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Dogs have an unbridled curiosity that gets them in trouble. Their heightened sense of smell leads them to situations that may cause physical harm.

I learned about dog first aid the old fashioned way. When he was a puppy, my border collie couldn't be left outside for more than ten minutes without incurring some type of ailment that required first aid. Skunks sprayed him in the eye. He rolled around on the ground, agitating the thousands of bugs that promptly bit him. He went into prickly bushes and came out looking like his coat was made of burr armor. I treated him without using any reference materials.

I came to my senses and decided to research dog first aid. I consulted with my veterinarian and reviewed dog themed Web sites. As my border collie matured into a less rambunctious adult, I finally had at my disposal an arsenal of first aid information that I continue to apply every time he cuts himself on the fence or is bitten by a possum.

The medical emergencies that beset a dog are innumerable. They can become bloated from overfeeding. Their skin can turn a dangerous blue from frostbite. They run so fast that they tumble over their outstretched legs, causing either internal bleedin or severe leg injuries.

A dog that receives a serious injury or becomes acutely sick needs to be transported to an animal hospital. An injured dog en route to an animal hospital must be positioned in a flat and unobtrusive area of the car to negate additional injury. Most animal hospitals operate twenty-four hours a day. It is important to have a vet that practices at such a facility since a lot of dog ailments occur under the dark of night.

Human and dog first aid is similar in two respects. First, a caregiver for a dog must assimilate as much information as possible about an injury before moving forward with first aid intervention. Second, a caregiver must remain calm during a medical emergency that involves a dog. A dog's keen instinct can detect when a human is nervous or agitated. Remaining calm during first aid treatment for a dog ensures the canine will remain calm as well.

The knowledge needed to perform first aid on a dog is predicated on understanding the most common scenarios that a dog will require first aid. If you encounter a rare medical emergency for your dog, consult with your vet or take the dog to an animal hospital.

The following are the more common incidents in which a dog needs remedial first aid.

Insect and snake bites

Spider bites and insect stings are the most prevalent

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