HUNTING MASTERY
While many hunters realize that first aid is important to carry in the field, many neglect the fact that their four-legged hunting companion also may need some medical attention. Dogs are tough and often with their adrenaline pumping can get into bad situations. (“Hunting Dog First Aid – The Importance Of Having Medical …”) When running at full speed through trees they can get cut and bruised easily, and a hunter must be prepared for the several types of injuries their hunting dog can sustain.
A dog’s first aid kit will be a bit different from the human variety; dogs will not often need emergency aspirin or adhesive bandages. (“Hunting Dog First Aid – The Importance Of Having Medical …”) While dogs are tough animals and a lot of the injuries, they sustain will be minor enough to not need veterinary attention until the end of the day, there are some essentials a hunter should never be without.
“The first thing a hunter needs to have in his canine first aid kit is gauze.” (“Hunting Dog First Aid – The Importance Of Having Medical …”) Most of the injuries sustained by a dog in the field will be flesh wounds from the dog getting physical with another animal or running at high speeds through trees and brambles. A hunter needs to not only carry gauze but know how to use it. (“Hunting Dog First Aid – The Importance Of Having Medical …”)
Tighter is not always better, especially in the case of wounds near the feet. It is extremely easy for the circulation to be cut off in this area and the dog’s foot can swell, so while it should be secure, do not wrap too tightly. Before wrapping the wound be sure to rinse it out with clean water; this wrapping will often be okay to last through the end of the day’s hunting trip. (“Hunting Dog First Aid – The Importance Of Having Medical …”)
Another essential item to the canine first aid kit is a splint. Because of the adrenaline rush a dog feels when in the middle of a hunt, they often can get into careless situations, such as twisting or breaking a leg in deep holes or by falling from high places. This happens much more often than a hunter might expect, and he needs to be prepared in case it does. (“Hunting Dog First Aid – The Importance Of Having Medical …”) The dog’s leg will need to be splinted and wrapped with gauze. This injury is serious enough that the hunting trip should be cut short, and the dog should be taken to a veterinarian.
“There are other smaller items that a hunter should have for his hunting dog, and many animal supply stores carry canine first aid kits with just these types of items, such as tweezers and antiseptic.” (“Hunting Dog First Aid – The Importance Of Having Medical …”) Be sure that you carry all your canine medical supplies on every hunting trip in case a medical emergency should arise.
Finding A Good Hunting Dog
“As many hunters can tell you, a good hunting dog can be worth its weight in gold.” (“Buying A Hunting Dog – Locating The Right Breeder And The …”) They become an indispensable resource to any hunt and enhance the hunting experience. “Finding the best hunting dog for you can take a lot of time and patience, but when found, the hunter will find him well worth the effort.” (“Buying A Hunting Dog – Locating The Right Breeder And The …”)
There are some things to start you off on your hunting dog search. The number one thing a hunter can do is to always buy from a breeder. While there may be many postings at the local outfitters of hunting puppies available for sale, a hunter just does not know what he is getting. A breeder’s entire business is based on quality and the hunter’s happiness. Be sure that the breeder you go through is accredited by the state they practice in; if they are an open and honest breeder, they will be happy to give you this information and often show you their breeding certificate.
After narrowing down your choice of dogs at the breeder the second thing to be concerned with is the dog’s health. Puppies especially are very susceptible to health risks if they have not been taken care of properly. You want to get details about your dog’s vaccination records. Any breeder worth his money will have incredibly detailed records about each dog’s shots and any health problems it may have had. The perspective buyer will want to pay special attention to the immunization records of the puppy’s first few weeks. There are two times in a dog’s life when it is most susceptible, when it is first born, and when it is weaned from its mother; at both times, the puppy should have received shots to boost its immune system.
One of the last things to consider when choosing your hunting dog is its lineage. Most breeders take extraordinary pride on their detailed records and talking to the breeder about your potential dog’s parents and grandparents will give the hunter a great chance to see what his dog is made of. Make sure that they were all good hunting dogs. These dogs should not have been bred haphazardly to make a quick buck; two dogs are often chosen for their specific traits to be bred; talk to the breeder about what the characteristics are. If the breeder still has the parents or grandparents, even better. Check these dogs out to get a feel for your dog’s genes.
When choosing your perfect hunting dog, a hunter can never be too careful or ask too many questions. A quality breeder will welcome all of them.
Best Wishes, Coy
See Tomorrow: “Hunting Dog Medical Supplies”
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