RSPCA Pet First Aid Guide TM Everything you need to help your pet in an emergency
CONTENTS CHOKING NOT BREATHING NO HEARTBEAT SHOCK POISONING SEIZURES BURNS HEATSTROKE INTERNAL BLEEDING EXTERNAL BLEEDING FRACTURES The information in this RSPCA Pet First Aid Guide TM is provided for general information only and is not intended as specific advice in any particular case. You should be guided by your knowledge of your pet and assessment of the particular circumstances to decide whether or how to use the information in this guide. This guide is not a substitute for veterinary care, which should be sought if your pet suffers an injury, accident or illness.
Getting the most from your RSPCA Animal First Aid Guide TM As the UK s leading animal welfare charity, the RSPCA has been saving animals lives since 1824. We hope you never have to use this guide. But if the worst does happen it will give you vital first aid advice that could save your pet s life. Please remember, this guide is not a substitute for veterinary care and you should speak to your vet for first aid advice specific to your pet s breed. How to use your guide... Our number coding system will help identify the urgency of your pet s ailment. indicates the imminent danger of death. indicates immediate attention required. indicates rapid attention needed.
5 top tips to protect your pet... Remember our five tips and you ll be well prepared to give your pet the life-saving care they need in an emergency. Call the vet If your pet is ill, or injured, call the vet straight away. Prevent accidents Anticipate accidents by looking for potential hazards in your home. Keep your guide close Keep your guide close at hand so you can act quickly in an emergency. Stay safe Never put yourself in danger whilst assisting your pet. Stay calm Staying calm will help you give the best care to your pet, quickly.
Choking Use caution a choking animal may bite in panic. Symptoms... Difficulty breathing. Excessive pawing at the mouth. Choking sounds when breathing or coughing. Blue-tinged lips or tongue. Look into your pet s mouth to see if a foreign object is visible. If you see an object, gently try to remove it, but be careful not to push the object further down their throat or be bitten. If you can t remove the object or your pet collapses, place both hands on the side of your pet s rib cage and apply firm quick pressure, or lay your pet on its side and strike the rib cage firmly with the palm of your hand 3-4 times. Repeat until the object is dislodged or you arrive at the vet. CHOKING
Not breathing If possible, have another person call the vet while you help your pet. NOT BREATHING Check to see if your pet is unconscious and has a heartbeat. Open your pet s airway by gently grasping its tongue and pulling it forward (out of the mouth) until it is flat. Check their throat to see if there are any foreign objects blocking the airway (see Choking). Perform rescue breathing by closing your pet s mouth and breathing with your mouth directly into its nose until you see its chest expand. Once the chest expands, continue the rescue breathing once every 5 seconds. If your pet doesn t regain consciousness take them to the vet.
No heartbeat dog Remember to stay calm and if possible, have another person call the vet while you help your pet. Feel and listen to make sure there is no heartbeat. Gently lay your pet on its side on a firm surface. Place one hand underneath your pet s chest for support and place the other hand over the heart (just behind the elbow). Press down on your pet s heart. Press harder for larger animals and with less force for smaller animals. Press down 100-120 times per minute. Alternate every 30 chest compressions with two rescue breaths. Continue until you can hear or feel a heartbeat or you have arrived at the vet. IF YOUR DOG HAS NO HEARTBEAT
How to find your pet s heart The heart is located in the lower half of the chest, just behind the elbow of the front left leg.
