Pet Emergencies: What to Do & First Aid Kit Essentials

Signs, Diagnosis & Management – What to do in an emergency  

Published on: Aug 23, 2023

Finding yourself in a situation where your pet needs emergency medical attention can be an incredibly stressful time. Whether out on a walk or away on holiday with your furry friends they always know how to keep you on your toes, and should you end up in an emergency this article talks through what to do in an emergency and what to pack in a first aid kit for your pet. 

Having our phone number stored in your mobile is an easy first step to being prepared for an emergency. If you are going further away from home, it may also be worth looking up some local vet practices in the area in case you can’t get home or to us. Alternatively, speak to us before you leave. 

In the event of an emergency, it is important to try to stay calm, assess the situation, give your pet any necessary first aid, and call your vet. It’s helpful to remember the acronym: “Dr ABCs” 

Danger – keep yourself and others around you safe. 

Response – check if your pet responds to their name or touch. 

Airway – is their airway clear? 

Breathing – are they breathing? 

Circulation – do they have a pulse or heartbeat? 

Send – someone to ask for help! 

In an emergency your pet is likely to feel frightened and may react differently to normal, they may even bite. Try to keep your voice as calm as possible and make slow, gentle movements to reassure them. If it too dangerous to approach your pet, then do not attempt to do so.  

If your pet is no longer breathing or has no heartbeat, you may need to perform CPR. There is a helpful YouTube video by the PDSA on how to give your pet CPR – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kX0b5Nj7SI&ab_channel=PDSA

 

In some scenarios you may be able to perform some first aid yourself such as placing a bandage. Here are some things that may be useful in a pet first aid kit: 

1. A pair of gloves 

1. Dressings – if there is a lot of blood from a wound you may want to apply a dressing first to help soak it up 

1. Bandages – Covering a wound prevents dirt and bacteria from entering it which will help prevent infection. You can also use a bandage to apply pressure to a wound if it is bleeding. It can also help stop your pet from licking at the wound. Keeping a wound clean and fresh really helps the healing process, especially if it needs stitches.  

1. Wound wash/antiseptic – again to keep any wounds as clean as possible. 

1. Tweezers – A pair of tweezers is always handy for removing things like grass seeds, small splinters or bits of dirt from wounds. 

Other useful things to take away with you on holiday include a travel water bowl and a tick remover.  

Hopefully you will never find yourself in a situation where you need to use these tips, but if you do, we are always at the end of the phone to offer guidance and advice. We are proud to be able to offer our own out of hours service here at Shepton and Wells Vets so that in the event of an emergency there is a familiar face waiting to help you when you get here.