GotoAID Dogs - Abdominal Penetrating Wound

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Abdominal Penetrating Wound

Severe abdominal penetrating injuries can occur from car accidents, falls, gunshot wounds, running into a stick, fights with other animals, foreign body entrapment or impalement. A dog in pain may bite, hunch it's back and/or refuse to move. With a wound that penetrates all of the way through the abdominal wall, you will notice bleeding and possibly an opening into the abdomen and exposure of organs. In severe cases, abdominal organs will protrude through the wound. This is a medical emergency, seek veterinary help as soon as possible.

Symptoms

Pain	Exposed Organs
Refusal to Move	Difficulty Breathing
Flinching	Signs of Shock
Bleeding	Bruising

Steps

Control any external bleeding by using firm pressure, apply clean cloth or gauze pads to the bleeding wound. If area continues to bleed, keep applying more pads on top of one another.

Take some clean sheets or towels and wrap it around the dog with an elastic bandage to hold it in place

If your dog is going into shock, cover him with a blanket to keep him warm.

If there are any exposed organs you will have to prevent them from drying by taking a wet towel or pillowcase with water or contact lens solution and hold it against the organs and use saran wrap to wrap around your dogs body to keep the padding in place

If there are signs of shock then cover with a warm blanket if cold and apply cold compresses to your dog’s chest and abdomen if hot.

Apply an icepack against the wound outside the protective bandage to numb the pain and slow bleeding

Place a small dog in a box or pet carrier

If time allows, slide a larger dog onto an ironing board, solid surface or plywood and tape or tie him down to prevent him rolling off

Get to a vet as soon as possible

Warnings

Shock can kill a pet within 10-20 minutes

DO NOT remove initial cloth as it will remove the clot trying to form instead place another cloth over the bloody one

DO NOT tie the towels or sheets around the dog too tightly so he can breathe comfortably

Wrap the saran wrap lightly to seal the area but not tight enough to restrict breathing

Tips

If he is in shock you may notice him acting woozy, weak, eyelids droop, pale tongue or gums, rapid breathing, and loss of consciousness

DO NOT give your dog any medications without first talking to a vet

Muzzle your injured dog while handling him to prevent bites to nearby people. A strip of cloth can be made into a makeshift muzzle by tying a loose loop in the middle, sliding it over the dog’s nose, tightening the loop and then tying the free ends of the material behind the dog’s ears. Remove the muzzle as soon as possible so as not to restrict his breathing.

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