Before an emergency: what to have ready
- Your emergency vet's 24h number saved in your phone.
- Basic first aid kit: sterile gauze, elastic bandage, chlorhexidine solution, saline, blunt scissors, rectal thermometer, 5ml syringe.
- Know your dog's weight (for any dosage guidance the vet may give).
The most common emergencies
🫀 Cardiac and respiratory arrest
Dog is unresponsive, not breathing, no pulse: call the vet immediately and start CPR.
- Place the dog on their right side.
- Extend the head and neck, check the mouth is clear.
- Chest compressions: 30 at the widest point of the chest (compress 1/3 of chest depth, 100–120 per minute).
- Rescue breaths: 2 breaths — close the dog's mouth, breathe into the nose until you see the chest rise.
- Continue 30:2 until the dog breathes on their own or you reach the vet.
🦴 Choking
- Dog coughing strongly → let them try to dislodge it, do not blindly sweep the throat.
- Dog cannot breathe, gums turning blue: Heimlich manoeuvre — stand behind the dog, lock your hands below the sternum, push firmly inward and upward. Maximum 5 attempts. Emergency vet immediately.
🩸 Wounds and bleeding
- Minor bleeding: rinse with saline, apply a sterile dressing, bandage moderately.
- Severe bleeding: direct continuous pressure with a clean cloth — at least 5–10 minutes without releasing. Emergency vet.
- Do not apply a tourniquet unless it is a massive limb bleed and you cannot reach a vet within 30 minutes.
🌡️ Heatstroke
Signs: extreme panting, drooling, weakness, confusion, very red/bright gums. Life-threatening.
- Move to shade or a cool area immediately.
- Wet with cool (not ice-cold) water — start at the paws, armpits, neck and head.
- Offer cool water if the dog is conscious.
- Emergency vet even if they appear to improve — internal organ damage may not be immediately obvious.
⚡ Seizures
- Do NOT hold the dog down and do NOT put anything in their mouth.
- Remove nearby objects that could cause injury.
- Keep the environment dark and quiet.
- Time the start and duration of the seizure.
- More than 5 minutes or cluster seizures without recovery between: emergency.
☠️ Suspected poisoning
- Call the vet FIRST — do not induce vomiting without medical guidance (some toxins cause more damage when vomited).
- Bring the product container or a sample if possible.
- UK Veterinary Poisons Information Service: 01202 509000. US Animal Poison Control: +1 888 426 4435.
Things you should NEVER give a dog without vet guidance
- Ibuprofen, paracetamol/acetaminophen, aspirin — all toxic to dogs.
- Xylitol (found in sugar-free gum, some peanut butters) — life-threatening.
- Any human medication not explicitly prescribed by a vet.