First Aid for Your Pet
Bite Wounds | Bleeding | Breathing Stops | Burns | Choking | Diarrhea | Fractures | Heatstroke | Poisoning | Seizures | Shock | Vomiting | Muzzle | Can't Walk
Remember, your veterinarian should always be your first resource in an emergency situation, but the following information is provided as a guideline.
When your pet has an emergency, be sure you know how your veterinarian handles emergencies or where you should go if you have one. For example, some veterinarians always have someone on call, while others use special emergency hospitals for situations that arise after hours; AAHA-accredited hospitals are required to provide 24-hour-a-day emergency care in one way or another. You can also stay prepared for emergencies by putting together a pet first aid kit.
In an emergency, first aid is not a substitute for veterinary treatment. However, before you are able to get your pet to a veterinarian, knowing some basic first aid can help. Always seek veterinary care following first aid attempts.
Bite Wounds
Wearing gloves, approach the pet carefully to avoid getting bitten and muzzle them if possible. Check the wound for contamination or debris. If significant debris is present, clean the wound with large amounts of saline or balanced electrolyte solution. If these are not available, then regular water may be used. Wrap open wounds to keep them clean. Apply pressure to profusely bleeding wounds. Do not use a tourniquet.
Bite wounds often become infected and need professional care. Call your veterinarian.
Bleeding
Apply firm, direct pressure over the bleeding area until the bleeding stops. Hold the pressure for at least 10 straight minutes (continually releasing the pressure to check the wound will hamper the clotting). Avoid bandages that cut off circulation.
Call your veterinarian immediately.
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Breathing Stops
First, check to see if the animal is choking on a foreign object. If an animal is not breathing, place it on a firm surface with its left side up. Check for a heartbeat by listening at the area where the elbow touches the chest. If you hear a heartbeat, close the animal's mouth and breathe directly into its nose—not the mouth—until the chest expands. Repeat 12 to 15 times per minute.
If there is no pulse, apply heart massage at the same time. The heart is located in the lower half of the chest, behind the elbow of the front left leg. Place one hand below the heart to support the chest. Place the other hand over the heart and compress gently. To massage the hearts of cats and other tiny pets, compress the chest with the thumb and forefingers of one hand. Apply heart massage 80 to 120 times per minute for larger animals and 100 to 150 per minute for smaller ones. Alternate heart massage with breathing.
Please note: even in the hands of well-trained veterinary health professionals, the success of resuscitation is very low overall. Success may be slightly higher in the cases of drowning or electrical shock.
Call your veterinarian immediately.
Burns (chemical, electrical, or heat, including from a heating pad)
Symptoms of burns can include signed hair, blistering, swelling, and redness of skin. Flush the burn immediately with large amounts of cool, running water. Apply an ice pack for 15-20 minutes. Do not place an ice pack directly on the skin. Wrap the pack in a light towel or other cover. If the animal has large quantities of dry chemicals on its skin, brush them off. Water may activate some dry chemicals.
Call your veterinarian immediately.
Choking
If you see that your pet has difficulty breathing, is excessively pawing at their mouth, or that their lips or tongue are blue, they might be choking. Be sure to protect yourself as well as the animal, as the pet will likely be frantic and may be more likely to bite. If the pet can still partially breathe, it's best to keep the animal calm and get to a veterinarian as quickly as possible. Look into the mouth to see if foreign object in throat is visible. If you can, clear the airway by removing the object with pliers or tweezers, being careful not to push it farther down the throat. If it is lodged too deep or if the pet collapses, then place your hands on both sides of the animal's rib cage and apply firm, quick pressure, or place the animal on its side and strike the side of the rib cage firmly with the palm of your hand three or four times. Repeat this procedure until the object is dislodged or you arrive at the veterinarian's office.
Call your veterinarian immediately.
Diarrhea
Withhold food, but not water, for 12-24 hours, and be aware that sometimes pets that appear to be straining are sore from diarrhea rather than from constipation. Your veterinarian can help you decide which it is and what will help. Trying at-home treatments without knowing the real cause can just make things worse.
Call your veterinarian.
Fractures
For pets that appear to be in pain, unable to use a limb, or are holding a limb at an odd angle, first muzzle them and look for bleeding. If you can control bleeding without causing more injury, do so. Watch for signs of shock. Do not try to set the fracture by pulling or tugging on the limb, but rather, transport the pet to the veterinarian immediately, supporting the injured body part as best you can.
Heatstroke
Heatstroke can come on quickly and presents as rapid or labored breathing, vomiting, collapse, and high body temperature. Also watch for drooling. Try to lower body temperature by placing the animal in a tub of cool water, gently soaking the animal with a garden hose, or wrap it in a cool, wet towel. Do not overcool the animal. Stop cooling when rectal temperature reaches 103 degrees Fahrenheit.
Call veterinarian immediately.
Poisoning
Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, convulsions, diarrhea, salivation, weakness, depression, and pain. Record what the pet ingested and how much. Immediately call your veterinarian or poison control center. Do not induce vomiting. In case of toxins or chemicals on the skin from oils, paints, insecticides and other contact irritants, request directions on if and how to wash the toxin off.
Seizures
Symptoms of seizures include salivation, loss of control of urine or stool, violent muscle twitching, and loss of consciousness. If your pet is having a seizure, move the pet away from any objects that could be harmful during the seizure. Use a blanket for padding and protection. Do not put yourself at risk by restraining the pet during the seizure. Time the seizure (they usually last 2 to 3 minutes). Afterwards, keep the animal calm and quiet.
Call your veterinarian immediately.
Shock
Shock may occur as a result of a serious injury or fright. Keep the animal gently restrained, quiet, and warm, with the lower body elevated. They might have irregular breathing and dilated pupils.
Call your veterinarian immediately.
Vomiting
Withhold food for 12-24 hours. Give the pet ice cubes for two hours after vomiting stops, then slowly increase the amount of water and foods given over a 24-hour period.
Call your veterinarian.
Tips for muzzling your pet:
Use a strip of soft cloth, rope, necktie, or nylon stocking. Wrap around the nose, under the chin and tie behind the ears. Care must be taken when handling weak or injured pets; even normally docile pets can bite when in pain. Allow the pet to pant after handling by loosening or removing the muzzle. Do not use a muzzle in a case of vomiting. Cats and small pets may be difficult to muzzle. A towel placed around the head will help control small pets.
For injured or weak pets who are unable to walk, a door, board, blanket, or floor mat can be used as a stretcher.