There's Been An Accident: 4 Steps To Take If Your Dog Has Sustained Head Injuries

4 January 2016
 Categories: , Blog


Your dog was struck by a car and has sustained head injuries. It's going to require veterinary care as soon as possible. Before you pick your dog up, you should know that not all head injuries come with visible signs. Head injuries can damage the brain, which means your pet might not have any external injuries. Here are some step-by-step instructions that will help protect your dog while you transport it to the veterinarian for emergency care.

Wrap it up

Before you try to transport your dog, you should wrap it up in a blanket. There are a couple of reasons why you should do this. First, the blanket will keep it warm and protect it from going into shock. Second, the blanket will prevent your dog from thrashing about during transport. Place a blanket over your dog. Press the excess material under your dog's back. Have someone hold your dog's head while you roll it over on to its other side. Pull the excess blanket out and wrap your dog up snugly. Your dog is now ready to be moved.

Move it safely

If your dog has head injuries, you'll want to move it slowly and carefully to prevent shaking or jostling. The safest way to do that is to transport it on a hard, flat surface. You can use an ironing board to move your dog. If your dog is too small for an ironing board, you can use a cutting board from transport. Carefully lay your dog on an ironing board or cutting board and secure it with duct tape. Be sure to attach the duct tape directly to the blanket to avoid injuring your dog.

Position it carefully

While you have your dog secured for transport to the veterinarian, be sure you keep its head positioned properly. Its head should be even with its feet and legs. This will prevent pressure on its brain and will also allow it to breathe properly. It's important to note that if your dog starts to vomit, you should lower his head so that the fluids can flow out of its mouth. Once your dog has stopped vomiting, return its head to a level position.

If your dog has been struck by a car, you need to seek emergency veterinary care as soon as possible. The information provided above will help protect your dog during transport. If possible, you should let your veterinarian know you're on the way so that they can be ready to provide your pet with the care it's going to need. 


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