First aid for dogs & cats — what you can do yourself, when to come to the vet

Important note: This page does not replace a veterinary diagnosis. It is intended as guidance. If in doubt, always call your vet or the emergency service. Fast, calm decisions help your pet the most, and that includes seeking professional advice rather than trying things yourself for too long.

General first-aid tips

In an emergency, the most helpful thing for your pet is a person who acts calmly and thoughtfully. Take a short breath before doing anything. First pay attention to your own safety, even the calmest pet may bite or scratch out of pain. Inform the practice as early as possible, ideally before you set off, so we can be ready for you.

Calm transport matters: dogs often walk to the car on a lead, but if they are in pain or have impaired consciousness they should be carried carefully. Cats travel most safely in a carrier; place a towel inside. Keep the pet warm and avoid unnecessary manipulation of the injury. More in our guide First aid for dogs and cats.

Poisoning

Poisoning can present in very different ways. Possible signs include sudden vomiting, diarrhoea, increased salivation, trembling, seizures, restlessness or impaired consciousness. Common causes include toxic plants, cleaning products, slug pellets, antifreeze, medication and certain foods.

What you can do: Move your pet out of the danger zone and, if possible, secure a sample of the toxic substance or the packaging. Immediately call the practice or emergency service and describe what was ingested and when.

What you should NOT do: Do not induce vomiting without veterinary advice, with caustic or foaming substances this can cause additional damage. Do not use "home remedies" such as milk or salt. Further reading: Poisoning in dogs, Cyanide poisoning, Plants toxic to cats.

Come to the vet immediately if you suspect poisoning, even if your pet still appears normal.

Chocolate poisoning

Chocolate contains theobromine, which can be toxic for dogs. How problematic a certain amount is depends on the type of chocolate, the amount eaten and the dog's weight. On our page Chocolate calculator for dogs you can make an initial assessment.

What you can do: Note the type and amount of chocolate, your dog's weight and the approximate time. Call the practice. We will discuss with you whether an appointment is needed. Come to the vet immediately with dark chocolate, larger amounts or if signs such as vomiting, restlessness, trembling or rapid heartbeat appear.

Bleeding wound

If a pet is bleeding acutely from a larger wound, fast action is needed. Apply pressure to the wound site with a clean cloth or bandage. Large or pulsating bleeding is always an emergency. Head to the practice or emergency service immediately.

Even smaller, superficial-looking wounds can be deeper than they appear. Bite wounds, especially cat bites, are a frequently underestimated reason to come to the practice, because the small visible opening can hide deeper injuries and rapidly developing infections. Take bites on human skin seriously too. Further reading: Bleeding wound in dogs and cats.

Come to the vet immediately with heavy, persistent or pulsating bleeding, open fractures, bite wounds and wounds that are not clearly only superficial.

Seizure (epilepsy)

A seizure can look very alarming to the owner. The pet often falls over, twitches with their legs, salivates or briefly loses consciousness. Important: do not hold your pet down, do not put anything into the mouth. Instead, make sure they cannot hurt themselves (for example by securing edges and stairs), dim lights and sounds, and stay calmly nearby.

Note when the seizure started and how long it lasts. A single, short seizure in an otherwise healthy animal must be assessed by the vet, a first seizure, several seizures in a row or a prolonged seizure are an emergency. Further reading: Epilepsy in dogs.

Heatstroke

Dogs and cats cannot cool themselves through the skin as well as we do. In the car, in the sun or during intense exercise on warm days, heatstroke can occur. Typical signs are heavy panting, reddened mucous membranes, restlessness, vomiting, coordination problems or clouded consciousness.

What you can do: Move your pet immediately to a cool, shaded place. Offer small amounts of water. Cool gently from the outside in. Start at paws and legs, later belly and chest, with lukewarm (not ice-cold!) water. Avoid rapid cooling that may strain the circulation.

Come to the vet immediately as soon as you suspect heatstroke. The condition can quickly become life-threatening, even if the pet seems calmer in between.

Frostbite

Dogs and cats can develop frostbite, particularly on paws, ears and tail tip, especially after prolonged exposure to wet cold or contact with road salt. Affected areas initially look pale and cold, later possibly reddened and painful.

What you can do: Bring your pet into the warmth and warm affected areas slowly with lukewarm (not hot!) water or cloths. Do not rub. Come to the vet immediately with marked discoloration, pain or if larger areas are affected. As prevention, take a look at paws and coat in winter, more in our guide Frostbite in dogs.

Eye injury

The eye is sensitive and injuries should always be assessed by the vet promptly. Signs include squinting one eye, tearing, redness, increased discharge or a visibly altered eye. Injuries can occur from scratches, foreign bodies, branches or irritants.

What you can do: Do not let your pet scratch the eye, a collar helps to protect it. Do not flush with your own drops and do not try to remove a foreign body yourself. Come to the vet immediately, because eye injuries can worsen within hours. Further reading: Eye injuries in dogs and cats.

Swallowed foreign body / breathing distress

If your pet has swallowed a foreign body, the consequences vary widely: some items pass through without problems, others get stuck in the throat, oesophagus or gastrointestinal tract. Signs may include retching, persistent vomiting, drooling, breathing distress, absent defecation or a painful abdomen.

What you can do: Do not try to fish an object out of the mouth if your pet resists. You may cause injury or push the object deeper. With sudden, severe breathing distress this is an acute emergency; head to the practice or emergency service immediately and call on the way.

Fall from height (cat)

Even though cats have remarkable reflexes, a fall from a window or balcony is serious. Injuries can include fractures, injuries to lungs, abdomen or spine, and are not always visible from the outside.

What you can do: Move your cat as little as possible and bring them in a stable carrier to the practice without delay, even if they seem "fine" externally. Further reading: Cat falls from height.

Insect sting

Wasps, bees or hornets usually sting on the paw or in the mouth. A common reaction is a painful swelling. Come to the vet immediately with stings in the mouth or throat (suffocation risk from swelling) and with marked general symptoms such as weakness, vomiting, breathing distress or increasing swelling. These can indicate an allergic reaction. Further reading: Insect sting in dogs.

Acute brain trauma

Falls, traffic accidents or blows can lead to brain trauma. Indications include impaired consciousness, seizures, unequal pupils, loss of balance or vomiting shortly after the event.

What you can do: Keep your pet calm in a safe, slightly elevated position and avoid unnecessary movement. Come to the vet or clinic immediately, since only there can the condition be assessed correctly. Further reading: Acute brain trauma in dogs and cats.

Spinal injury

A spinal injury can also occur after falls or accidents. Suspect this with sudden inability to move, limp or twitching hind legs, severe pain on movement or altered body posture.

What you can do: Move your pet as little as possible. Lift them so the spine remains supported, a flat board or sturdy blanket can help. Come to the vet or clinic immediately. Further reading: Spinal fractures in dogs and cats.

When to come immediately vs. when to observe

An honest rule of thumb: when in doubt, call. Some situations require immediate intervention, others can be briefly observed. The list below is for orientation and does not replace a veterinary assessment.

• Act immediately: unconsciousness, severe or pulsating bleeding, persistent breathing distress, ongoing seizure, suspected poisoning, heatstroke, fall from height, eye injury, suspected spinal or brain trauma, repeated vomiting with apathy, distended painful abdomen.
• Prompt appointment or call: individual wounds, single vomiting without other symptoms, mild lameness, mild swelling after an insect sting on the leg, mildly irritated eye, small amounts of chocolate in a large dog.
• Observe and report: short-term changes that disappear within a few hours — if the change persists or returns, come to the consultation.