A lot of dogs love tennis balls, and whether you throw one for them to chase, or they like to carry it in their mouth for the walk, the brightly coloured items are a staple part of life with a canine companion.
For many of our dogs a walk just isn’t the same without their treasured tennis ball, and we all have seen the tremendous lengths that some dogs will go to retrieve a ball, leaping into the air, or even jumping head first into water.
But what many of us won’t know is that your dog’s tennis ball can actually save their life, and canine first aider Rachel Bean is sharing a top tip which every dog owner should know. April is International , and as well as the basics of CPR and choking first aid, some techniques are bordering on genius.
Rachel, who is a qualified Veterinary Nurse, and travels the world teaching canine first aid, said, “This is an injury I have had experience with working in Veterinary Practice and is more common than you think.
“If a dog lands on a fence post or a sharp broken branch they can damage the brachial artery which runs through the armpit. Like humans, it’s a difficult place to tourniquet, so the best action is to apply pressure immediately using your fist, hands, and fingers.
“Your dog’s tennis ball is a great object to use to help reduce blood loss. If a ball is squeezed in the armpit, it compresses the brachial artery, stopping the blood flow.
“Jam it in the armpit and keep it there as hard as possible until you get to the vets. It may just reduce blood loss enough for the dog to recover, and save their life.”