Pet First Aid Basics for Dogs and Cats: What to Do Before You Reach the Vet
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Quick answer: pet first aid is about keeping an animal stable and getting it to a veterinarian quickly, not replacing veterinary care. Save your vet, the nearest 24-hour emergency animal hospital and an animal poison control number in your phone. Approach an injured pet calmly, protect yourself from bites, control bleeding with direct pressure, keep a pet with suspected heatstroke cooling with cool (not ice cold) water on the way to the vet, and never make a pet vomit unless a veterinarian or poison control tells you to. Unproductive retching with a swollen belly in a dog and straining to urinate with little or no urine in a male cat are emergencies.
Pets get hurt and sick at inconvenient times, often at night or on a holiday when the usual clinic is closed. In an apartment, you may also be dealing with elevators, stairs, parking and a ride to an emergency hospital across town. A little preparation shortens that time. This guide sits within our emergency first aid guide and pairs with our pet emergency plan for apartment dwellers.
Sources: American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) pet first aid guidance; American Red Cross pet first aid materials; ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxin lists; Merck Veterinary Manual for normal vital sign ranges. This is general information, not veterinary advice. Always contact a veterinarian about an injured or sick animal.
Prepare Before Anything Happens
Numbers to Save Now
- Your regular veterinarian
- The nearest 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital, with its address
- An animal poison control line, such as the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (both may charge a consultation fee)
- A pet-friendly ride option or a neighbor with a car, if you do not drive
Know Your Pet’s Normal
Checking your pet when it is healthy makes it easier to spot problems. AVMA suggests learning your pet’s normal breathing, heart rate, gum color and behavior.
| Check | Typical healthy range or sign |
|---|---|
| Rectal temperature, dog | About 101 to 102.5 °F |
| Rectal temperature, cat | About 100.5 to 102.5 °F |
| Gum color | Pink and moist in most pets (some breeds have pigmented gums) |
| Capillary refill | Pressed gum turns pink again in about 1 to 2 seconds |
| Breathing at rest | Calm and quiet; open-mouth breathing in a cat is a warning sign |
Pale, white, blue or gray gums suggest a serious problem and need a vet right away.
Build a Pet First Aid Kit
Keep it with or near your household kit. Our guide to a first aid kit for a small apartment covers the human side.
- Gauze pads and rolls, non-stick pads and self-adhering bandage wrap (which does not stick to fur)
- Adhesive tape and blunt-tip scissors
- Digital thermometer and water-based lubricant
- Sterile saline for flushing eyes and wounds
- Disposable gloves
- Tweezers and a tick removal tool
- A soft muzzle sized for your dog, or a strip of gauze to make one
- A towel or blanket for handling and carrying
- An extra leash and a slip lead
- A copy of vaccination and medical records and a recent photo
- Any medicines your pet takes, with your vet’s instructions
Do not add human pain relievers to a pet kit. Common human medicines such as ibuprofen, naproxen and acetaminophen can seriously harm pets, and acetaminophen is especially dangerous to cats.
Approaching and Handling an Injured Pet
Pain and fear can make even the gentlest pet bite or scratch.
- Stay calm and speak quietly. Move slowly.
- Protect your face. Do not put your face close to an injured animal’s mouth.
- Muzzle a dog if needed, but never if the dog is vomiting, having trouble breathing or has an injury to the mouth.
- Wrap a cat in a towel, leaving the head out, to control claws.
- Support the body when lifting. Move a large dog on a board, blanket or sturdy towel, keeping the back as straight as possible if you suspect a spine injury.
- Use a carrier for cats and small dogs, and keep it covered to reduce stress.
Bleeding and Wounds
- Apply direct pressure with a clean gauze pad or cloth for several minutes.
- Add more gauze on top if blood soaks through; do not remove the first layer.
- Bandage loosely enough that you can slip a finger under the wrap. Tight bandages can cut off circulation.
- Seek care quickly for deep wounds, wounds on the chest or abdomen, heavy bleeding, punctures or bite wounds. Bite wounds often look small but can be deep and prone to infection.
Avoid using tourniquets unless a veterinary professional advises you, as they can cause serious harm if used incorrectly. If a pet was bitten by another animal, our article on animal bites and rabies explains the human side if you were bitten too.
Poisoning
Poisonings are among the most common pet emergencies. ASPCA lists of common toxins include:
| Toxin | Main risk |
|---|---|
| Chocolate | Dogs especially; darker chocolate is more dangerous |
| Xylitol (in some gum, candy, peanut butter and baked goods) | Dangerous drop in blood sugar and liver injury in dogs |
| Grapes and raisins | Kidney injury in dogs |
| Onions, garlic, chives | Damage to red blood cells in dogs and cats |
| Lilies (true lilies and daylilies) | Kidney failure in cats, even from small amounts or pollen |
| Antifreeze (ethylene glycol) | Kidney failure; sweet taste attracts pets |
| Rodent poisons | Bleeding, seizures or kidney injury depending on type |
| Human medicines | Many, including pain relievers, ADHD medicines and antidepressants |
| Cannabis products | Wobbliness, lethargy and other signs |
What to Do
- Remove the pet from the source and keep the package or plant.
- Call your vet, an emergency hospital or animal poison control right away, even if your pet seems fine.
- Do not induce vomiting unless a veterinarian or poison control tells you to. Some substances cause more damage coming back up.
- Bring the packaging to the vet.
Heatstroke
Pets cool mainly by panting, which works poorly in hot, humid weather. Flat-faced breeds, overweight pets and older animals are at greater risk. Never leave a pet in a parked car.
