A FEW TIPS WHICH MOSTLY NEED VETERINARY ATTENTION This section has been compiled with a view to helping new or inexperienced owners with some of the problems that may occur and which need prompt recognition and attention. BLOAT: A LIFE THREATENING CONDITION Symptoms (1) Gross distension of the abdomen which becomes acute very rapidly. (2) Retching - The dog is in great distress and unable to vomit. This condition can occur at any time, but often within several hours after eating. ACTION: If in any doubt contact you Vet IMMEDIATELY . DO NOT WAIT TIME IS CRITICAL ECLAMPSIA A condition which can occur in the later stages of pregnancy or in a nursing bitch. It is caused by a drop in calcium levels in the blood. Symptoms: Shaking and staggering, Quickly collapsing into a fit WHICH MAY BE FATAL ACTION: Contact your Vet IMMEDIATELY the only cure is intravenous injections. FITS: A condition which can be caused by a variety of disorders Symptoms: A dog collapses, thrashes its legs, often froths at the mouth and can empty its bladder and bowels ACTION: Prevent self injury. Some restraint may be necessary. Contact your Vet. DO NOT give stimulants. On recovery, remove excess saliva and put the dog in a darkened room, keep quiet and warm.  HAEMORRHAGIC GASTRO-ENTERITIS Condition: Inflammation of the intestines. Symptoms: Initially the dog has diarrhoea which turns to mucous and blood, and this turns rapidly to copious bleeding. ACTION:  Immediate Veterinary action is required. HEAT STROKE A condition caused by prolonged exposure to extreme heat conditions. Symptoms: Heavy panting followed by rapid collapse. ACTION: Reduce dogs body temperature quickly, immerse in cold water or use garden hose. It is best to use clinical thermometer to register decline as too rapid a decline can lead to subnormal temperatures and shock. Take to a Vet as soon as possible. ORAL OBSTRUCTION A condition where there is an obstruction between the teeth or across the roof of the mouth which can be difficult to find. Symptoms: Pawing at the mouth or rubbing face on the ground. ACTION: Search and find the obstruction, remove if possible , or take to a Vet. RELEASING A LOCKED BITE Should your dog have the misfortune to be bitten by a breed of dog which locks its jaw e.g. Bull Terrier, it is important to push the dogs together not pull them apart until the attacking dog can be made to release its grip. This can be achieved by choking the dog using its collar or lead, or if the dog doesn't have a collar, hold it behind the jowls and try to push a stick or other suitable object down its throat which will then cause the dog to lose its grip. TICKS A condition in which a blood-sucking insect embeds itself into the skin by its head and its body rapidly increases in size as it sucks blood:  ACTION: The entire insect must be removed, do not attempt to pull it out by any other than the following as the head can be left behind and cause an abscess.  A. Applying a wad of cotton wool soaked in alcohol completely over the tick, then removing with tweezers and making sure that the insect comes away with its head. B. Removal with fingers going deep into the dogs skin and very gently pulling it out. If the tick has been removed completely one can see its legs moving. A visit to the Vet may be necessary POISONING IN DOGS Poisoning is not, fortunately, as common as some would believe, but never the less often spectacular, the distress of the animal being exceeded only by that of the owner. A poison is defined as any substance which, when absorbed within the system, destroys or injures the power of life. Poisoning may be suspected, diagnosed, at examination for illness, or be known to have occurred by the owner; whatever the circumstances, extreme urgency is advised, and treatment initiated as soon as possible. This treatment proceeds along the following lines: 1 To prevent further absorption of the poison. 2 Identify the source or type of poison 3 Get to a Vet , or get the Vet to the dog . ACTION 1. Wash off skin contamination with as much water as is necessary DON'T use soap or detergents as these may increase absorption. If he's eaten or drunk it ! Make him vomit. A desert spoon of salt, a crystal of washing soda, or mustard and water, (pushing fingers down throat may work, but take care). EXCEPTIONS: If the dog has already been sick then don't make it worse. If it's taken barbiturates or other sedatives, narcotics or tranquillisers, and is semi-conscious , it may inhale vomit. If it's taken one of the paraffin oils such as petrol, diesel, kerosene or turps - use olive oil or liquid paraffin by mouth by the cupful, and the whole will come straight up.  2. Try and find out what it is that caused the problem, keep the packet (if available), tell the vet over the phone and get a sample of vomit, this is for possible subsequent identification. The name of the active ingredient should be on the box, some have 'what to do in case of ' -- instruction printed.  3. Should need no enlarging upon, but, one or two points arise. Once you have contacted your Vet see if somebody will take the dog to the vet whilst you enlarge upon the case on the phone. If the dog is in convulsions, try and prevent it from injuring itself or anybody else, keep it warm. Poisoning, as portrayed so far, has been of the acute variety, and 99% of cases occur thus. It is very rare that poisoning, over and above the levels that man has inflicted on himself and the environment, occurs in the chronic form. Examples are lead from old paint cans, linoleum, putty or car batteries and fluorine, the latter is uncommon in dogs. Snake and insect bites should be considered as poisons. The severity of snake bites depend largely on the size of the dog, size and type of the snake, site of the bite and physical condition of the dog. The results range from a slight swelling to total collapse. Apply a tourniquet above the site, if possible, and release every 20 minutes for a few minutes. STINGS Bee stings should be bathed in sodium bicarbonate. Wasp sting should be bathed in vinegar. This is to neutralise the acid or alkaline in the sting. Try not to confuse the two remedies as they will have the opposite effect.