Emergencies happen. Your pet may choke, be hit by a car, ingest something toxic, or have a severe allergic reaction. Knowing basic first aid can stabilize the situation until you reach the veterinarian, and sometimes makes the difference between life and death.
Rule number one: Take to veterinarian
First aid does NOT replace veterinary care. They are temporary measures to stabilize until getting professional help. Don't try to treat at home what needs a veterinarian.
Before anything
Stay calm. Your animal senses your panic and gets more stressed. Breathe, think, act.
Protect yourself. Animals in pain may bite, even the most docile ones. Use muzzle if necessary, or a towel to immobilize cats.
Have veterinarian number at hand. Save on phone: trusted veterinarian, nearest 24-hour clinic, animal poison control center (if exists in your region).
Choking
Signs of choking
Difficulty breathing, violent coughing, paws at mouth, blue gums, panic.
What to do:
If animal can cough, let it cough. Coughing is the most efficient way to expel the object.
If can't breathe: open mouth and see if you can see/reach the object. Only try to remove if you can grab firmly (don't push deeper).
If can't remove: in dogs, do adapted Heimlich maneuver. For large dogs: hug from behind, hands just below ribs, firm pressure upward and inward. For small dogs and cats: hold head down and give firm taps between shoulder blades.
Go to veterinarian even if unblocked, to check if there was no damage.
Bleeding
External bleeding
Apply direct pressure with clean cloth or gauze. Maintain for at least 3-5 minutes without removing to look. If soaks, add more cloth on top, don't remove the first.
For paws: an improvised tourniquet (cloth strip above wound) can be used in extreme emergency, but only for few minutes, and loosen periodically.
Ear bleeding: looks like a lot but usually not serious. Firm pressure. Ears bleed a lot because they're highly vascularized.
Internal bleeding (signs: pale gums, weakness, distended abdomen after trauma): absolute emergency. Keep animal warm and quiet, go to veterinarian immediately.
Fractures
Don't try to align bones. You may make it worse. The goal is to immobilize to prevent more damage during transport.
Use rigid material (cardboard, rolled magazine, improvised splint) to immobilize area above and below fracture. Don't tighten too much.
If fracture is exposed (visible bone), cover with clean damp cloth. Don't try to push bone back.
Transport on rigid flat surface if possible (board, firm transport box).
Poisoning
If you know what was ingested, bring the packaging or note the name for veterinarian.
If it was skin contact (chemical product): wash abundantly with water. Don't use solvents.
If it was inhalation: take to ventilated area.
Signs of poisoning: vomiting, diarrhea, excessive salivation, tremors, convulsions, lethargy, abnormal pupils.
Convulsions
During convulsion: Don't hold the animal, don't put hand in mouth (won't swallow tongue). Move away objects that may hurt it. Time the duration.
After: Animal is disoriented. Keep calm and dark environment. Don't offer water or food until fully alert.
Convulsion lasting more than 5 minutes or multiple convulsions in a row: emergency. Go to veterinarian immediately.
Heat stroke
Signs
Excessive panting, thick drool, bright red gums, weakness, vomiting, collapse. Body temperature above 40°C.
Cool gradually: Cool water (not cold) on belly, armpits, groin. Wet towels. Fan. Offer water to drink but don't force.
DO NOT use cold water or ice. Too rapid cooling causes shock.
Go to veterinarian even if improves. Heat stroke may have internal complications that aren't visible.
Drowning
Remove from water. Hold head down (small dogs) or tilt with head lower to drain water from lungs.
If not breathing: artificial respiration. Close animal's mouth, blow through nostrils until see chest expand. Small dogs and cats: gentle puffs.
If no heartbeat: chest compressions. Animal lying on side, firm compressions on heart area (just behind elbow). 100-120 compressions per minute, alternating with breathing.
Stings and bites
Bees/wasps: Remove stinger (scrape, don't squeeze). Ice on site. Watch for allergic reaction signs (facial swelling, breathing difficulty). Severe allergic reaction is emergency.
Snakes: Keep animal calm and immobile (movement spreads venom). Don't cut, don't suck, don't make tourniquet. Identify snake if possible (photo). Urgent veterinarian.
Other animals: Wash wound with water and soap. Even small bites can infect or transmit diseases. Veterinarian to assess need for antibiotics.
First aid kit
Have at home
- Sterile gauze and bandages
- Adhesive tape
- Round-tip scissors
- Tweezers
- Saline solution
- Antiseptic (chlorhexidine)
- Disposable gloves
- Thermometer (rectal for pets)
- Thermal blanket
- Muzzle (appropriate size)
- Syringe without needle (to give liquids)
- Veterinarian and 24h clinic number
Emergency transport
Small animal: transport box is ideal. If don't have, firm cardboard box or wrapped in towel.
Large animal: improvised stretcher (blanket, board). Move as little as possible, especially if suspecting spinal injury.
In car: someone holding and calming, or well accommodated to not get hurt more during trip.