Canine first aid

from Total Grooming Magazine February 2023

Where’z Wally Dog Grooming & Day Care Ltd

It’s a great year so far and, as I write this, I am packing to head off to India, where I will be teaching canine first aid. More on that in my next column!

This week I also helped to spread the word about the importance of first aid training, by appearing on Anna Webb’s A Dog’s Life podcast.

It was great fun to be interviewed for the programme, but also plenty of important information to share about how we can all keep our pets safe, and our clients’ pets safe in the case of the grooming industry.

March is Dog Dental Month, an awareness month which shines a light on all the things that we can do to keep the dogs’ teeth healthy and clean.

The event is spearheaded by dog supplements brand Pawable, which launched its Collar-Gen powder this year, which is great for ensuring the longevity of teeth and bones.

Looking after your dog’s teeth at home can also save money on trips to the vets later down the line and save you and your pet a lot of pain and heartache.

Simple things like you can do include introducing good quality non-rawhide chewing treats, cleaning your pet’s teeth with a brush regularly, or investing in good quality ultrasonic cleaning once a year from a trained professional.

Make sure that the ultrasonic teeth cleaning professional is responsible and not providing dental procedures, maintenance only cleaning. Always contact your vet for dental procedures that require a deeper clean and teeth extractions.

Changing your dog’s diet to more natural products is also a great way to keep their teeth healthy, as too many grains or binding agents stick to the teeth and can cause decay.

So in honour of Dog Dental Month, here are my top tips for groomers who may come across a mouth emergency, and what you can do to quickly and safely react.

1. What to do if a dog licks the grooming scissors (cuts to the mouth and gums):

Accidents do happen, and we all know those ‘tongue dogs’ who love to loll their tongues out, and lick anything that they can see.

So what happens if when you are grooming your client accidentally licks the scissors and cuts their mouth?

Well here’s what you need to do...

First, always keep ice cubes handy. And if this happens simply grab an ice cube, put it in the dog’s mouth. Put a towel over the dog’s head to help them relax and get them to a vet quickly.

Putting ice on the cut straight away helps to stem the bleeding, which gives you time to seek professional assistance from the vet.

2. What to do if a dog breaks a tooth:

A broken tooth is not a life-threatening emergency, but it’s important that you know what to do if you spot a dog that has a freshly chipped gnasher.

A broken tooth could cause sores in the dog’s mouth or an exposed nerve could cause pain or discomfort, so it is important to get a broken tooth checked out as soon as possible.

To help a dog you think is experiencing tooth pain, there are a range of numbing sprays and mouthwashes that help in the short term. But the only real solution is to address the underlying cause of the dental problem.

3. What to do if a dog’s tooth falls out:

If a dog has an accident and knocks out a tooth, try and find the lost tooth.

To care for a distressed dog, place a towel over their head, and keep calm. Then take the dog to the vet. If you have been able to retain the tooth is it possible that it will be able to be put back in place.