If your dog has been bitten by another dog, you must stay calm and act quickly to evaluate your dog’s injuries. Although hard to do when your loved one has been hurt, you must try not to panic.  

The first thing you need to do is assess your dog’s breathing, level of alertness, ability to stand and ability to walk. If your dog appears immobile, dull, is breathing extremely slowly or extremely fast, or is shivering uncontrollably these are signs of shock. You can also sometimes assess if your dog is in shock by looking at his gums. You should be familiar with your dog’s normal gum color, which generally ranges from a rich pink to red. White or very pale gums can indicate shock. If your dog is in shock you should wrap him in a blanket, coat or any cover you can find and rush him to the vet. Without immediate veterinary attention, shock can be fatal. If your dog is so injured that he stops breathing or his heart stops beating you must perform cardiac and/or respiratory resuscitation (CPR) until medical attention can be given. It is also important to note that if the attacking dog has picked up and shaken your dog, as sometimes happens especially if your dog is much smaller than the attacker, your dog may have internal injuries causing your dog’s altered breathing or immobility.