Dog first aid training lack

Tonight Dillon mysterious caught his claw and ripped it nearly off whilst in his crate. The reason for this accident was probably some puppy madness, but the result was the much yelping and blood. There is possibly nothing worse to hear than the sound of a puppy in pain. Of course, there was a lot of blood being that the quick had been ripped. The quick is the nerve part of the dog’s claw and basically think of ripping a claw more like having your finger chopped or ripped rather than your nail - I think I’d make a bit of noise if that happened to me to be honest.

Karen our friend and his breeder did her emergency vet appearance on our doorstep and made all well with powder, a sensible attitude and a blue self sticking bandage. The trauma didn’t last long and he’s now sleeping the puppy disaster off by my feet. We do now know to be careful and work more on his cutting of claws though as she did have to cut part of it off to stop it hanging there - back to square one with much puppy patience then. Puppy phobia number 2 has been reached then. Puppy phobia number 1 is of over head strip lights falling out of the sky - yes, it did happen when he was in the kitchen and strip lights are still evil apparently. As with any phobias we can slowly work on them - it’s just he seems to be getting the oddest of ones but there we go.

It made us realise how useful a puppy first aid class would be and also how this doesn’t seem to exist. We’ve had dogs for a while and we are just to dependent on vets for the smallest of things. With this as with most dog owners our first reaction had been to call the vet and take Dillon in. We didn’t and actually we are far happier we didn’t. That isn’t because of the cost, it was because it was a far better experience for Dillon being in his home and having people he knew deal with him. We are also lucky enough to have the resource of an experienced breeder that we know. Had we also gone to the vet undoubtedly there would have been anesthetic involved or puppy calming drugs along with an anti-biotic which is given out for any wound. All of this really wouldn’t have been needed and yes, it is a precaution but I would rather he had as natural a life as possible and as few drugs also.

One thing we did learn was a great tip from Karen of wrapping not just one but both paws to make them less inclined to take off the wrapping from one. This apparently works great if on the back legs as you just wrap and then you wrap the front one - the dog will nibble the front one because it’s easier. I thought this was really cunning myself as far as distracting dog techniques go.