Pet First Aid Guide

Suspected Poisoning

If you suspect your pet has eaten something toxic, act quickly but calmly. Try to identify what was eaten and how much — take the packaging or a sample with you. Note the time of ingestion. Contact your vet immediately. Do not attempt to make your pet vomit unless specifically instructed to do so by a vet — inducing vomiting is not appropriate for all toxins and can cause additional harm in some cases.

In the UK, the Animal Poison Line (01202 509 000, charges apply) provides telephone triage for pet poisoning and can advise whether veterinary assessment is needed and how urgently. Keep your pet warm and calm, and limit their activity while you seek advice.

Heatstroke

Heatstroke (hyperthermia) is a life-threatening emergency, most commonly seen in dogs left in cars on warm days, or in flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds that struggle to pant effectively. Signs include heavy panting, drooling, distress, red gums, vomiting, and in severe cases, collapse and seizures.

Act immediately: move the pet to a cool, shaded area; apply cool (not cold) water to the coat, paws, and groin area; use a fan if available; offer small sips of water if the pet is conscious and able to swallow. Do not use ice-cold water or ice packs — rapid temperature change can cause shock.

Contact your vet while cooling the animal and transport them to the practice as quickly as possible. Heatstroke causes cellular damage that worsens rapidly and requires intravenous fluid therapy to manage.

Choking

Signs of choking in pets include pawing at the mouth, retching without vomiting, distress, noisy or laboured breathing, and blue-tinged gums. If you can clearly see the object and it is near the front of the mouth, you may be able to carefully remove it with your fingers — but never push it further in.

If the object is not visible or cannot be safely retrieved, do not put your fingers deep into the throat. For dogs, you can attempt a modified Heimlich manoeuvre: hold the dog around the abdomen (for larger dogs, kneel behind them), make a fist, and apply sharp upward pressure just below the ribcage. Do this no more than 4–5 times, then check the mouth again.

For cats and small animals, choking is harder to manage at home — go directly to an emergency vet. After any choking episode, even if the object was removed successfully, veterinary assessment is recommended.

Seizures (Fits)

A seizure can look frightening: your pet may paddle their legs, lose consciousness, salivate excessively, lose bladder or bowel control, or make unusual vocalisations. Most seizures last between 30 seconds and 2 minutes and stop on their own.

During a seizure, do not put your hand in your pet's mouth — they cannot swallow their tongue (this is a myth) and you will be bitten. Clear the area around the pet of anything they might injure themselves on. Dim the lights, reduce noise, and stay calm. Time the seizure. After it ends, keep the pet quiet, warm, and calm — they will be disoriented and may stumble.

A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes, multiple seizures within a short period (cluster seizures), or a first seizure are all reasons to contact your vet urgently. If your pet has a known seizure disorder, follow your vet's specific guidance.

Wounds and Bleeding

For minor cuts and grazes, clean the area gently with cooled, boiled water or saline solution. Apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth if the wound is bleeding. Monitor for signs of infection: increasing swelling, redness, warmth, discharge, or your pet becoming lethargic or feverish.

Deep wounds, puncture wounds (which can harbour bacteria deep in the tissue even if they look minor on the surface), wounds that will not stop bleeding after several minutes of firm pressure, wounds caused by animal bites, and wounds near the eyes, joints, or abdomen should all be assessed by a vet. Never use human antiseptic products like TCP, Dettol, or hydrogen peroxide on pet wounds — they are toxic to animals.

Building a Pet First Aid Kit

Having a basic pet first aid kit ready at home — and in the car when travelling with pets — means you can act quickly in an emergency. A useful kit includes: a tick removal hook; sterile saline solution; non-stick wound dressings and self-adhesive bandage; a rectal thermometer and lubricant; blunt-ended scissors; disposable gloves; a foil emergency blanket; the contact number for your vet and local out-of-hours emergency vet; and a copy of your pet's vaccination and health records.