Pet first aid basics

First aid is only the first step

In an emergency, the most important actions are to stay calm, keep yourself safe and get your pet to a vet. The steps in this guide are meant to help in the minutes before and during that journey. They are not treatments in themselves, and even a pet who seems to recover should still be checked.

Ring the practice before you set off if you can. They can give advice over the phone, tell you whether to come straight in and get ready for your arrival. If you are unsure whether something is an emergency, our guide on signs your pet needs a vet can help, but when in doubt, call.

A simple first-aid kit

You do not need much. Keep these together in a box at home and a smaller version in the car:

• Your vet's number and the nearest out-of-hours vet's number and address
• Non-stick wound dressings and sterile gauze swabs
• Conforming bandage and self-adhesive bandage
• Blunt-ended scissors
• Saline solution for rinsing wounds or eyes
• Disposable gloves
• A clean towel or blanket
• A tick removal tool
• Tweezers
• A soft muzzle sized for your dog
• A pet carrier for cats and small dogs
• A torch

Do not keep human painkillers in the kit for your pet. Many common human medicines are dangerous to dogs and cats, so never give any medication unless your vet tells you to.

Keeping yourself safe

A frightened or hurting pet may bite or scratch, even if they are normally gentle. Approach slowly, speak quietly and avoid putting your face near theirs.

For dogs, a muzzle can protect you while you help them, but only use one if your dog is breathing normally, is not vomiting and does not have an injury to the face or mouth. Never leave a muzzled dog unattended. Cats can often be handled more safely by gently wrapping them in a thick towel, leaving the head free.

If at any point you feel you cannot handle your pet safely, keep them as calm and contained as you can and call your vet for advice.

• Normal

  Healthy pink

  Moist and salmon-pink. Pressed with a finger, colour returns within about two seconds.

• Vet now

  Pale or white

  Can be a sign of shock, blood loss or anaemia.

• Vet now

  Blue or grey

  Can mean they aren't getting enough oxygen.

• Vet now

  Bright red

  Can be seen with heatstroke or some poisonings.

• Vet today

  Yellow

  Can be a sign of liver or blood problems.

Some dogs and cats have naturally dark or patchy gums — check the inside of the lower lip or eyelid instead, and learn what's normal for your pet while they're well.

Minor cuts and grazes

For a small, shallow cut that is not bleeding heavily:

• Gently rinse it with saline or clean lukewarm water
• Pat dry with clean gauze
• Cover with a non-stick dressing if it is in a place that can be bandaged
• Stop your pet licking it where possible

Call your vet if the wound is deep, gaping, longer than a centimetre or so, caused by a bite, or near the eye. Bite wounds, particularly in cats, often look small but can become infected under the skin.

Bleeding

If a wound is bleeding heavily, press firmly on it with a clean pad or towel and keep pressing. If blood soaks through, add more padding on top rather than removing the first layer. Keep your pet as still as you can and go to a vet straight away, ideally with someone else driving while you keep up the pressure.

Do not try to apply a tight tourniquet. Heavy bleeding is an emergency.

Burns and scalds

Cool the area with cool running water, or wet cloths if that is easier, for several minutes. Do not use ice, creams, butter or ointments. Cover loosely with a clean, damp, non-fluffy cloth and contact your vet. Burns can be more serious than they look at first, and chemical burns need advice straight away; wear gloves to protect yourself.

Suspected poisoning

If you think your pet has eaten or touched something harmful:

• Call your vet straight away, even if your pet seems fine
• Move your pet away from the source
• Keep the packaging, label or a sample of what was eaten, and bring it with you
• Note roughly how much was eaten and when

Do not make your pet sick unless a vet specifically tells you to. Some substances do more harm coming back up, and home methods can be dangerous. Our toxic foods page lists common household risks so you can prevent problems in the first place.

Heatstroke

Heatstroke is an emergency. Signs include heavy panting, drooling, weakness, wobbliness, bright red or pale gums, vomiting and collapse.

• Move your pet to a cool, shaded place
• Pour cool, not ice-cold, water over them, especially the body and legs
• Use a fan or a breeze if available
• Offer small amounts of water if they are alert and want to drink
• Call your vet and get there as soon as possible, continuing to cool on the way

Very cold water or ice can make cooling less effective, so cool and steady is the aim.

Choking

A pet who is choking may paw at the mouth, gag, struggle to breathe or have blue-tinged gums. This is an emergency, and the safest step is usually to get to a vet immediately while someone calls ahead.

If you can clearly see an object and your pet is calm enough, you may be able to remove it carefully, but take great care not to push it further down, and do not risk being bitten. Do not put your fingers deep into the throat blindly. Ask your vet to show you what to do in advance; some practices and organisations run pet first-aid courses.

Transporting an injured pet

Moving your pet carefully can prevent further injury:

• Cats and small dogs can go in a carrier or a box lined with a towel
• Larger dogs can be carried on a blanket or board used as a stretcher, with a person at each end
• Support the head and back, and keep movement to a minimum if you suspect a fracture or spinal injury
• Keep them warm with a blanket unless they are overheated
• Drive steadily and phone ahead so the team is ready

When to call your vet

Call immediately for breathing difficulty, collapse, heavy bleeding, suspected poisoning, heatstroke, seizures, a swollen tight belly, injury after a road accident, or any sign of severe pain. For anything else that worries you, a phone call costs little, and your vet would always rather hear from you early.