GotoAID Dogs - Chest Injury

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GotoAID does not provide any medical advice or treatment, it is solely for informational purposes only

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Chest Injury

A chest injury is usually due to a blunt trauma like a fall, car accident or a wound that penetrates all the way through the chest wall. Pets may struggle to breathe if their lung function is compromised so seek emergency medical help as quickly as possible to prevent their injuries from worsening. First aid will keep your pet more comfortable, or at lease alive and breathing until you get help.

Symptoms

Distress	Difficulty Breathing
Pain	Open Mouth Breathing
Bleeding

Steps

Check ABC’s of life support--Airway, breathing, circulation. Can you see, feel, or hear your pet breathing? If your pet is not breathing, begin rescue breathing immediately.

If your pet is non-responsive and has stopped breathing, be prepared to give artificial respiration by closing your dog’s mouth with one or two hands and gently breathe into your dog’s nostrils.

Administer 5-10 breaths per minute for large dogs and 10-20 breaths per minute for small dogs. With each breath, one should see the chest slightly rise.

Keep breathing for your dog until he/she is able to breathe on its own or until veterinary help is available.

Check that your dog’s heart is still beating by feeling for the heart on your dog’s chest and/or feeling for your dog’s pulse. (The pulse is easily felt in the femoral artery located on the inside of the thigh.)

If no pulse or heart beat is felt, begin CPR.

Check for bleeding and apply a clean cloth or gauze pad to the bleeding wound with firm direct pressure.

If blood soaks through the pad apply another pad over it and apply pressure. Do not remove the pad or cloth underneath it.

The bleeding should stop within 5 minutes

If needed apply a pressure bandage by wrapping the wound with several layers of gauze and then using an elastic bandage, duct tape, or masking tape over it to give the gauze pressure

If the lung is punctured, you will hear a “sucking sound.” Apply gauze to the bleeding puncture wound. Secure the gauze with adhesive tape.

Place a plastic bag over the gauzed area of lung puncture. Secure the plastic bag on 3 sides only with tape.

If the wound is too big then cover the whole wound with saran wrap to form a seal and hold it in place with your hand

Treat and check for signs of shock. (Signs of shock include weakness, pale or grey gums, body temperature changes, & rapid breathing.) Slightly rise your pet’s back end to increase blood flow to the heart. Keep your pet warm with a blanket if cold. If your pet is hot, cool down with cold compresses to the chest and abdomen.

Proceed to travel to the vet immediately and have your dog lay on the injured side to keep pressure on the bleeding

Warnings

DO NOT remove initial cloth as it will remove the clot trying to form

Pets can die from shock in 10 – 20 minutes unless they get veterinarian help

Make sure to get your pet to the vet as quickly as possible

Tips

You can use K-Y Jelly in place of Petroleum Jelly

Signs of shock may include weakness, collapse, pale or grey colored gums, irregular breathing, high heart rate, weak pulse and body temperature changes (e.g. very cold or very hot)

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