Dog First Aid – Impalement

Bleeding wounds, various nicks and cuts, fractures…these are only some of the common injuries dogs have but impalement injuries is not really a common injury of dogs. Due to the active and playful personalities, accidents can never be prevented and impalement is one of the injuries dogs can get. Due to the inquisitive nature that puts them in tight spots, dogs are always injured. Ingestion of poisonous substances, bloat or a blockage caused by the ingestion of a foreign object are injuries that would make a dog owner take a few minutes to recognize the true condition of the pet. An impalement injury will be easily noticed so that the dog owner will not wonder what accident happened to the pet.

Falling from heights is one of the most common cause of impalement injuries as the dog can be speared by a tree branch or a fence. Impalement can occur if a dog that runs with a stick in the mouth stumbles and the stick is shoved into the mouth. Dogs have the inclination to roam and one that has trespassed and destroyed other people’s property can be meet a sad fate from the arrow of an irate person.

An impalement injury can be serious enough to be the cause of the dog’s death. Owner and pet would be lucky if the impalement injury sustained by the dog is not serious. Professional medical attention is imperative for any kind of impalement injuries. A dog owner may think that a professional medical care is no longer necessary especially if the foreign object that has impaled the dog was not embedded too deep. However, the condition of the dog may be more serious than it appears to be. The stick that has impaled the dog can possibly pierce a vital organ. Internal bleeding is another possible outcome of an impalement injury.

Professional medical attention must be given to the dog but before transporting the pet to a medical facility, first aid treatments must be administered to save the pet from a lot of pain.

The pain associated with the impalement injury can turn a well tempered dog aggressive. Use a muzzle to prevent the dog from snapping. The foreign body that was stuck into the dog must not be removed. Movements of the pet and the object that has impaled the pet must be minimized to prevent the dog’s condition from worsening. Moving the foreign object stuck into the dog could cause more internal damage. However if the object that has impaled the dog is stationary such as a steel bar on a fence, the dog can be removed gently. The removal of the object must be done gently and bleeding must be controlled while the pet is rushed to the hospital.

Sarah’s Dogs provides more information on impalement as well as first aid for dogs.