Warning signs: heavy panting, thick drool, bright red or pale gums, weakness, vomiting, collapse and seizures.
What to do:
- Move the pet to shade or air conditioning.
- Wet the pet with cool, not ice cold, water and use a fan.
- Offer small amounts of water if the pet is alert.
- Head to a vet immediately, continuing to cool on the way.
Choking and Breathing Problems
A choking pet may paw at its mouth, gag, struggle to breathe or have blue gums.
- If you can safely see the object, try to remove it carefully with your fingers or tweezers, being careful not to push it deeper.
- If the pet collapses or cannot breathe, call the emergency vet on the way and follow their instructions. Pet first aid classes teach techniques adapted for dogs and cats.
- Even if you remove the object, have a vet check for injuries to the throat.
Coughing after eating, a honking cough or labored breathing should all be checked by a vet.
Seizures in Pets
Watching a pet have a seizure is frightening, but your job is mainly to keep the animal safe until it ends.
- Keep your hands away from the mouth. Pets do not swallow their tongues, and a seizing animal can bite hard without meaning to.
- Move furniture and objects away, and keep the pet away from stairs and balconies.
- Dim lights and keep noise low.
- Time the seizure. Note when it starts and stops, and record a video if you can; it helps the vet.
- Keep the pet cool if the seizure goes on, since long seizures can raise body temperature.
Call your vet after any first seizure. Seek emergency care if a seizure lasts more than a few minutes, if seizures come one after another or if the pet does not recover normally afterward.
Burns, Eye Injuries and Ticks
Burns
Pets can be burned by hot liquids, stoves, heaters, chemicals and electrical cords. Cool a heat burn with cool water for several minutes, cover it loosely with a clean, damp cloth and call your vet. For a chemical burn, wear gloves and flush with plenty of water. Cord-chewing pets with burns in the mouth may also have breathing problems and need immediate care.
Eye Injuries
Squinting, pawing at the eye, redness, discharge or a visible object all need attention. Gently flush with sterile saline if a foreign body or chemical may be present. Do not try to pull out anything stuck in the eye. Prevent rubbing and see a vet promptly, because eye injuries can worsen quickly.
Ticks
Grasp the tick close to the skin with fine tweezers or a tick tool and pull upward with steady pressure. Clean the area and wash your hands. Save the tick in a sealed bag if your vet wants to identify it, and ask about tick prevention appropriate for your area.
Emergencies That Need Immediate Veterinary Care
Bloat (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus) in Dogs
Large, deep-chested dogs such as Great Danes, German Shepherds and Standard Poodles are at higher risk. The stomach fills with gas and may twist. Signs include retching without bringing anything up, a swollen or tight belly, restlessness, drooling and weakness. This is a life-threatening emergency; go to an emergency vet immediately.
Urinary Blockage in Cats
Male cats can develop blockages that stop urine flow. Signs include straining in the litter box with little or no urine, crying while trying to urinate, licking the genital area and vomiting. A blocked cat can die within a day or two, so treat this as an emergency.
Other Signs to Go Now
- Trouble breathing or blue, gray or very pale gums
- Seizures lasting more than a few minutes or several in a row
- Collapse or inability to stand
- Hit by a car or a fall from a balcony or window, even if the pet seems fine
- Repeated vomiting or diarrhea, especially with blood
- Suspected poisoning
- Eye injuries
- Signs of severe pain
Apartment-Specific Tips
- Balcony and window safety: cats and small dogs can fall from balconies and open windows. Use secure screens, and treat any fall as an emergency.
- Elevators and stairwells: carry small pets in a carrier and keep large dogs on a short leash during an emergency.
- Building access: know how to get a large injured dog to your car or a rideshare. A blanket used as a sling and a second person help.
- Water during outages: store water for pets as well as people. Our guide to emergency water for pets and babies explains how much.
Getting to the Emergency Vet
Call ahead while someone else drives, if possible, so the hospital can prepare. Bring the pet’s records, any medicines and the packaging of anything it ate. Keep cats and small dogs in a secured carrier on the floor of the car, and keep larger dogs on a blanket so they can be lifted in and out. Ask the staff for an estimate before treatment if cost is a concern, and ask about payment options.
Taking a Pet First Aid Class
The American Red Cross and many local shelters and veterinary clinics offer pet first aid and CPR training. Classes let you practice handling, checking vital signs and bandaging on models. They also teach pet CPR techniques that differ from human CPR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I make my dog vomit if it ate something toxic?
Not unless a veterinarian or animal poison control tells you to. Some substances cause more harm when vomited, and some pets should never be made to vomit.
What human medicines are dangerous for pets?
Many are, including ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen, some ADHD medicines and antidepressants. Acetaminophen is especially toxic to cats. Keep all medicines out of reach.
How do I know if my pet's gums look normal?
Healthy gums in most pets are pink and moist, and color returns within about 1 to 2 seconds after you press. Pale, white, blue or gray gums are a sign to see a vet immediately.
Is bloat in dogs an emergency?
Yes. Retching without vomiting, a swollen belly and restlessness in a dog can signal bloat, which can be fatal without fast treatment.
Why is a cat straining in the litter box an emergency?
Male cats can develop urinary blockages that stop urine flow. A blocked cat needs emergency care quickly.
What should be in a pet first aid kit?
Gauze, non-stick pads, self-adhering wrap, tape, scissors, a thermometer, saline, gloves, tweezers, a muzzle, a towel, an extra leash, records and your vet’s and poison control’s numbers.
