Pet First Aid Basics: What Every Owner Should Know

Emergencies rarely announce themselves. Knowing a handful of basic first aid skills means you can act calmly and quickly in the minutes before you reach a vet — and those minutes can matter.

This guide is not a substitute for veterinary care. It is a starting point so you are not completely unprepared when something goes wrong.

Build a Pet First Aid Kit

Keep one at home and one in the car. A basic kit includes:

• Gauze pads and rolled gauze
• Adhesive bandage tape (not regular sticking plasters — they do not adhere to fur)
• Blunt-ended scissors and tweezers
• Digital rectal thermometer and a small amount of lubricant
• Disposable gloves
• Saline solution (for flushing wounds and eyes)
• A blanket or towel
• Your vet's number and the nearest 24-hour emergency clinic number
• A copy of your pet's health records

Restock the kit after every use and check it every six months.

Know Your Pet's Normal Vital Signs

You cannot recognise abnormal unless you know normal. Check these on a calm, resting pet and write them down.

Dogs:

• Resting heart rate: 60–140 bpm (smaller breeds sit higher)
• Breathing rate: 15–30 breaths per minute
• Temperature: 38.3–39.2°C (101–102.5°F)

Cats:

• Resting heart rate: 140–220 bpm
• Breathing rate: 20–30 breaths per minute
• Temperature: 38.1–39.2°C (100.5–102.5°F)

To check heart rate, place two fingers on the inside of the back leg at the groin (femoral artery) and count beats for 15 seconds, then multiply by 4.

Bleeding Wounds

1. Put on gloves.
2. Apply firm, steady pressure with a clean gauze pad. Do not remove the pad — if it soaks through, add another on top.
3. Bandage loosely to hold the pad in place.
4. Get to a vet. Do not try to clean a deep wound at home.

For minor surface cuts: rinse gently with saline, apply light pressure, and monitor for swelling, redness, or discharge over the following days.

Choking

Signs: pawing at the mouth, gagging without producing anything, laboured breathing, distress, blue-tinged gums.

For dogs, look into the mouth if you can do so safely. If you can see the object, try to remove it carefully — but do not push it further in. If you cannot remove it:

• For small dogs: hold the dog with their back against your chest and apply quick upward thrusts just below the ribcage (modified Heimlich).
• For large dogs: kneel behind them, place your hands just below the ribcage, and push up and forward firmly.

Cats are much more difficult to handle during choking. Prioritise getting to a vet fast.

Heatstroke

Signs: heavy panting, drooling, stumbling, vomiting, collapse, gums that are bright red or pale.

1. Move the animal into shade or a cool space immediately.
2. Apply cool (not ice-cold) water to the paws, armpits, and groin.
3. Let them drink small amounts of cool water if they are conscious.
4. Use a fan if available.
5. Get to a vet even if they seem to recover — internal damage may not be visible.

Never leave a pet in a parked car, even for a few minutes.

Seizures

Stay calm. Do not hold the pet down or put your hand near their mouth. Move furniture away to prevent injury. Time the seizure. When it stops, keep the pet warm and quiet, and call your vet immediately. A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes is a medical emergency — go straight to an emergency clinic.

Suspected Poisoning

Do not induce vomiting unless specifically instructed by your vet or a poison hotline. Some substances cause more damage coming back up.

Call your vet or an emergency animal poison line immediately. Have the packaging or substance name ready if you know what they ingested.

What to Do If You Suspect a Fracture

Do not try to splint a limb at home unless you have training. Keep the animal as still as possible, support the body (not the injured limb), and get to a vet. Muzzle a dog gently if they are in enough pain to bite — even the calmest animal may snap when hurt.

The Most Important Step

Save your vet's number and the nearest 24-hour emergency clinic in your phone now, before you ever need them. Add the address too, so you can navigate straight there without searching in a panic.

A pet health record binder is the fastest way to give an emergency vet everything they need the moment you walk in.