Pet First Aid & Emergencies

Q: How do I cool an overheated dog?

Move them to shade, offer small sips of water, and wet them with tepid — not ice-cold — water, focusing on the paws and belly. Ice water can constrict blood vessels and slow cooling. Get to a vet, because heatstroke causes internal damage.

Q: What should a pet first-aid kit contain?

Gauze pads and vet wrap, saline solution, a digital thermometer, a soft muzzle or strip of cloth, your vet's and nearest emergency clinic's numbers, and any regular medication. A muzzle protects you if pain makes your pet snap.

First aid is what you do in the minutes before professional help — not a replacement for it. The goal is always the same: keep your pet alive and calm until a vet takes over.

If your pet is badly injured, struggling to breathe, having a seizure, or you suspect poisoning — contact your veterinarian or an emergency clinic immediately. This guide is information only, not veterinary advice.

The first 30 seconds

Stay calm — your pet reads your voice and body.
Check breathing and responsiveness — is the chest moving? Do they respond to you?
Control heavy bleeding with firm direct pressure and a clean cloth.
Call the vet — describe what happened, when, and your pet's size.

Bleeding

Press a clean cloth or gauze firmly over the wound and hold it for several minutes without peeking. Do not remove an impaled object — stabilise it and let the vet handle it. A deep wound, blood that soaks through the cloth, or bleeding that won't stop means go now.

Choking

If your pet is conscious, keep them calm and head to a vet. Do not blindly sweep a finger into the mouth — you can push the object deeper and get bitten. Only remove something you can clearly see at the front of the mouth.

Heatstroke

Move to shade, offer small sips of water, and wet the paws and belly with tepid — not ice-cold — water. Ice constricts blood vessels and slows cooling. Heatstroke damages organs even after the animal cools down, so always follow up with a vet.

Seizures

Stay quiet, move hazards away, and time the seizure. Do not restrain your pet or put anything in their mouth. A seizure lasting more than a few minutes, or repeated seizures, is an emergency.

Bloat (GDV) — deep-chested dogs especially

If your dog is retching without bringing anything up, has a swollen or hard belly, is restless, or drooling — treat it as an emergency. Bloat can be fatal within hours. Do not wait to see if it passes.

A pet first-aid kit

Gauze pads and self-adhesive vet wrap
Saline solution for flushing wounds
A digital thermometer (ear or rectal, labelled for the pet)
A soft muzzle or strip of cloth — pain can make any pet snap
Your vet's number and the nearest emergency clinic, written down
Any regular medication and a copy of the vaccination record

Common questions

Should I put my hand in my pet's mouth if they are choking?

No — a blind finger sweep can push the object deeper and you may be bitten. If your pet is conscious, keep them calm and get to a vet. Only remove an object you can clearly see at the front of the mouth.

How do I cool an overheated dog?

Move to shade, offer small sips of water, and wet the paws and belly with tepid water. Ice water slows cooling. Heatstroke causes internal damage, so see a vet even if the animal seems to recover.

What should a pet first-aid kit contain?

Gauze and vet wrap, saline, a digital thermometer, a soft muzzle, your vet's and emergency clinic's numbers, and any regular medication. A muzzle protects you if pain makes your pet snap.

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