Here is a helpful page on some general health problems
that may occur throughout your Dalmatian's lifetime.
Including FIRST AID, POISONS, COLLAPSE OR SHOCK
and WOUNDS AND DRESSINGS.
 
Gratefully received from Mrs. J Gates-Raw (Ribblehill Dalmatians)

 
 
FIRST AID FOR DOGS
 
The fundamental principles of basic first aid for dogs and Dalmatians (in particular!) are similar to those for us humans.
 
Either your own dog or any other dog may have minor accidents that need your attention or occasionally major ones that will require emergency first aid until it can be seen by your own vet or the nearest one to the place of incident.
In the case of a serious accident, TRY and REMAIN CALM, USE YOUR COMMON SENSE. YOU know your dog and YOU are the BEST PERSON to help your dog to remain as calm as possible!
YOUR first aid can hopefully save your dog's life, prevent its condition from deteriorating and promote its recovery!
REMEMBER to consult with YOUR vet as soon as possible.
 
What to keep in your dog's first aid kit (this is not a finite list; you may like to add your own 'proven' items).
 
Round ended scissors
Canine thermometer (not the family's!)
Tweezers (good for removing insect stings, thorns etc)
Bandages gauze/crepe (5cm and 10 cm)
Adhesive tape dressings (or cellotape)
Lint gauze
Old socks (helps to keep a leg/paw dressing)
Antiseptic wash/cream
Kaolin lotion or tabs
Water for eye wash
Proprietary ear cleaner
Liquid paraffin (for constipation)
Antihistamine spray/cream/tabs (as advised by your vet)
Poop bags (multi purpose this item!) (Great for collecting item or object that caused the injury/vomit sample etc)
Water bowl and a bottle of water (you will already have these items in your car…….)
Thermo blanket
 
 
Note if your dog is on regular or long term medication I would advise that you carry some of the same in your kit. If you forget to give your dog its medicine before you set off to wherever you are going at least you can give it once you get there. Remember to check the use by date regularly.
 
Now all you need is a large car and crate to transport your first aid kit!
 
 
POISONS
 
Thankfully episodes of deliberate poisoning of our dogs is RARE, however Dalmatians are known thieves and born again scavengers! They do tend to be less discriminatory than other breeds and will eat (or taste) any number of noxious substances or lick and swallow poisons that may have contaminated their coats!
 
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF INGESTED POISONS? (This is dependant on the amount and type of poison ingested)
 
a)      acute vomiting
b)      sudden collapse
c)      violent muscular twitching
d)      seizures
e)      weakness
f)        bleeding (usually from the mouth or rectum, can be passed through urine too)
 
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
 
a)      Prevent further poisons from being swallowed.
b)      CONTACT THE VET IMMEDIATELY
c)      Wash off any substance that maybe on your dogs coat
d)       If you can identify the cause of the poisoning inform your vet (bag up the item or its container and take it with you to the vets)
 
NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO TREAT YOUR DOG YOURSELF! THIS COULD BE A LIFE THREATENING INCIDENT.
 
Your vet may advise you to give your dog an emetic, to make it vomit. This will only be advised if
  
a)      you know what your dog has eaten
b)      you have evidence of the offending substance and have clearly given those details to your vet
c)      your dog has eaten the substance within the last 30 minuets
 
Sodium Carbonate (washing soda) in a pea sized amount would normally be sufficient, until your vet can see your dog.
Warm salty water is effective as is mustard in cold water!
A word of caution the Dalmatian rarely learns from his experience and will soon be attempting to get his nose, tongue or paws in places where they shouldn't
 

COLLAPSE OR SHOCK 
 
THIS MAY WELL BE A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION. YOUR DOG WILL REQUIRE YOU TO ACT FAST AND TO ATTEMPT TO REMAIN CALM!
 
If your dog is conscious it maybe suffering from shock! Possible causes of collapse may include:-
 
a)      Epileptic seizure
b)      Haemorrhage
c)      Accident injury
d)      Poisoning
e)      Acute infection
f)        Heart disease
g)      Exposure
h)      Heatstroke
i)        Diabetes
 
WHAT YOU MUST NOT DO
 
a)      do not give your dog anything by mouth
b)      do not move your dog more than is necessary
c)      do not give your dog alcohol stimulants
d)      do not raise your dog's head or prop it up
 
 
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
 
Treat for shock; place your dog if at all possible in a quiet, warm place. Cover it with something warm (or lay next to your dog). Keeping your dog warm will help to minimize the effects of shock (they can still hear you so continue to talk to him and reassure him. This will help you too!)
Check your dogs breathing, it maybe irregular or non-existent. Loosen his collar; open his dog's mouth. Check for saliva, blood, vomit or any foreign objects. These need to be removed, use your fingers to hook the offending item. You may have to commence ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION.
 
1          Check the airway, make sure that it is clean and clear, pull your dogs tongue forward
2          Summon assistance, mobile phone etc. Give details of the condition of your dog
3          Place both hands on the chest, over the rib area. Push down firmly but gently to expel air from the lungs
4          Release the pressure immediately so that your dogs chest expands and draws fresh air in
5          Repeat at 5 second intervals
                                                                              
Check your dogs pulse, (60-95 beats per minute. 10-30 breaths per minute for large breeds).
 
      1     If you can not feel your dogs pulse, feel for its heartbeat by placing your fingertips on to the left hand side on the lower chest, just behind your dogs elbow.
 
2          If you can not feel a pulse or heartbeat and your dog is unresponsive. Start heart massage by vigorous squeezing of the left hand side of the chest, again just behind your dogs elbow, approximately 1 squeeze per second.
 
ALSO GIVE ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION (if your dogs heart stops for more than 3-4 minutes, there maybe irreversible brain damage) 
 
Treat bleeding, staunch any heavy blood loss
 
Support broken bones
 
Consult with your veterinary practice, arrange for emergency transportation.
LISTEN TO YOUR VETS ADVICE and STAY CALM!                          

WOUNDS AND DRESSINGS
 
EYE WOUND (Dalmatians are always putting their heads where they shouldn't!)
 
You must not allow the surface of the eye to dry out when an injury has occurred. DO NOT PLACE A DRY DRESSING OVER THE EYE
 

• Use an absorbent dressing or a gauze pad that has been soaked in tepid water DO NOT USE COTTON WOOL OR A LOOSE FIBRE DRESSING
• Secure the dressing, using a crepe bandage (or leg from a pair of tights!); wound round the head with turns around the ear to keep the dressing in place (the dressing should resemble a pirate's eye patch!)
• Contact your vet