Pet First Aid: Essential Skills for Every Pet Owner

If you're one of the 97% of pet owners who consider their four-legged friends part of the family, you want to do everything you can to keep them safe and happy. However, sometimes accidents happen, even in the most loving households. In those instances, knowing cat and dog first aid and CPR can save lives.

First aid for dogs and cats bridges the incident and veterinary care. These skills may give you more time to reach the vet and the confidence to handle any emergency.

The Lowdown on Feline and Canine Emergencies

A pet in the U.S. gets emergency treatment every 2.5 seconds, and 1 in 3 needs it every year. Every animal owner knows how quickly their beloved furry friends can get into trouble. Pet first aid can change your pet's outcome for the better.

Even the most attentive pet parent can find it challenging to pinpoint when their pet needs emergency aid. Understanding the signs and symptoms of a pet health emergency means you can act decisively and potentially save your pet's life. The most frequent types of accidents and emergencies include:

Choking or breathing difficulties: Your pet could choke on anything they picked up. Breathing difficulties could be due to inhaled toxins, asthma and many other conditions. If your pet struggles to breathe normally, it's best to be cautious and treat it as an emergency.
Bleeding: If a human is injured, you can easily assess the severity of the wound and decide on a treatment plan from there. It can be more complex with pets, as their hair hides the full extent of their injury. Even if you can stop the blood flow, there are other issues to consider, like infection and internal bleeding.
Ingestions and toxins: Your pet may accidentally swallow a nonfood item, many of which could be toxic. If you know your pet has ingested something harmful, immediate first aid and veterinary care could save their life.
Heat stroke: In warmer weather, heat-related emergencies become a significant concern. Without treatment, they can be life-threatening. Knowing what to do when your pet shows signs of heat stroke can help you stabilize their body temperature to get them safely to the vet.
Allergic reactions: Your pet can be allergic to many things in their environment, and reactions range from severe to life-threatening. Immediate first aid can stall the progression of the allergy, giving you time for intensive veterinary treatment.

There are many other signs that your pet needs immediate attention, including seizures, difficulty urinating or defecating, vomiting, pale gums and loss of consciousness. First aid gives you the skills to stabilize your four-legged friend so that you have time to get them to the vet. While it's not a substitute for veterinary care, it may save your pet's life, making it one of the most crucial skills any animal lover can learn.

Essential Pet First Aid Kit Components

When faced with a feline or canine emergency, the first step to handling it effectively is having all the necessary tools. If you use anything in your first aid kit, remember to replace it immediately so you have everything you need if something else happens. Consider stocking your first aid kit with the following:

Digital thermometer: This is used to check your pet's temperature.
Activated charcoal: Activated charcoal can help treat poisoning by binding the toxins in your pet's intestinal tract.
Antibiotic ointment: An ointment is ideal for disinfecting small cuts and scrapes.
Cotton swabs: Use cotton swabs to gently apply ointment.
Needleless syringe: You can give your pet fluids and medications or flush out wounds.
Adhesive tape: Use this tape to secure any bandages without sticking to your pet's fur.
Saline solution: Sterile saline is useful for cleaning wounds or removing irritants from your pet's eyes.
Scissors and tweezers: Blunt scissors are essential for cutting bandages, while tweezers help remove debris.
Ice pack: An ice pack can reduce swelling and pain. Keep a cloth in your first aid kit to protect your pet's skin from direct contact with the ice pack.
Styptic powder: This helps stop bleeding, especially for minor wounds.
Emergency blanket: If your pet goes into shock, use this blanket to help regulate their body temperature.
Contact card: Write down phone numbers for your vet, the closest 24-hour emergency vet clinic and the pet poison helpline for easy access.
Transport supplies: Getting your pet to the vet safely is one of the most important steps in an emergency. Include a lead, collar, blanket and recovery cone in your first aid kit to simplify transportation.
Muzzle: Any animal could lash out when they're in pain. If you have a dog, it's best to keep a muzzle and learn how to use it so you can care for them without putting yourself at risk.

How to Handle Common Pet Emergencies

If you experience a pet-related emergency, the following vet tips for dogs and cats can help you act confidently:

Focus on Prevention and Preparation

While dog and cat first aid is crucial for any pet owner, there are also things you can do to limit the potential for an accident or emergency, including:

Buy safer pet toys: Most pets love toys, but some may cause choking or injury. Opt for toys specifically designed for your pet, ensuring they're the right size and durability.
Book regular vet checkups: Regular visits to the vet are essential for monitoring your pet's health. During these visits, your vet can vaccinate your pet as needed and identify any health issues before they become serious.
Focus on wellness and nutrition: Proper diet and weight management greatly affect your pet's health. Consult your vet about the best-balanced diet for your pet and whether they need any supplements to maintain optimal health.
Secure your home: Dogs and cats are known for accidentally getting into trouble. You can help them by pet-proofing your home, removing toxins, poisonous plants, loose wires and choking hazards.

Take Their Vitals and Assess the Situation

In an emergency, the first thing to do is check your pet's health and take their vital signs — temperature, pulse, respiration rate and gum color. Take the following steps:

Temperature: Use a digital thermometer and apply lubricant. Lift your pet's tail and insert the thermometer in their anus. The thermometer should beep when it has a reading.
Heart Rate: Set a timer on your phone, put your hands on your pet's chest and count how many times their heart beats in 15 seconds. Multiply that number before to get their heartbeats per minute (BPM).
Respiration rate: Set a one-minute timer and count how many breaths your pet takes to determine their respiration rate.
Capillary refill: Capillary refill is a way to test your pet's blood circulation. Press on your pet's gums with your finger and then release the pressure to see how quickly the pink color returns to the area.

