GotoAID Dogs - Fishhook Injury

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Fishhook Injury

Because fishhooks are used for bait and thus smell like bait they are very attractive to your pet. While playing with the hook and string it is easy for your pet to have the hook get caught on their body or in their mouth. If swallowed they can cause serious injury and will have to be surgically removed.

Symptoms

Pawing at Mouth	Pain
Vomiting	Hook Into Body
Limping	Bleeding

Steps

You will have to restrain your dog first, if it is a small dog restrain it by grabbing the scruff of his neck with one hand and the hind feet with the other

If it is a large dog you will have to kneel beside him and put one arm under and around your dog's chest and your other arm around his neck

If the barb of the hook has passed all the way through the flesh so you can see it use a pair of wire cutters to clip it off close to the skin

You may then gently back the hook out

If the barb has not passed all the way through and is deeply imbedded take your dog to the veterinarian. He or she will sedate your dog and push the hook through the skin and remove it. This procedure is painful and should not be attempted without sedation.

Once you can see the barb cut it off with the wire cutters and remove it as close to the skin and then gently back the hook out

Swab the site of hook penetration with an antiseptic cleanser mixture such as 1 part iodine and 3 parts water.

Warnings

If the hook is in the throat or the mouth take him for immediate medical attention

If he is not having any difficulty breathing muzzle him so that he does not bite you unless the muzzle will disturb the location of the hook

If the hook is embedded too deeply take him to the vet and have the vet remove the hook

Tips

Most mouth wounds will heal quickly without further action

If there is a foot wound clean it a couple of times a day with gauze pads and Betadine Skin Cleanser until it heals

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Suggestions

Bleeding

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