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Pet First Aid Basics

Essential first aid knowledge every pet owner should have. Learn how to respond to common emergencies and provide immediate care before reaching a veterinarian.

Emergency Preparation

Pet First Aid Kit Essentials

  • Gauze pads and rolls - For bandaging wounds
  • Adhesive tape - Medical tape that sticks to itself
  • Cotton balls and swabs - For cleaning wounds
  • Hydrogen peroxide (3%) - To induce vomiting (ONLY if instructed by vet)
  • Digital thermometer - Rectal thermometer for pets
  • Tweezers and scissors - For removing debris or cutting bandages
  • Disposable gloves - Protect yourself and prevent infection
  • Towels and blankets - For warmth and transporting injured pets
  • Muzzle or soft cloth - Even gentle pets may bite when injured
  • Emergency contact numbers - Your vet and nearest emergency clinic

Important: Keep your vet's phone number and the nearest 24-hour emergency clinic number easily accessible. Program them into your phone and keep a printed copy in your first aid kit.

Common Pet Emergencies & First Aid

Bleeding (External)

What to do:

  1. Apply direct pressure to the wound with clean gauze or cloth
  2. If blood soaks through, add more gauze on top (don't remove the first layer)
  3. Maintain pressure for 3-5 minutes
  4. If bleeding doesn't stop after 5 minutes, seek emergency veterinary care immediately
  5. Once bleeding stops, bandage the wound if possible

⚠️ Seek immediate vet care if: Bleeding is profuse, won't stop after 5 minutes, or is from a major artery.

Choking

Signs: Gagging, pawing at mouth, difficulty breathing, blue gums

What to do:

  1. Look inside the mouth for visible objects
  2. If you can see it, try to remove it with your fingers or tweezers (be careful not to push it deeper)
  3. If the pet is small, hold them upside down by their hind legs and give 5 firm back blows
  4. For larger dogs, perform modified Heimlich: place fist behind rib cage, thrust upward and forward 5 times
  5. Check mouth again for dislodged object
  6. Go to emergency vet immediately, even if object is removed

⚠️ This is a life-threatening emergency - call vet while attempting to help!

Poisoning / Toxin Ingestion

Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, seizures, weakness, difficulty breathing

What to do:

  1. Identify what was ingested (bring packaging/substance with you)
  2. Call your vet or Pet Poison Helpline immediately: (855) 764-7661
  3. DO NOT induce vomiting unless instructed by a veterinarian
  4. If substance is on fur/skin, rinse with water (wear gloves)
  5. Keep pet calm and quiet
  6. Transport to emergency vet immediately

⚠️ Never induce vomiting if pet ingested: corrosive substances, petroleum products, or is unconscious/seizing.

Use our toxicity calculators: Chocolate, Onion/Garlic

Heatstroke

Signs: Heavy panting, drooling, red gums, vomiting, collapse, rapid heartbeat

What to do:

  1. Move pet to cool area immediately
  2. Apply cool (not ice cold) water to paws, belly, and armpits
  3. Offer small amounts of cool water to drink (don't force)
  4. Use a fan to improve air circulation
  5. Take rectal temperature every 5 minutes (stop cooling when temp reaches 103°F/39.4°C)
  6. Transport to vet immediately, even if pet seems to recover

⚠️ Heatstroke can cause organ failure - always see a vet even if symptoms improve.

Seizures

Signs: Uncontrolled shaking, loss of consciousness, drooling, paddling legs

What to do:

  1. DO NOT put your hands near the pet's mouth (they cannot swallow their tongue)
  2. Clear area of objects pet could hit
  3. Turn off lights and reduce noise
  4. Note the time the seizure started
  5. If seizure lasts more than 5 minutes or pet has multiple seizures, this is an emergency
  6. After seizure ends, keep pet calm and comfortable
  7. Contact your veterinarian for guidance

⚠️ Seek emergency care if: Seizure lasts over 5 minutes, multiple seizures occur, or it's the pet's first seizure.

Fractures (Broken Bones)

Signs: Limping, inability to bear weight, visible deformity, swelling, pain

What to do:

  1. Keep pet as still as possible
  2. DO NOT try to set the bone or apply a splint (can cause more damage)
  3. If pet is small, place on firm board or in carrier for transport
  4. For suspected spinal injury, keep pet completely flat
  5. Muzzle if necessary (injured pets may bite from pain)
  6. Transport to emergency vet immediately

⚠️ Suspected spinal injuries require immediate emergency care - improper handling can cause paralysis.

Pet CPR Basics

⚠️ CPR should only be performed if your pet is unconscious and not breathing. Consider taking a pet first aid class to learn proper technique.

Check for Breathing & Heartbeat

  1. Look for chest movement
  2. Feel for breath on your cheek
  3. Check for pulse on inside of thigh where leg meets body

If No Breathing or Heartbeat:

  1. Airway: Extend neck, check for obstructions in mouth/throat
  2. Breathing: Close pet's mouth, breathe into nose (2 breaths, watch chest rise)
  3. Compressions:
    • Lay pet on right side on firm surface
    • Place hands on widest part of chest
    • Compress chest 1/3 to 1/2 of its width
    • Dogs over 30 lbs: 100-120 compressions per minute, 1 breath every 30 compressions
    • Dogs under 30 lbs & cats: 120-150 compressions per minute, 1 breath every 15 compressions
  4. Check for pulse/breathing every 2 minutes
  5. Continue until pet breathes on their own or you reach emergency vet

Have someone call the emergency vet while you perform CPR. Transport immediately while continuing CPR if possible.

Normal Vital Signs

Dogs

  • Temperature: 101-102.5°F (38.3-39.2°C)
  • Heart rate:
    • Small dogs: 100-140 bpm
    • Large dogs: 60-100 bpm
  • Respiratory rate: 10-30 breaths per minute
  • Capillary refill: Less than 2 seconds (press gum, should return to pink quickly)
  • Gum color: Pink and moist

Cats

  • Temperature: 100.5-102.5°F (38-39.2°C)
  • Heart rate: 140-220 bpm
  • Respiratory rate: 20-30 breaths per minute
  • Capillary refill: Less than 2 seconds
  • Gum color: Pink and moist

Tip: Learn your pet's normal vital signs when they're healthy so you can recognize when something is wrong. Practice checking temperature, pulse, and breathing when your pet is calm.

When to Seek Emergency Veterinary Care

Contact your veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately if your pet shows any of these signs:

  • Difficulty breathing or choking
  • Unconsciousness or collapse
  • Seizures or tremors
  • Profuse bleeding that won't stop
  • Bloated, hard abdomen
  • Suspected poisoning or toxin ingestion
  • Severe pain or distress
  • Broken bones or suspected spinal injury
  • Eye injuries
  • Heatstroke symptoms
  • Pale or blue gums
  • Unable to urinate or defecate

When in doubt, call your veterinarian. It's always better to be safe and get professional advice.

For more health calculators and pet care resources, visit FamilyTreeCraft.

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