clotting, and should instead be layered with more clean cloths if blood soaks through.

It's also not safe to give dogs human medications. So don't try to take away their pain with ibuprofen or Tylenol. You won't be doing them any favors, especially when they're young.

Respond Quickly to a Poisoning

Did you know that certain varieties of toads, salamanders, newts, and other amphibians are poisonous if licked? Hey, guess who loves to hold little woodland critters in his mouth! Your dog. And then there are those awful people who think it's OK to give dogs poisoned meat or other foods.

If you notice your pup drooling, whining, and wiping at his mouth, get him to a clean water source and rinse his mouth thoroughly. While the poison can be fatal if left in the mouth, it's fairly easy to cleanse from the tongue and glands.

Dogs also get bitten by snakes sometimes. Quick treatment is essential in such cases. I remember seeing a dog come into a national park ranger's office one time with a quickly swelling face... he'd been bitten by a rattlesnake. Scary, especially miles from the nearest town.

In Summary...

Now imagine all of the emergency boxer dog health issues that can happen to your dog, from fractured limbs to choking and everything in between. Do you really want to risk not knowing how to handle them? Listen, even the most experienced dog owner needs a little help and advice now and then....

Related Articles

• General guide to boxer health
• Common boxer health problems