This Pet First Aid Quick Reference Guide will show you how to respond to the most common First Aid emergencies and could potentially save your pet's life.
QUICK GUIDE TO FIRST AID FOR YOUR PET
The most important thing to remember is to contact your vet and get your pet examined as soon as possible.
Triage is the rapid assessment of the most important life threatening problems your injured pet might have. Determine whether it is:
1. Severe life threatening, requiring immediate attention at the vet (i.e. most of the following).
2. Severe non-life threatening, requiring immediate attention at the vet.
3. Minor Emergency not requiring vet attention unless your dog's condition worsens.
1. PATIENT ASSESSMENT
D | Danger | Beware of hazards such as road traffic, water or electricity |
R | Response | Both checking that the animal is responding otherwise they be in a coma or unconscious, and of course mounting a response yourself / giving first aid and getting your pet to the vet clinic |
A | Airway | Checking that there is nothing blocking the pet's throat and trachea - if there is then try to remove it. Then place the pet on its side in the rescue position with the neck extended to ensure a clear airflow to the lungs? |
B | Breathing | Check that the chest is rising and falling - if not, start Mouth-to-Muzzle Rescue Breathing |
C | Circulation | Check for a heartbeat or pulse. If not, start CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation) - chest compressions |
2. PHYSICAL HAZARDS
PHYSICAL HAZARDS | SIGNS | WHAT TO DO | NOTES |
Heat Stroke | High body temperature (> 39oC) or skin hot to touch. There is vomiting, excessive drooling, rapid panting, difficulty breathing, distress, loss of coordination, weakness and collapse. | Remove your pet from direct sunlight / remove from vehicle. Bring into cool shade /cool tiles / air conditioned room. Use cool water (never ice) to cool the animal's body - use towels soaked in water, scrape off the excess water. Cool the blood vessels in the neck and groin | NEVER use ICE or very cold water. Instead cool the animal with tepid water instead. |
Car Accident (Trauma/Fractures) | Limb deformities, unable to walk, collapsing chest. Might run away and hide. | carefully restrain the pet and carry it to the vet on a home- made stretcher. Apply a muzzle to prevent biting. | Apply a thick padded bandage (Robert Jones Bandage). Be very careful that the pet does not bite you, as it will be in pain. |
Bleeding | Blood loss, Pale mucous membranes, Weakness, lethargy | Direct digital pressure, pressure bandage, tourniquet, pressure points. | Beware of subtle bleeding such as internal organs or from the mucous membrane |
Choking | Distress, disorientation, bluish gums, pawing at mouth, wheezing, gagging, attempts at vomiting. | If your pet cannot breathe or has collapsed. Get it to the vet ASAP. If you can see something protruding from the mouth carefully try to grasp it with a pair of tweezers. Be extremely careful not to force it further down or to even get bitten. | Small animals. Can be lifted by the hind legs to help dislodge the object. Give 4-5 sharp blows to the shoulder blades the heel of your hand. Do not use excessive force particularly in small dogs and cats. |
Electrocution / Burns | Scorched fur, skin wounds (superficial to full thickness), blistering, fluid loss | Use clean gauze bandage or other non-stick dressing and get your pet to the vet ASAP. | Beware of any live power lines. Move the pet away from the electricity or source of heat. |
Bites / Wounds | Skin lacerations, bite marks and bleeding or pus. Could just be soreness or swelling (cellulitis). | Take your pet straight to the vet as there may be many more wounds and even worse damage than you can readily detect. | Again be careful the pet does not bite you. |
3. VENOMOUS BITES
VENOMOUS BITES | SIGNS | WHAT TO DO | NOTES |
Snake Bite | Weakness, collapse, shaking, vomiting, blood in urine, dilated pupils and paralysis | Immobilise your pet keep them as still and quiet as possible. Antivenoms may be available | It is important to identify the snake venom – this can be done with an intact (dead) snake or using a Snake venom detection test. |
Red Back Spider | Intense pain at bite site and sensitivity to touch. Muscular weakness and tremor. Cat may salivate excessively | Immobilise your pet keep them as still and quiet as possible. Antivenoms may be available | Make sure you are not providing a habitat that promotes these sorts of pests – i.e. piles of wood or storing other items in the back garden. |
Tick Bites (Paralysis Tick) | Gagging, breathing difficulty, weakness of the hindquarters progressing to. Collapse and paralysis | Finding tick early is crucial no they are more easily found by touch than by looking. Gently feel all over the pet's body including between the toes and around the neck. Remove the tick ASAP - use tweezers to remove the whole tick. | Use a modern anti-tick Preventative. Always take your pet to the vet even if they appear perfectly well because they could still have toxin in them that can cause paralysis and death days later. |
