
Getting hooked
Get Hooked is a six-part documentary series following four queer millennial women on fishing excursions across Ontario.
Home | Gun dog first aid
If you have a hunting dog, the odds are good that you’ll have to administer first aid one day. The field with all its sharp and jagged things — barbed wire, ice, slick rocks, protruding sticks, old metal, and thorns — can be a dangerous place for creatures who bolt through it at breakneck speeds and low altitude. Just ask my dog… That’s why I spoke to Dr. Marie McKibbin, a veterinarian with 36 years of experience, to learn more about first aid for the hunting dog. Scrapes and cuts She says the most common hunting dog injuries she treats are cut pads or paws, usually from broken glass or jagged rocks. Another frequent injury is facial and ear lacerations due to dog fights. Scratched corneas and puncture wounds from sticks, thorns, and porcupine quills are also common, while broken bones and gunshot wounds occur occasionally. Blood alerts you to most of these injuries, but sometimes, especially with thorns and broken bones, you might only notice your dog worrying the wound or adjusting the way it normally moves. Heat stroke and exhaustion Common illnesses including heat stroke, exhaustion, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) as well as hot spots and adverse effects from insect bites. McKibbin says a dog suffering from heat stroke, exhaustion, or being overheated usually pants in a staggering and unsteady manner. Their ears, and back of their gums by the molars also feel very hot. A foamy mouth, along with dark red gums or tongue are also good indicators. A hypoglycemic dog will have white or pale gums and feel normal or cool to the touch. First aid When you notice any of these injuries or illnesses, stop hunting and assess your dog. McKibbin advises that, after careful evaluation, treat the most urgent things first. “Respiratory or cardiac arrest trumps bleeding and broken bones,” she says. The most likely serious emergency most of us will have to deal with is an overheated or hypoglycemic dog. Both require immediate field care, followed by an immediate visit to the vet or emergency clinic. In the field, heat stroke can be treated by wetting the dog’s coat, belly, ears, and feet with lukewarm water and then fanning it constantly, followed by a visit to the vet. Wet towels work well for this. For hypoglycemia, honey or syrup smeared on gums helps raise blood sugar levels. Repeat until you get your
Steve Galea is best known as OOD’s humour columnist, but if it relates to hunting or fishing, he’s serious about it. As upland game editor, he enjoys spending time in tangled places gunning for ruffed grouse and woodcock, especially in good company. When he’s not there, he’s chasing turkeys, stalking squirrels, hunting waterfowl, pursuing whitetails, or fly fishing. It really just depends on the season.
Q: I’m not a hunter, but I live on an open-country property and have dogs that look A LOT like coyotes. How much orange should they be wearing to be protected? Cassandra Levy, Bowmanville A: While there are no rules on dogs wearing hunter orange, it is always prudent to take precautions to protect one’s… Read More »
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PO Box 2800 / 4601 Guthrie Dr.
Peterborough, Ontario Canada K9J 8L5
Phone: 705-748-OFAH (6324)
Fax: 705-748-9577
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