First Aid. Assessment of Traumatic Injuries: Shock

Shock is a situation of "last resort" in which the body shuts down "non-essential" functions in order to preserve blood flow and adequate oxygen delivery to the heart and brain, which are the truly "essential" organs. A number of events can trigger shock, such as rapid blood loss, overwhelming infection, or serious trauma to internal organs. Although the series of events that constitute the shock reaction are intended to preserve life, they can also threaten life if they go on for too long, because inadequate blood flow to other organs can damage them severely. The most obvious signs of shock in a dog are pale gums and coolness of the extremities (lower legs, paws, and tail). To tell if the gums are pale, lift the dog's upper lip and look at the part of the gums near the teeth. Even in dogs with pigmented colored) gums, there is usually a thin line around each tooth without pigment. This should be pink. If you can't tell, press firmly on the gum with your finger for a moment. Then release the pressure. The area should blanch (become white) with pressure from your finger, but in normal situations, the pink color should return within 1 to 1 1/2 seconds. In shock situations, there is little change in color and what color there is often takes longer than 2 seconds to return. Shock is a life-threatening situation and requires immediate veterinary attention. Keep the animal covered with a blanket but do not apply extra heat, which may cause dilation of the blood vessels in the skin, robbing the heart and brain of much needed blood and oxygen.