Vitals and first aid - Page 1

GSD lover- you had mentioned something about taking the dogs vitals, could you direct me to those instructions or could anyone else? Also, does anyone know of, or recommend any good first aid books for dogs? Thanks again everyone. Chris

yes,Chris.check your e ml :}

Every dog owner should have the following book in their home, IMO: "The Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook", by Carlson & Giffen. It's written by a veterinarian and a human medical doctor for the layperson, the chapters are broken down by the animal's anatomy, it clearly identifies what conditions you can safely treat at home on your own, which conditions aren't emergencies but should be checked out by a vet eventually, and which conditions are emergencies that require immediate veterinary intervention. It has *excellent* sections on first aid and whelping, describes *exactly* how to pass a stomach tube when a dog bloats and immediate decompression is needed, and typically can be had for less than US$30.00--and it will save a dog owner far, far more than that in vet bills. And every dog owner should own a thermometer for taking their dog's temperature, and should use it *whenever* the dog doesn't seem to be doing right--a lot can be told about a dog's condition by whether or not it's running a fever. When asked for suggestions on an ill dog, I'm always amazed at how often the answer is "I don't know" when I ask the owner if the dog is febrile...It takes one minute to determine, and can make the difference between losing a dog and getting it to the vet in time to start treatment and save it, but most people never bother to even check.

Wow. Sounds good Hexe!