Pet First Aid: Essential Skills Every Pet Owner Should Know

Accidents happen, and knowing basic first aid can help stabilize your pet until you reach a veterinarian. While first aid is never a substitute for professional care, these skills can save precious time in an emergency. For guidance on recognizing when your pet needs urgent care, see our guide on signs your dog needs to see the vet.

Building a Pet First Aid Kit

Keep these supplies handy:

Essential Items

• Gauze pads and rolls — For wounds and bandaging
• Self-adhesive bandage wrap — Stays in place without tape
• Medical tape — For securing bandages
• Blunt-end scissors — For cutting fur and bandages
• Tweezers — For removing splinters or ticks
• Digital thermometer — Rectal type for accurate readings
• Disposable gloves — Protect yourself and maintain cleanliness
• Saline solution — For flushing wounds and eyes
• Hydrogen peroxide 3% — To induce vomiting (only if instructed by vet/poison control)
• Styptic powder — For minor nail bleeding
• Emergency blanket — For warmth and shock
• Muzzle — Even gentle pets may bite when in pain

Important Information to Include

• Your vet's phone number
• Emergency vet clinic address and number
• Pet poison control: ASPCA (888-426-4435)
• Your pet's medical records
• Recent photo of your pet

Recognizing Emergencies

Call Your Vet Immediately For:

• Difficulty breathing
• Collapse or unconsciousness
• Suspected broken bones
• Severe bleeding
• Seizures lasting more than 2 minutes
• Suspected poisoning
• Inability to urinate
• Bloated, hard abdomen
• Heatstroke
• Eye injuries
• Snake or animal bites

Common First Aid Scenarios

Cuts and Wounds

Minor Cuts:

1. Apply gentle pressure with clean gauze to stop bleeding
2. Clean with saline solution or clean water
3. Apply antibiotic ointment (pet-safe)
4. Cover with non-stick bandage
5. Monitor for infection

Deep or Severe Wounds:

1. Apply firm pressure to control bleeding
2. Don't remove embedded objects
3. Keep the pet calm and still
4. Get to a vet immediately

Bleeding Nails

1. Apply styptic powder or cornstarch
2. Press firmly for 30 seconds
3. Keep the pet calm
4. If bleeding doesn't stop in 10 minutes, see a vet

Burns

Minor Burns:

1. Flush with cool (not cold) water for 10-20 minutes
2. Do not apply butter, oil, or ointments
3. Cover loosely with non-stick bandage
4. Seek veterinary care

Severe Burns:

1. Do not touch the burned area
2. Cover loosely with clean, damp cloth
3. Treat for shock (keep warm, quiet)
4. Get emergency veterinary care

Choking

If your pet is choking:

1. Stay calm — panic spreads to your pet
2. Open mouth carefully and look for the object
3. If visible, try to remove with tweezers (be careful not to push deeper)
4. For dogs: Use the Heimlich maneuver (thrust upward just behind the ribs)
5. For cats: Hold upside down, give 4 sharp taps between shoulder blades
6. Seek veterinary care even if object is dislodged

Heatstroke

Signs:

• Excessive panting
• Drooling
• Bright red tongue
• Vomiting
• Collapse

Treatment:

1. Move to cool area immediately
2. Apply cool (not cold) water to paw pads, ears, and belly
3. Offer small amounts of cool water
4. Place cool, wet towels on the body
5. Do not use ice — it can cause shock
6. Get to a vet immediately — heatstroke is life-threatening

Poisoning

If you suspect poisoning:

1. Try to identify what they ingested
2. Call pet poison control or your vet immediately
3. Do not induce vomiting unless instructed to
4. Bring packaging/plant sample to the vet
5. Note when and how much was consumed

Common toxins:

• Chocolate
• Xylitol (artificial sweetener)
• Grapes and raisins
• Certain houseplants (lilies, sago palm)
• Human medications
• Rodent poison
• Antifreeze

Seizures

During a seizure:

1. Stay calm
2. Move objects away that could hurt them
3. Do not put anything in their mouth
4. Do not restrain them
5. Time the seizure
6. Keep the room quiet and dim

After the seizure:

1. Speak softly and comfort them
2. Keep them warm
3. Note duration and symptoms
4. Call your vet

Pet CPR Basics

Check for breathing and pulse:

• Watch for chest movement
• Feel for pulse on inner thigh (femoral artery)

If no breathing but has pulse:

1. Extend the neck to open airway
2. Close mouth, seal lips around nose
3. Give 2 rescue breaths
4. Continue: 10-12 breaths per minute

If no pulse:

1. Lay pet on right side
2. For dogs: Compress chest at heart (behind elbow)
3. For cats: One-hand compression, thumb on one side, fingers on other
4. Rate: 100-120 compressions per minute
5. 30 compressions : 2 breaths
6. Continue until breathing resumes or you reach help

Prevention Is Best

• Pet-proof your home
• Keep toxic substances secured
• Supervise outdoor time
• Learn your pet's normal vital signs
• Consider a pet first aid course
• Keep up with regular vet visits — see our tips on preparing for vet visits

When In Doubt

First aid buys time, but professional care saves lives. When in doubt, always err on the side of caution and contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital.

Save emergency numbers in your phone now — you'll be glad you did.

Sources

• American Red Cross. "Cat and Dog First Aid"
• ASPCA. "Animal Poison Control"
• American Veterinary Medical Association. "First Aid Tips for Pet Owners"
• PetMD. "Pet First Aid: An Overview"