Behind the Badge

Be Prepared when Hunting with Dogs

District Game Warden Josh Hedstrom

As we head into the fall hunting season, we prepare with our tags, licenses, and stamps and ready our firearms, bows, and the necessary hunting gear. Another responsibility is to be prepared with our hunting companions. Our trusty canines are excited to get out in the field, too.

Risks of accidents in the field are more common than we’d like to think. Whether it is a face full of quills after a run-in with a porcupine, cuts to the eyes or paws from barbed wire or wayward branches, hyperthermia or hypothermia, snake bites, or the seemingly inevitable run in with a skunk, it is essential to be prepared with a canine first aid kit and to talk with a veterinarian in your area. Just like I did while writing this to share with you.

Before even heading out, make sure your canine is up to date on vaccinations and tick control treatment. If available, take a course on canine first aid. Familiarizing yourself with canine first aid can help you keep calm so you can care for your dog in the event of an emergency.

Familiarize yourself with signs of hyperthermia (heat stroke) – excessive panting, drooling, trouble breathing, disorientation, vomiting, bright red tongue, or increased heart rate. At the first sign of heat stroke, remember to lower your dog’s body temperature gradually. Get your dog to shade and use cool water to lower its body temp. Give it cool water to drink slowly so it does not vomit.

Hypothermia is another danger to watch for, especially when your dog is venturing through water or snow. A dog’s typical body temperature is between 100.5 and 102.5 degrees. Signs for hypothermia can be a challenge to identify. Is your dog shivering in anticipation or is it cold? Is it’s breathing labored because it is having trouble breathing or is the dog winded from physical exertion? Is your dog weak, lethargic, or confused? All of these can be signs of hypothermia.

Get your dog to a warm place. Put him or her on your lap (body heat) and wrap in dog blankets or a jacket. Hypothermia is more likely to set in if your canine’s blood sugar is low. Keep your dog hydrated with warm water and if it has been a while since it has eaten, give your dog an energy boosting treat, such as honey. If the eyes have become dilated and lethargy has gotten worse, get your dog to a vet immediately.

If your dog is bitten by a snake, try to keep it calm. It is important to prevent an elevated heart rate, so you will need to carry the dog instead of letting it walk. Try to keep the wound below heart level. Keep in mind when a dog is hurt their behavior can be unpredictable. Carry Benadryl and know in advance the correct dosage for your dog’s size. Do not apply a tourniquet or cut the wound. Do not apply ice or any topical medications. Get your canine partner to a vet immediately.

If your dog sustains a cut and is bleeding, apply pressure to stop the bleeding and check for debris that may be stuck in the wound. Minor cuts may only require washing out and bandaging the wound; however, deep cuts or punctures should be checked out by a veterinarian.