In case of a medical emergency involving your German Shepherd, stay calm, administer first aid if possible, and get veterinary care immediately for your German Shepherd if any of the following situations occur:
Abdominal bloating, restlessness, and attempts to vomit: Go to the emergency vet immediately. The problem could be gastric dilatation volvulus.
Airway obstructions: Wrap your hands around the dog’s abdomen behind the rib cage and compress once briskly; doing so should dislodge the obstruction. If the dog is unconscious, pull his tongue forward and explore his throat, removing any obstruction you find.
Bleeding: Cover the wound with clean dressing, apply pressure, elevate the wound site, and apply a cold pack.
Burns: Cool burned areas with cold packs or towels soaked in water. Cover the area with a clean bandage or towel and monitor the dog for shock.
Drowning: Hold the dog upside down so that water can run out of his mouth, and then give artificial respiration or take him to the emergency vet.
Heatstroke: Wet the dog and place him in front of a fan, or immerse him in cool (not icy) water. Offer small amounts of water for drinking.
Hypothermia: Warm the dog gradually by wrapping him in a warm blanket and placing plastic bottles filled with hot water outside the blanket, not touching the dog.
Insect stings: Remove any visible stingers as quickly as possible. Administer baking soda and water paste to bee stings and vinegar to wasp stings. Call the vet immediately if your dog has an allergic reaction, including swelling that could interfere with breathing, or any change in consciousness.
Poisoning: Call the vet or poison control hotline and give as much information as possible; they can advise whether you need to induce vomiting or bring your dog in to be examined.