Well, I learned a valuable lesson last night; always carry a first aid kit for your dog.

In a nutshell, I was hunting forest grouse, I had hiked in approximately 2 miles, up hill, bush whacking, no trail. I happened to look over at my 7 mo. old DD, and notices that she was bleeding quite bad from her front leg, just below the elbow. Further inspection, it was actually spurting out blood about 6 inches. I had nothing, not even a knife. I grabbed the collar off of my black lab that was there with me and made a tourniquet right below the shoulder. I took off my shirt and using a stick, ripped it into strips and tied them tightly around the wound. Through her on my shoulder, and shirtless I hiked out. It took about 1 1/2 hours. When I made it back to the truck, my head, back and neck was covered in blood and she was very woozy, couldn’t stand up.

Luckily I had a tarp and through in on the inside of my truck on the passenger seat, and off we went. She wouldnt eat dog food, but ate a little bit of a roast beef subway sandwich. It was 1/2 hour to get phone reception. Called the emergency vet, this was about 8PM. He told me to take off the tourniquet (it should only be on for no more than 20 min). Made it to the vet, hour long surgery to cut 4 inch incision to get to the artery. 20 sutures and a big pile of cash we made it home.

Moral of the story, always take a first aid kit when in the field. I actually have one just for this situation and like a dumb ass didn’t bring it.

Question? Whats in your dogs first aid kit? Mine has:
• 3 ft parachute cord
• Gauze
• medical tape
• EMT gel
• 2 in strips of cotton cloth (old cut up tee shirt)
• knife

I bought (2) first aid kits. one for the boat, one for the truck. I added EMT gel, surgical staplers benedril pills and aspirin.

Vet wrap
gauze
EMT gel
Stapler
knife-always on my hip in the woods
Ace wrap

I think that's it though I should add a length of parachute cord.

Well? How's she doin'?

Keg of brandy.

Grizz

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Well? How's she doin'?

She is fine. A weird kinda bonding happened after she started feeling better. She was very melo, and wouldnt leave my side. She jumped up on the kitchen table and came over and gave me a hug. Even 2 1/2 weeks later, her temperment has changed. She now lays under my desk when I am on the computer. Gotta love em.

A stapler is a good idea but its not the first option. With serious wounds, you're far better off to clean, pack and compress and get to a vet.
A 16 oz bottle of simple saline solution, packing gauze and wrap is the right way to go on deep punctures and lacerations. The staple gun is really seldom used in the field and then you have to know what to staple and what to leave open sometimes.

EMT Gel.

Just saw this thread. Excellent topic and something I just had not thought of. Of course, you have to have it with you! What is EMT gel and where do you get it?
Peter.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
Just saw this thread. Excellent topic and something I just had not thought of. Of course, you have to have it with you! What is EMT gel and where do you get it?
Peter.

I don't know how you'de describe it technically but it's a very good blood stop/second skin ointment. I use it on my dog and myself. Especially useful on the fingers where bandaids aren't practical. I've read many reviews of people pumping it into a bleeding wound and it stopped the bleeding and most likely saved the dogs life.

You can get it in alot of sporting goods/hunting stores in the dog section. Cabelas, Gander Mountain, Bass Pro, etc. carry it. Do a search and find all the places it's sold. I highly recommend it.

Axel, thanks! Will do.
Peter.

Very good topic,Sir!

Having a tracking dog here in Africa is almost as important as having a set of Bino's. They really do become like children, plus my clients want to stick my Jack Russel into their bag after almost every trip.

I just have the regular first aid kit for humans. It has everything in there that you would need. I also carry anti venom for snakes in a coolerbox. The snake bite anti venom is for the dog, but will work for humans as well. Only difference is that the dog has to take it intraveneous, and humans can take it straight in the ass.

Thanks again for the thread!

Best Regards
Marius Goosen

Let me add a couple items for bird dogs. I think they're called "hemostats"? Can be used for pulling porcupine quills, sticker removal, etc. I also carry a saline solution that I wash the dogs eyes out daily with. Remember, they're low to the ground and pick up a lot of trash in their eyes. We carry PAM for spraying a dog prior to hunting fields for fast burr removal. I also carry collapsible water bowls, made from plastic that fold up in my pockets. I carry white medical tape for binding wounds and if a dog hasn't had their dew claws removed this often is very helpful in securing the claws in preparation for return to town and the vet. I carry some antibiotic cream that I got from my vet for barb wire cuts, etc. Hope this helps.