Bee / Insect Stings | Whining, drooling, hives, pawing at the face or eyes, and facial swelling, anaphylaxis and possibly death | Seek veterinary Attention. As some dogs have a habit of catching and eating flies, these dogs can have a severe reaction. Antihistamines are essential. | Always loosen or remove the collar of a dog that has been stung by a bee so that it won't asphyxiate. |
4. INGESTED POISONS
INGESTED POISONS | SIGNS | WHAT TO DO | NOTES |
Rodenticide | Dogs are usually poisoned beating the baits while eating the poisoned rodent generally poisons cats. Signs include weakness, pale gums, staggering, and bleeding. | With any kind of poison do not make your pet vomit unless directed to do so by your vet. | Collect and record any material consumed, collect any vomitus, and take your vet to your vet immediately. |
Snail Bait | Anxiety, vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive panting, excessive drooling, uncoordinated walk, muscle tremors and convulsions. | Under your veterinarian's direction induce your pet to vomit. Then take your pet immediately to the vet clinic where they can induce the pet to vomit and to give an antidote if appropriate. | Use an environmentally safe method such as a Belgian beer trap. Always take the packet with you to the vet. |
Toad | Rapid onset of excessive salivation, seizures, pawing at mouth, red gums. In cats only vomiting, hind limb lameness and trance-like stare. | Thoroughly rinse out pet's mouth with water (from hose) to remove all traces of toad venom. | Never aim the water down the throat. Toads are heading into the. Southern states i.e. NSW |
Xylitol | Weakness or lethargy, walking drunk, vomiting, seizures, diarrhoea, clotting problems. Depression, acute collapse and death have also been seen | Take your pet straight to the vet. | Use a form of sweetener other than xylitol. Syrup/honey if they've ingested Xylitol to keep their blood sugar up? |
General Treatment for Ingested Poisons
1. Do not induce vomiting unless the vet directs you to do so. By all means, try to get your pet to the vet ASAP. If the vet instructs you to induce your pet to vomit then you can use any of these: hydrogen peroxide 2.5 mL per 10 kg slowly by mouth, salty water. Be careful not to get this in your pet’s airway as you administer it.
2. Do not induce vomiting it is a caustic agent.
3. Treatment for External caustic agents
Wash your pet down with soap and water, using lot of fresh water to dilute the agent.
4. Can I give my dog bones to eat?
With the raw food movement growing, many vets are discouraging the feeding of raw meaty bones due to the risk of choking, tooth damage and fractures, as well as intestinal obstructions and bowel impactions. In addition to this, if an owner decides to feed bones then they often feed the wrong kind of bones: cattle bone should be avoided, as these are too dense for dogs to eat. Dogs often bury bones and then dig them up at a later date. This cannot be good for them.
FIRST AID KIT
Here is a very practical and useful kit to have on hand. You can keep it all in a plastic box within easy reach or in the car when you travel.
GENERAL ADVICE
Every pet owner should consider undertaking a pet first aid course such as the PetAware™ Pet First Aid and CPR course where you can learn special first aid techniques such as pet health assessment, Rescue Breathing and CPR in a practical hands-on way.
You will also learn the correct way to resuscitate your pet using a special “CasPeR” resuscitation mannequin dog. You will find more information on where you can undertake one of these courses here.
FIRST AID KIT
Here is a very practical and useful kit to have on hand. You can keep it all in a plastic box within easy reach or in the car when you travel.
- Towel - bath or beach towel for restraint
- Proper dog muzzle to fit your dog, otherwise gauze bandage or pantyhose for a makeshift one
- Wound dressing
- Gauze bandage
- Cotton wool
- Adhesive Bandage
- Rectal / clinical thermometer
GENERAL ADVICE
You will also learn the correct way to resuscitate your pet using a special “CasPeR” resuscitation mannequin dog. You will find more information on where you can undertake one of these courses here.
Dr. David Horan (BVSc, PG Dip Ed) has been a veterinary surgeon for 25 years and has worked for several years in Veterinary Emergency Practice at the NWAEC at Baulkham Hills, now part of ARH (Animal Referral Hospital). Over the last eighteen years David has chosen to work as a Mobile Vet in Sydney and all around the country, setting up the Vet2u.net Mobile Vet Clinic in 1996.
He has lectured to Veterinary Nurses and Animal Technicians around the state with NSW TAFE.
He is currently studying for his Masters Degree in Veterinary Education along with undertaking intensive training in Veterinary Acupuncture.
He's also the founder of the Animal Care Academy.