Lets talk about an ice injury

It's been cold in the UK and this week I had my first ice injury with D'Jango. Ive not had one before but lots of people get them.  He was Skitting around on the ice and somehow slid and hit his leg and cut quite a nasty deep cut.  

So what can you do?

Ring your vet and make an appointment, but first you need to assess the situation.  

Is their lots of blood? If yes you need to stem the bleeding.  Always have in your first aid kid wadding or some kind, melolin pads.  Put shiny side to the cut and hold to steam bleeding.  If it is squirting like pumping out, omg thats an artery.  Grab phone, stick on loud speaker whilst holding the pad on bleeding.  They will put you through to a nurse who will talk you through what to do. They will ask you to bring dog in asp.   If there is two of you it makes life easier, because one can hold compression on the leg whilst other is driving.  But if there is just one of you then you need to wrap that leg up.  

So first aid box.

Melolin pad
Bandage like vet wrap
Saline solution to wash area. 
Wadding/cotton wool for cleaning. 

If there is no blood and its just a cut you can more casually ring vet as its not an emergency, and then arrange visit to see nurse or vet. 
Small cuts that do not bleed, quite honestly the vet wont do a lot and most likely leave it. But anything big they may have to shave fur off leg, go in and stitch up.  They will assess for you. 

Of course the decision is yours and yours alone if you go to a vet.  But the above scenarios are assessing the situation to make that decision.  Arteries do stop eventually but you can not risk leaving.  Cuts you can leave if very small, but dogs lick the areas.  Licking can open them up wider, so we always advise going to a vet for assessment and they will do whats needed.  

Dog bites vets do not stitch up because of bacteria.  But accident cuts they will do.

Sometimes antibiotics are dispensed.   Some times your dog may need painkillers also.  

If dog has broken its leg then vet will have to set the leg.  You may be told that you have to go through to a referral over vets.  Depending if vets independents or not.  

If dog has obviously broken its leg it will be in pain.  Dogs bite in pain so do not put your face near dog and kiss dog.  Dogs become reactive over pain.  Try if you can get your first aid kit vet wrap and a stick.  Put the stick by leg, and then wrap the vet wrap around.  Holding dogs leg straight.  Do not try to fix break. Ring vet as all your doing is first aid on your dog.  Ring vet asp and get dog to vet.  If you are on your own tell them team to pick dog up out of your car.  They are experienced in handling dogs with injuries.  They may have to muzzle even the friendliest of dog if it's in pain.  Do not get offended at this. 

Depending on the break it can heal In six weeks or if it needs pinning and further ops you could be talking 12 weeks. 

I think the moral of the story is be prepared with a first aid kit.  Phone charged with vets number in contacts.