The following table covers the normal range of vital signs for dogs and cats:

	Dog	Cat
Temperature	100-102.8° F	100-102.5°F
Heart Rate	Small dogs: 100-160 BPM Medium dogs: 60-100 BPM Large dogs: 120-160 BPM	100-140 beats BPM
Respiration rate	10-30 breaths per minute	20-30 breaths per minute
Capillary refill	Less than 2 seconds	Less than 2 seconds

Learn to Perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Pet CPR is unnecessary in most emergencies, but it's still an excellent skill to practice. It involves chest compressions and rescue breathing to assist your pet until professional help arrives. While it's best to get a vet to show you CPR for your pet's specific breed and shape, the basic steps include:

Check for responsiveness: Gently tap your pet and call their name. If there's no response, put your hand to their mouth and nose to check their breathing. If you can't detect any breathing, you can start CPR.
Put your pet in the correct position: Lay them on their side on a firm, flat surface and extend their head and neck to open the airway.
Start rescue breathing: Close your pet's mouth tightly and put your mouth over their nose. Slowly breathe into your pet's nose until you can see their chest rising. Give two rescue breaths, each about one second long.
Proceed to chest compressions: Put one hand on your pet's chest, directly behind their left elbow. Use the heel of the other hand to press down firmly between their first and second rib 30 times. Then, give two more rescue breaths. Continue the cycle until your pet starts breathing or professional help arrives.

Respond if Your Pet Is Choking

Choking is a common hazard for inquisitive pets. It may cause them to panic or have difficulty breathing. If your pet is choking, take the following steps:

Open their mouth and look inside with a flashlight for visible obstructions.
If the obstruction is visible, use tweezers or your fingers to remove it carefully.
You can perform a pet-friendly version of the Heimlich maneuver if you can't see the instructions. Stand behind them and wrap your arms around their body, under the ribs. Pull up and in, two or three times, in a sharp thrusting motion. Repeat the movement until the object comes out.

Address Wounds and Animal Bites

If your pet is bleeding, stay calm and assess the damage as best you can. Then, take the following steps:

Apply pressure: Your first priority is to stop the bleeding. Use gauze or a clean cloth to apply pressure to the wound, holding it for several minutes before you check if the bleeding has stopped.
Clean and disinfect the area: Clean the wound with saline and apply an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
Dress the wound: Apply clear, dry gauze or dressing to the wound and use a bandage to hold it in place until you can get to your vet.

Prepare for Poisoning and Toxins

Dogs and cats are naturally curious and could ingest things that lead to serious medical emergencies. Protect your pet from potentially life-threatening consequences with the following steps:

Know the signs: Depending on the toxin, your pet may exhibit various symptoms that indicate poisoning, including dilated pupils, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, drowsiness and frothing at the mouth.
Call your vet: If you suspect your cat or dog has ingested any toxins, try to identify what those toxins are. Even if you don't know, call your vet immediately to discuss their symptoms so you can take the right steps. Depending on the toxin, your vet may tell you to induce vomiting or give your pet activated charcoal.
Treat shock: Wrap your pet in a blanket to help with shock and transport them to the vet immediately for further treatment.

Anticipate Heat-Related Emergencies

The quicker you deal with heat stroke and other heat-related issues, the better the outcomes. If the weather is warm and your pet displays symptoms like heavy panting, difficulty breathing, lethargy, vomiting, excessive salivation or collapse, they may have heat stroke. It's essential to act quickly:

Move your pet: Take your cat or dog out of the heat to a cool, well-ventilated area.
Cool them down: Place a wet towel underneath your pet to help regulate their body temperature. Never drape a towel over them, as it can trap the heat and worsen the condition.
Provide water: Allow your pet to drink small amounts of cool water, not cold water. Cold water can lead to shock.
Get veterinary treatment: Once your pet has cooled down enough, immediately take them to the vet.

Transport Your Pet Safely to the Vet

Pet safety is as important during transport as it is during treatment. Take the following steps to ensure you and your pet arrive safely at the vet:

Practice at home: In an emergency, your pet is likely already anxious and in pain. Adding a car journey into the mix can make things much more challenging if they're unused to it. Practice with a pet carrier in advance so they know the travel process in case it ever needs to happen quickly.
Put on a harness and leash: If you have a dog, a leash and harness are essential for any trip to the vet. Depending on whether you have time, it can help to put these items on your dog so that you can get them to the vet straightaway on arrival.
Bring comfort items: You want your pet to be as comfortable as possible on the trip and once they arrive at the clinic. If you have time, pack their favorite healthy treats and blanket.
Keep handling to a minimum: It's tempting to hug and cradle your pet during an emergency, but you may do more harm than good. Instead, touch them as little as possible and speak to them calmly and soothingly.
Stay calm: Feeling anxious and uncertain when your pet is involved in an emergency is natural. However, if you're anxious, your pet will feel anxious, too, making the whole process more challenging. Take a few deep breaths and drive carefully to your destination as calmly as possible. Ask a friend to drive if possible so you can sit in the back with your pet, help ease their fear and monitor their condition.

Keep Your Pet Happy and Healthy With Loving Pets

Being prepared in an emergency is a big part of being a pet owner. With the tips and tricks above, you can confidently address any situation, knowing you're doing your best for your four-legged friend. However, there's much more to being a pet parent than planning for emergencies. It's about the positive times and giving them all the care and attention they need daily. At Loving Pets, we can help you reach your pet's nutrition goals, leading to valuable bonding experiences for both of you.

Since 2005, Loving Pets has brought USA-made, affordable, high-quality treats and accessories to animal lovers across the U.S. We believe in wagging tails, happy purrs and joyful barks of excitement, which is why we craft every morsel according to the highest quality standards. Whether your pet needs functional supplementation, accessories or a tasty treat, Loving Pets has you covered. Browse our products online and make your pet's day every day!