No heartbeat cat Remember to stay calm and if possible, have another person call the vet while you help your pet. Feel and listen to make sure there is no heartbeat. Gently lay your pet on its side on a firm surface. Cradle your hand around their chest so your thumb is on one side of the chest and your fingers are on the other side and compress the chest gently by squeezing it between your thumb and fingers. Press down at a speed of 100-120 times per minute (twice per second). Press down 100-120 times per minute. Alternate every 30 chest compressions with two rescue breaths. Continue until you can hear or feel a heartbeat or you have arrived at the vet. IF YOUR CAT HAS NO HEARTBEAT
Shock An animal usually suffers shock as a result of severe injury, major disease or extreme fright. Possible symptoms... Weak pulse. Shallow breathing. Collapse/lying down. Dazed eyes. Ensure your pet s head is level with the rest of its body. Transport immediately to the vet. SHOCK
Poisoning If you know your pet has been exposed to something that may be harmful, phone your vet. Possible symptoms Vomiting and diarrhoea. Strange or unusual behaviour. Loss of appetite. Pale gums. Seizures. Lethargy and collapse. Call the vet if you suspect your pet has eaten poison. If your pet is exposed to a toxic product, check the product label for the instructions for when people are exposed to the product and follow them for your animal. Take the product or product label to the vet with you. If possible assess how much your pet has eaten. POISONING
Seizures Seizures could be a sign of epilepsy or other neurological disorders. SEIZURES Possible symptoms... Signs of stress or worry beforehand or afterwards. Shaking, twitching, trembling and paddling. Toileting. Foaming at the mouth. Keep any object that may harm your pet away from it (including furniture). Do not try to restrain your pet. Keep the area quiet and calm, and avoid bright or flickering lights. Time the seizure (they usually last 2-3 minutes). Call the vet during the seizure or afterwards, as soon as possible. After the seizure has stopped, keep your pet as quiet as possible.
Burns This advice relates to both thermal burns (caused by heat) and chemical burns (caused by an irritant). Possible symptoms Signs of pain, such as limping or whining. Burnt or broken skin. Signs of shock (see Shock). Call the vet. Muzzle your animal if appropriate. Flush burn immediately with large quantities of cold water. Be careful not to spread any of the chemicals into the animal s eyes. Don t forget... For any burn, you should take your pet to the vet immediately. BURNS
Heatstroke Pets can succumb to heatstroke very easily and must be treated as soon as possible. HEATSTROKE Possible symptoms Panting. Difficulty breathing. Excessive drooling. Increased body temperature. Reddened gums. Rapid heart rate. Collapse. Move your pet away from any heat source. Call the vet and immediately follow any advice on how to cool your pet. Transport to the vet as soon as possible. If possible, open windows to allow moving air to cool your pet.
Internal Bleeding Internal bleeding is very serious and needs immediate attention. Possible symptoms... Pale gums. Collapse. Weak rapid pulse. Swollen abdomen. Bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum. Call the vet. Keep your animal warm and as quiet as possible. Transport immediately to the vet. INTERNAL BLEEDING
External Bleeding Severe bleeding can quickly become lifethreatening so get your animal to a vet. EXTERNAL BLEEDING Possible symptoms Visible signs of blood loss. If bleeding is severe your pet may also show signs of shock (see Shock). Call the vet. Press a clean tea towel over the wound. Keep your pet calm. Hold pressure on it for a minimum of 3 minutes and then check it. Apply a bandage and pressure over the wound. Loosen the pressure for 20 seconds every 15-20 minutes. Transport your animal to the vet.
Don t forget... Early signs of internal bleeding can be hard to spot. So if your pet has suffered severe trauma to their body, for example if it has been hit by a car, transport your pet to the vet as soon as possible.
Fractures If you suspect your pet has a fracture, it s vital you get them to the vet quickly. FRACTURES Possible symptoms... Swelling. A broken bone sticking out through your pet s skin. Signs of pain, such as limping or whining. Call the vet. Keep them inside and limit their movement. For example, placing a cat in a cat carrier. Muzzle your pet if necessary. If your pet cannot walk at all, gently lay your pet on a flat surface for support, such as a board or stretcher. Transport your injured pet to the vet.
Don t forget... Any first aid given to your pet should be followed by immediate veterinary care. First aid is not a substitute for veterinary care, but it may save your pet s life until it receives treatment.
The RSPCA is dedicated to the welfare of all animals. We try to help every animal in need, but we can t do that without your help. If you d like to help us rescue more animals, call 0300 123 0346 or visit our website www.rspca.org.uk and make a donation. www.rspca.org.uk/advice Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals The RSPCA helps animals in England and Wales. Registered charity no. 219099 The RSPCA only exists with the support of public donations. Copyright 2017 RSPCA. All rights reserved. This material must not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without express written permission of the RSPCA. VAL_11.17