If you are seeking pet emergency education, it means you want to be equipped with how to recognize when something is seriously wrong, how to give first aid to an animal and who to call in urgent situations. This is the first step to becoming confident when emergencies arise.

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This article includes the definition of first aid for animals and examples of when to administer it. This is merely a guide for necessary procedures in emergency situations, and shouldn’t replace the professional care a veterinarian can give your animal.

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If you think your pet or animal has eaten or ingested something even remotely dangerous, come in or call Oklahoma Veterinary Specialists at (918) 299-4900. Or, contact an animal poison control center as quickly as possible.

First Aid for Animals

First aid is the medical attention initially given to an animal immediately after it has been injured. It is usually a one-time treatment done at the incident’s location, and is a remedy for only a very short period of time. 

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Thankfully, providing basic first aid care doesn’t require extensive tools or training. Below are some common instances where first aid becomes necessary, as well as their appropriate procedures.

First Aid for Bites:

• Approach the animal with caution
• Carefully place a muzzle on him or her to avoid getting bitten
• Check the bite wound for foreign articles or contamination
• If there is a lot of debris, clean the bite wound with plenty water (although using saline or electrolyte solutions is recommended)
• Wrap open bite wounds to keep them clean by applying a bandage
• If the bite wound is bleeding heavily, apply firm pressure to the affected area

Do not use a tourniquet.

First Aid for Bleeding:

• Using clean hands, gently glide them over the animal, so as to locate the origin of the bleeding
• Apply firm pressure with a clean cloth or bandage on the bleeding area, until the bleeding stops
• Firmly press on the bleeding area for 10 minutes
• Check the bleeding wound to see if bleeding has stopped

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Do not apply tight bandages that restrict blood circulation.

First Aid for Burns:

Burns can be caused by chemicals, electricity or heat. The symptoms include skin redness, swollenness, blistering, or singed hair.

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• Immediately brush off any dry chemicals (water activates them)
• Immediately flush with a lot of cool, running water
• Wrap an ice pack with a thin piece of clean cloth
• Apply the ice pack for 15-20 minutes

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Do not put ice packs directly onto the skin.

First Aid for Choking:

Signs an animal is choking can include excessive pawing at the mouth, blue lips, blue tongue, and difficulty breathing. 

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• Try to locate any foreign object in the animal’s throat
• To clear their airway, use tweezers or even pliers to remove the object
• When an object is lodged too deeply or if the animal collapsessome text
  • Place both of your hands on both of the animal’s sides (ribs)
  • Firmly and quickly apply pressure, or
  • Lay the animal on its right side, and 
  • Use the palm of your hand to firmly strike the side of their rib cage 
  • Do this three or four times, repeating until the foreign object comes out of the throat or mouth

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Do not push a foreign object farther down the animal’s throat.

First Aid for Slowed or Stopped Breathing:

• Quickly and gently lay the animal on a firm surface, on its right side (left side up)
• Check for a heartbeat some text
  • Listen on where the elbow meets the chest 
  • When a heartbeat is present, but no breathing, close the mouth and breathe into the nose until the animal’s chest expands
  • Repeat 12 to 15 times per minute
• Check for pulsesome text
  • When there is no pulse, massage the heart 100-150 times per minute (on small animals) or 80-120 times per minute (on large animals)
  • Hold or put one hand (or forefingers for small and tiny animals) below the heart and massage the heart with the other hand (or thumb for small and tiny animals)
  • Alternate massage the heart with the animal’s breath

First Aid for Toxic Ingestion:

• Try to keep the animal quiet and warm
• Locate any toxic products in the animal’s vomit (when applicable)
• Take note of the time the animal could have possible eaten the poison or toxin
• Ascertain the possible amount of toxic products ingested
• Make note of the product, especially capturing the label for when you speak to your veterinarian and/or the closest animal poison control center

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Do not attempt to induce vomiting.

Preparing a First Aid Kit for Animals

Even though you may not have an animal, a situation may arise where you’re camping, or at a friend or relative’s house. Being prepared doesn’t stop solely with animal owners. Wasn’t it nice when you needed first aid and a prepared stranger helped out?

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The contents of a first aid kit for dogs, cats and other domestic animals are generally the same. 

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Therefore, kits should have the following items:

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• Gauze
• Cotton swabs and/or cotton balls 
• Adhesive medical tape
• Dish soap to remove skin or fur toxins
• Antiseptic clotting agent, such as styptic powder
• Alcohol or pre packaged alcohol wipes
• Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
• Saline solution
• Eye lubricant for pets
• Disposable gloves
• Over-the-counter antibiotic ointment(s)
• Small plastic dosing syringe(s)
• Ice pack(s)
• Towels
• Blunt ended scissors 
• Tweezers
• All contact information to your local veterinarian, veterinary hospital and animal poison control center

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It is advisable to seek professional veterinarian care, as soon as possible for any emergency situation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Giving First Aid to an Animal

Where can I get pet emergency education?

Free pet CPR certification and other animal-related resources can be found online, or by asking a local veterinarian’s staff.

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What is a K9 first aid kit?

It is a combination of medical items to remove surface-level foreign objects and toxins, as well as to clean cuts or scratches on a dog. It is a kit which equips a person to give their pet or animal basic treatment until veterinary care is available.