Pet First Aid Basics: What to Do Before You Reach the Vet

We love our pets and want them to be safe and healthy! Of course, nobody wants to think about disasters, especially when they involve our pets. At Bloor-Kipling Animal Clinic, we understand how worrying those situations can be, so we’ve compiled a short list to help you stay informed and up to date.

1. Stay Calm and Assess the Situation

It’s essential to remain calm during any pet emergency. Animals can detect panic, and this can result in them feeling more anxious or less cooperative. Check your pet’s situation — are they bleeding, choking, unconscious, or in pain? This will inform you of the following steps to take.

2. Control Bleeding

If bleeding occurs, apply gentle pressure with a clean, dry cloth or sterile gauze. Please do not use a tourniquet unless necessary; they can do more harm than good. You can prevent shock and stabilize your pet while transporting it to a clinic by controlling the bleeding early.

3. Check Breathing and Airway

If your pet is choking, gently open its mouth and look inside to see if a foreign object is visible. Use tweezers or softly swipe with a finger if possible (source). If your pet isn’t breathing, you may want to provide rescue breaths by pinching the mouth closed and breathing air into the nose every 3-5 seconds until they start breathing again.

4. Handle Fractures with Care

If you suspect a bone might be broken, try to keep your pet as still as you can. Don’t attempt to reset the bone yourself. Instead, lay your pet down on a flat surface or use a makeshift stretcher to move it to a veterinarian.

5. Know How to Treat Heatstroke

Heatstroke is a common presentation in emergency rooms, particularly during the hot summer months. Take your pet to a cool place, put wet towels on its body and give it small quantities of cool (not ice-cold) water. Rapid treatment can avert damage to the organs.

6. Prepare a Pet First Aid Kit

A pet first aid kit will save valuable time. Some must-have items include:

• Sterile gauze and bandages
• Tweezers and scissors
• Digital thermometer
• Antiseptic wipes

Emergency Phone Numbers (Including Bloor-Kipling Animal Clinic)

7. Call Your Veterinarian Immediately

For all of the above, even if you can stabilize your pet, emergency care will still be necessary. It is crucial to call your vet or animal hospital immediately. Prompt professional treatment can make a significant difference between a full recovery and complications.

Final Thoughts

Most emergencies are unexpected, but a basic awareness of first aid can reduce the severity of an emergency to the point where your pet suffers no more discomfort than necessary. At Bloor-Kipling Animal Clinic, we are here to help your pet when they need us.