Does Your Dog Like To Escape The Yard? 4 Steps To Take If It's Struck By A Car

If you have a dog in your family, you do everything you can to keep them safe. Unfortunately, accidents can happen, especially when your dog escapes from the yard. If your dog has escaped the yard and been struck by a car, you'll need to act fast. Your dog is going to need immediate care. First of all, don't panic. Keeping a level head will help you provide the care that your dog is going to need right now. Here are three steps you should take if your dog has been hit by a car.

Approach with Care

As soon as you see your dog, you'll want to approach it as soon as possible. That's the worst thing you can do. Your dog may act out aggressively while it's in pain.

Wait for the Right Moment

Before you approach your dog, wait for the right moment. Make sure it sees you, and that it knows that you're going to be moving towards it.

Move Slowly

Once your dog has calmed down a bit, begin to move towards it very slowly. This will allow your dog to prepare to be touched. It's important to note that if your dog appears to be unconscious, you should still move slowly. It could wake up and become violent.

Provide Emergency First Aid

As soon as you're able to approach your dog, you'll need to provide it with emergency first aid. This is an important step, especially if your dog has obvious signs of injuries.

Prevent Shock

If your dog has been struck by a car, you should work to prevent shock. Carefully place a blanket over your dog to keep it warm. You may also want to place a rolled-up cloth under your dog's head. The elevation will help your dog breathe easier.

Stop the Bleeding

If your dog has open wounds, you'll need to stop the bleeding as soon as possible. Carefully place medical gauze over the wound and apply pressure with your hand. If you don't have access to medical gauze, use a clean towel or cloth to stop the bleeding.

Get to the Vet

Once you've stabilized your dog, and applied basic first aid, you'll need to transport it to the vet. This is crucial, even if your dog doesn't have any outward injuries.

Don't Wait

Whether your dog has any obvious signs of injuries, or not, you need to take it to the vet. Your dog could have internal injuries that a veterinarian like Animal Emergency Clinic will be able to diagnose.

Call Ahead

To make sure the veterinarian is prepared to care for your dog as soon as you arrive, be sure to call ahead. Let the vet know where you're coming from, and when you expect to arrive. You should also give the vet a brief description of the accident, and any injuries you can see.

Don't take chances with your dog. If it's been struck by a car, use the tips provided above to help get it the care it needs.