No dog owner would ever want to see the pet topple down because it has lost consciousness. Dog owners know that to be able to help the pet in emergency situations such as this, it is necessary to be calm but most dog owners cannot stop panicking. Treated and loved as the baby of the family, a dog that got sick or one that fell unconscious will make the whole family panic.

The varied reasons why a dog falls unconscious makes this particular health concern doubly difficult to manage given the fact that the treatment that has to be administered would depend on the cause. Any dog owner would know at once what must be done to a bleeding wound but not a lot of dog owners would know what has to be done to an unconscious dog. A dog owner would certainly panic if the unmoving pet is noticed to have glassy eyes and pale or bluish lips and gums. A dog that has lost conscious may or may not breathe. An unconscious dog may have a rapid pulse or may not have a pulse.

Many health concerns have unconsciousness as one of the symptoms. Ingestion of toxic substances and foreign objects that could create a blockage in the airways can be the reason why the dog’s loss of consciousness. Other causes of unconsciousness are internal hemorrhage, cerebral hemorrhage due to severe head trauma and epileptic attacks. It is imperative that first aid be administered to unconscious dogs given that the pet may not be breathing or may not have a pulse. Unconsciousness can lead to the death of the pet especially if the pet has stopped breathing and no first aid treatment was administered given that all the vital organs of the body will be starved of oxygen.

First aid for an unconscious dog that is breathing and has pulse is to conserve body heat. The unconscious dog has to be covered with a blanket or a jacket. It would also be necessary to position the dog so that the head is slightly lower than the body.

For an unconscious dog that is not breathing, the head must be extended and the airway cleared of any foreign object. Rescue breathing must be initiated at once. Close the mouth of the dog and breathe deeply into the dog’s mouth. The breaths administered should inflate the lungs and make the chest move. If the dog has not pulse or heartbeat, CPR must be given to the pet at once. For every ten heart massage two rescue breathing must be given to the unconscious dog. CPR must be continued while the pet is being transported to a veterinary facility.

Learn more about dog first aid as well as unconsciousness at Sarah’s Dogs.