Dog first aid

Knowing basic first aid could prove vitally important if your pet has an accident or suddenly falls ill. If something happens to your dog, remember to stay calm and contact a vet as soon as possible.

We'd recommend speaking to your vet for specific first aid advice for your dog depending on their breed, size and general health. Please never put yourself in danger while helping your pet and always contact a vet as quickly as you can.

While first aid may save your pet's life, it should never be considered a substitute for professional veterinary treatment.

Choking

Symptoms of choking can include:

Difficulty breathing
Excessive pawing at the month
Choking sounds when breathing or coughing
Blue lips or tongue

How to remove the blockage

If your dog is choking look into their mouth to see if anything is visible. If you see something then gently try to remove it but be careful not to push it further down their throat or be bitten.

If your pet collapses or you can't remove the object then place both hands on the side of your dog's rib cage and apply firm, quick pressure, or lay them on their side and strike the rib cage firmly with the palm of your hand three or four times. Repeat until it dislodges or you arrive at the vets.

Not breathing

If your pet stops breathing have someone call an emergency vet while you give first aid:

Check to see if your pet is conscious and has a heartbeat
Open your pet's airway by gently grasping his tongue and pulling it forward out of the month until it's flat
Check their throat to see if there are any blockages
Close your pet's mouth and breath into his nose until you see his chest expand, continue once every five seconds - if your pet doesn't regain consciousness get them to a vet as soon as possible.

No heartbeat

Have someone call a vet immediately while you begin emergency first aid:

Feel and listen for a heartbeat
Gently lay your dog on his side on a firm surface
Place one hand under his chest for support and place the other over the heart (just behind the left front elbow)
Press down on your pet's heart 100-120 times per minute (press hard for larger animals and with less force for smaller ones)
Alternate every 30 compressions with two rescue breaths
Continue until you hear or feel a heartbeat or you have arrived at a vet.

Heatstroke

Symptoms of heatstroke include:

Panting
Difficulty breathing
Excessive drooling
Increased temperature
Reddened gums
Rapid heart rate
Collapse

Cool your pet down

Call your vet immediately and follow advice on how to cool down your pet such as laying a damp towel over their body and applying cool (not cold) water to their paws and ear flaps. Move your pet away from any heat source and, if possible, open windows in your car to allow moving air to cool your pet slowly.

Shock

An animal could suffer shock as a result of severe injury or disease, or extreme fright. Possible symptoms include:

A weak pulse
Shallow breathing
Collapsed
Dazed eyes

Ensure your pet's head is level with the rest of his body and transport him to the vet immediately. You can use a towel, blanket or muzzle to avoid being bitten if your dog is in pain.

Poisoning

If you believe your pet has been exposed to something harmful contact your vet as soon as possible. Symptoms of poisoning can include:

Vomiting and diarrhoea
Strange or unusual behaviour
loss of appetite
Pale gums
Seizures
Lethargy and collapse

Take note of the poison and check the label

Call the vet if you suspect your pet has eaten poison and, if you know what product it is, check the label for any instructions on what to do. Take it with you to the vet and inform them what and how much your pet may have consumed.

Seizures

Seizures can be a sign of epilepsy or another neurological disorder and possible symptoms can include:

Signs of stress or worry
Shaking
Itching
Trembling and paddling
Toileting
Foaming at the mouth

Prevent against further injury

Contact your vet as soon as you can and time the seizure. Keep any object that may harm your pet away from them, such as furniture. Use a blanket to stop injury if they are knocking against hard surfaces.

Don't try to restrain your pet, keep the area quiet and calm, darken the room and avoid bright or flickering lights. When the seizure stops, keep your pet as quiet as possible.

Burns

Call the vet and flush the burn (thermal or chemical) with large quantities of cold water. If it's a chemical burn, be careful not to flush any of the substances in their eyes.

Internal bleeding

Internal bleeding can be very serious, difficult to spot and requires immediate attention. Possible symptoms can include:

Pale gums
Weak rapid pulse
Swollen abdomen
Collapse
Bleeding from the nose, mouth or rectum

Call the vet and transport your pet to the nearest emergency vet immediately while keeping them as warm and quiet as possible.

Bleeding

Severe bleeding can quickly become life-threatening. Contact your vet immediately and keep your pet calm.

How to stem the bleeding

Press a clean tea towel over the wound
Hold pressure on the wound for a minimum of three minutes and then check
Apply a bandage and keep pressure on the wound (loosen pressure for 20 seconds every 15-20 minutes)

Transport your animal to the vet as soon as possible.

Fractures

Possible symptoms of a fracture can include swelling to the area or signs of pain such as limping or whining.

Keep your pet inside and limit their movement by putting them in a crate while you call the vet. If he cannot walk then gently lay him on a flat surface such as a board or stretcher to transport them to the vet.