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Owners that have a basic knowledge of pet first aid are better able to give their pet a fighting
chance in an emergency. Basic first aid skills can help keep your pet alive, alleviate pain and suffering and prevent further
harm when transporting the animal to the veterinarian or hospital.
Don’t panic! Protect yourself from injury -
prepare in advance!
When faced with an injured or severely
ill pet, take a moment and assess the situation. Decide if there is danger of further injury to the animal or first aid giver.
Ensure that you will not be injured, either by the surroundings or the animal. Determine if the pet needs to be moved immediately.
How you approach an injured pet safely is important. Animals may respond to pain and fear instinctively and react with aggression.
You cannot assume a docile pet will not bite. Try to remain calm and speak in a soothing voice. Towels may be used to cover
the pet’s head to make him feel safer while you transport him. When appropriate or required to avoid bites, handmade
muzzles may be used, use a strip of soft cloth, rope, necktie or stocking. Wrap around the nose, under the chin and tie behind
the ears - make sure the animal is able to pant) are helpful in avoiding bites. Prepare in advance by familiarizing yourself
with the location and phone numbers of emergency animal care facilities.
Have an Animal First Aid Kit on hand
These can be bought, or make your own and include:
Pet first aid manual
Roll cotton
Cotton balls/gauze pads
1” white tape
Elastic bandage wrap
Hydrogen peroxide
Antibiotic ointment/wipes
Scissors
Eyewash/eye ointment
Silver nitrate
Ear swabs
Tweezers
Oral syringes
Balanced electrolyte fluid
Plastic gloves
Pet thermometer
Instant ice pack
Muzzle
*check expiry dates on all medications to ensure efficacy
Basic First Aid Procedures
All of the following situations require immediate veterinary care:
| Wounds
Muzzle animal if required
Wash your hands thoroughly, if possible
With blunt point scissors, gently clip hair from margins of wound
Clean the wound with a gentle stream of cold water
Apply antibacterial cream or solution
Wrap large wounds to keep them clean. Apply pressure to profusely bleeding
wounds
See your vet as the wound may become infected and require antibiotics
Bleeding (external)
- Apply firm direct pressure to areas with a thick gauze pad until
bleeding stops
Bleeding (internal)
- Symptoms include bleeding from the nose, mouth, rectum, coughing blood,
blood in urine, pale gums, collapse, rapid or weak pulse
- Keep animal as warm and as quiet as possible
Shock
- Symptoms include weak pulse, shallow breathing, nervousness, dazed appearance
- Often accompanies severe injury or extreme fright
- Keep animal restrained, quiet and warm
- If unconscious, keep head level with the rest of body
Burns (chemical)
- Muzzle animal
- Flush burn immediately with large quantities of cold water
Burns (severe)
- Muzzle animal
- Apply ice water compresses onto burn area
- Bring to the veterinarian
Choking
- Signs of choking include pawing at the mouth, gagging, drooling, difficulty
breathing
- Force mouth open, pull tongue forward and inspect mouth and throat
- If pet is cooperative and the object can be seen, grasp with pliers and
remove
- Small dogs and cats: If the object is lodged hold the animal with its head
down and hind quarters elevated and give 3-4 sharp taps to the chest
- Large dogs: Stand over the dog with arms around the body, just behind the
last ribs. Make a fist with other hand and exert a quick, forward and upward thrust. Repeat.
- Give mouth to nose respiration
Mouth to nose respiration
- Clear mouth of any foreign object or vomit
- Clamp animal’s muzzle closed with hands
- Exhale into animal’s nose at a rate of 12-15 breaths per minute
- Combine with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
- Lay animal on its side on a flat surface
- Hold muzzle with one hand and begin mouth to nose respiration
- Place heel of other hand on the chest wall behind the shoulder to apply
cardiac massage
- Compress chest wall rhythmically at 60-80 times a minute
- For small dogs and cats, place fingers under the chest wall. Place thumb
over the chest and compress chest from both sides
Fracture
- Symptoms include pain, limb at an odd angle or inability to use a limb
- Muzzle pet and look for bleeding, if you can control bleeding without causing
further injury do so
- Do NOT try to set the fracture by pulling or tugging at limb
- Transport to the veterinarian immediately, supporting the injured part
as best you can
Poisoning
Symptoms include convulsions, diarrhea, salivation, weakness, depression
pain
Record what the pet ingested and how much
Call your veterinarian or poison control center
Do not try to induce vomiting
If toxins are on the skin coat, ask for directions on if and how to wash
them off
Heatstroke
- Symptoms include rapid or laboured breathing, vomiting, high body temperature,
collapse
- Place animal in a tub of cool water, or gently wrap in a cool wet towel
- Do not overcool animal. Stop when rectal temperature reaches 103F
- Call your veterinarian
These situations may
not require immediate veterinarian care, but it is best to consult your doctor to be sure:
Vomiting
- Withhold food for 12-14 hours
- Then slowly increase the amount of water and foods given over a 24 hour
period
- Call your veterinarian
Diarrhea
- Withhold food for 12-14 hours, but not water
- At home treatments can make things worse - consult your veterinarian
Be safe, not sorry
Responsible pet
owners keep their pets from harm by keeping them close at all times while outdoors, removing dangerous substances from their
reach in the home, keeping all medical files and vaccines up-to-date and ensuring pets are clearly identified. It is also
beneficial in an emergency situation if your pet is healthy and happy, so make sure they get a nutritional diet, plenty of
exercise and of course, lots of love.
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