Your Dog's Been Hit By A Car! It's Still Alive But What Now?

Dogs are naturally wondering creatures, often times led by their nose to follow certain odors and scents in the air or on the ground. Unfortunately, this means when your dog is left unattended without a leash, they may very well find something interesting that leads them to the road. Seeing your dog get ran over or hit by a vehicle can be one of the most stressful situations you can experience as a pet owner and can definitely be a life or death situation.

It is in the critical moments after the event when you have to know what to do to give your dog a fighting chance of survival if it is at all possible. So what steps should you take if your dog has been hit and is still alive? Here are a few things you need to know. 

Get your dog out of the roadway immediately, but do so carefully. 

You have probably heard that when someone is severely injured, it is best not to move them, and this also holds true for animals. However, you definitely will not want to leave your dog out in the road after it has been hit. Not only could it be hit by another vehicle, your pet being there could also put other drivers in danger. Grab a sheet or blanket and head to the road with someone to help you if they are available so they can warn oncoming traffic to stop until you are done. 

Spread the blanket out beside your dog and try to gently scoot it under its body. Use the sheet to gently pick up the dog because picking it up with your hands could exacerbate existing injuries. If your dog is large, it is best to have another person help you carry the dog on the blanket to your vehicle or to the house. 

Get in touch with an emergency animal clinic while you assess your dog's condition. 

Most cities do have an emergency animal clinic that will treat pets in this dire situation. Give them a call and let them know the situation so they can expect your arrival. Pay careful attention to your dog during the trip to the clinic and try not to let it get up and move even if it seems like it can do so freely.

If necessary, place your dog on the sheet in a crate or box until you get to the animal hospital to keep it contained. During the trip, have someone ride with you or drive so you can take note of your dog's condition, such as how well it is breathing, whether it is bleeding and if so, where from, and check to see if your dog's pulse or heart rate seems slowed. Really this information to the vet when you arrive at the clinic.