FAQ: Health for dogs

The most practical is a digital thermometer with a flexible tip, used rectally. Ear thermometers tend to be less accurate in dogs. Keep the dog's thermometer separate and clean and disinfect it after each use.

A healthy adult dog's body temperature is usually about 38–39 °C, and slightly higher in puppies. It can rise briefly after exercise or excitement. If the temperature is clearly higher or lower and the dog seems unwell, call a vet.

Put a little petroleum jelly on the thermometer tip, have the dog standing or lying on its side, lift the tail and gently insert the tip about a couple of centimetres into the rectum until the thermometer beeps. It is best if a second person holds the dog. If the dog resists strongly, do not force it and contact a vet.

Go to a vet urgently if the dog struggles to breathe, collapses, has a seizure, bleeds heavily, has a suddenly swollen belly and tries to vomit, has eaten something poisonous, has been injured, cannot urinate, has pale or bluish gums or is very lethargic. Call the clinic before you set off.

Signs of heatstroke are heavy panting, profuse drooling, bright red gums, weakness, vomiting and an unsteady gait. Move the dog straight into shade or a cool room, wet it with cool, not ice-cold, water, offer a drink and go to a vet urgently — heatstroke can be fatal.

Cooling mats and vests help a dog cool down on hot days — some are gel-based, others are soaked in water and cool by evaporation. They are especially useful for flat-faced, thick-coated and older dogs. But they do not replace shade, water and walks at cooler times of day.

Call a vet immediately and say what the dog may have eaten, how much and when, and take the packaging or remains with you. Do not make the dog vomit or give it anything unless the vet tells you to — some substances do even more damage when vomited. Time matters a great deal here.

Dangers for dogs include chocolate, xylitol (in chewing gum and sweets), grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, macadamia nuts, alcohol, human medicines, rat poison, antifreeze and some plants. Keep them out of the dog's reach, and if it eats any, call a vet straight away.

No. Many human pain and fever medicines, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, can be highly toxic to dogs even in small amounts. Pain relief for a dog must be prescribed by a vet. If your dog has accidentally eaten human medicine, call a vet immediately.

If you can see a bee sting, scrape it off carefully with a card without squeezing, and hold a cool compress to the spot. Watch the dog: if its face or throat swells, it struggles to breathe, vomits, becomes weak, or was stung in the mouth or several times, go to a vet urgently.

In Lithuania the snake dangerous to dogs is the common European adder. If you suspect a bite, keep the dog calm and moving as little as possible, take off the collar if the neck is swelling, and go to a vet immediately. Do not cut or suck the wound, apply a tourniquet or use ice.

Even the calmest dog may bite instinctively when it is in pain or frightened. A muzzle protects you and helps you give first aid or take the dog to a vet safely. Do not muzzle a dog that is vomiting, struggling to breathe or overheated.

If the dog is still breathing, coughing and conscious, keep it calm and go to a vet straight away. If you can clearly see the object and reach it safely, you may carefully remove it, but do not poke your fingers blindly into the throat. First aid courses teach what to do if a dog stops breathing.

Sterile saline is good for rinsing wounds and flushing dust or sand out of the eye. It does not irritate tissue, so it is a safe choice for first aid. Small single-use vials, used up as soon as they are opened, are the most convenient.

Flush the eye generously with saline or clean lukewarm water, especially if a chemical got in. Do not rub the eye or try to pull out an embedded object. Then go to a vet straight away, even if the dog seems settled — eye injuries can worsen quickly.

If the dog may bite, put on a muzzle or temporarily wrap the muzzle if it is breathing normally. Move a large dog on a blanket or board like a stretcher, moving its back and neck as little as possible, and put a small dog in a carrier. Phone the clinic in advance.

On a trip it helps to have bandages, gauze, saline, antiseptic, a tick remover, tweezers, a thermometer, a muzzle, a foil blanket, any medicines the dog takes regularly with the prescription or description, and its health documents. Find out the nearest vet clinic's contact details at your destination in advance.

A light aluminium foil blanket helps keep a dog warm if it is chilled, got wet in the cold or is in shock after an injury, while you take it to a vet. It takes up very little space. It must not be used on an overheated dog.

Go through the kit at least once or twice a year and after every use: replace what has been used and anything past its expiry date. Check the thermometer battery too. Keep the kit somewhere every family member knows about.

Yes, such courses teach you to recognise danger signs, stop bleeding, bandage, transport an injured dog safely and act if a dog chokes or stops breathing. First aid does not replace a vet, but it can save time and lives.