First Aid for Dogs: Step-by-Step Emergency Care

Critical Safety First: Injured Dogs Bite

Before touching an injured dog — including your own — understand this: pain and fear cause otherwise gentle dogs to bite. An injured dog doesn't recognize you're trying to help. They respond to pain.

Before touching an injured dog:

1. Speak calmly in a low, steady voice
2. Approach slowly from the side, not head-on
3. If the dog is aggressive, use an improvised muzzle before proceeding
4. Know that an improvised muzzle also prevents panting — do not leave it on for more than 20 minutes

Improvised muzzle: A strip of cloth or bandage wrapped around the muzzle, crossing under the jaw, and tied behind the ears. Works on most medium to large dogs.

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Emergency 1: Severe Bleeding

Severe bleeding is the most life-threatening emergency and requires immediate action.

What you see: Heavy, continuous bleeding that doesn't slow within 2-3 minutes of direct pressure.

Step-by-step:

1. Apply direct pressure with a clean cloth, gauze pad, or bandage
2. Press firmly and hold — do not keep removing to check (this disrupts clotting)
3. If cloth saturates, add more on top without removing the first layer
4. Elevate if possible (raise the limb above heart level)
5. For limb wounds: If bleeding doesn't slow after 5 minutes of firm pressure, apply a tourniquet above the wound
6. Get to a veterinarian as fast as possible — severe bleeding requires professional treatment

For tourniquet application: Wrap bandage 2-3 finger widths above the wound. Tie tightly, mark the time of application on the dog's fur or a note. Loosen every 2 hours.

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Emergency 2: Suspected Fracture or Broken Bone

What you see: Dog cannot weight-bear on a limb, obvious deformity, extreme pain response when limb is touched.

Step-by-step:

1. Do not attempt to splint unless you need to transport a long distance (splinting incorrectly causes more damage)
2. Restrict movement: Lift dog onto a flat, rigid surface for transport (board, large cutting board, stretched-out towel held by multiple people)
3. Minimize handling of the injured area
4. Keep the dog still and calm during transport
5. Transport to veterinarian immediately

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Emergency 3: Suspected Poisoning

What you see: Sudden lethargy, vomiting, seizures, dilated pupils, excessive drooling, muscle tremors.

Common dog poisons: Xylitol (in sugar-free products), grapes/raisins, chocolate, onions, garlic, ibuprofen/paracetamol, rat poison, certain plants.

Step-by-step:

1. Do NOT induce vomiting unless specifically instructed by a vet — for some poisons, this makes damage worse
2. Call your veterinarian or animal poison control immediately
3. Identify what was consumed if possible — bring the container or a photo
4. Keep the dog calm and still
5. Monitor breathing and consciousness

If the dog stops breathing: Begin CPR (see below).

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Emergency 4: Dog Not Breathing (CPR)

CPR for dogs is different from human CPR. Know the correct technique before you need it.

For small dogs (under 10 kg):

1. Place dog on its right side
2. Compress the chest with one hand at its widest point
3. Compress 100-120 times per minute (same rate as human CPR)
4. Depth: 1/3 of chest width

For medium/large dogs:

1. Place dog on its right side
2. Use both hands, palms stacked, compress behind the elbow
3. 100-120 compressions per minute
4. Depth: 1/3 of chest width

Rescue breaths (optional): Close the dog's mouth, breath into the nose until chest rises. 1 breath every 30 compressions.

Continue CPR until:

• Dog breathes independently
• You are exhausted and cannot continue
• Veterinary care becomes available

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Emergency 5: Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is common in summer, in hot cars, or during exercise in heat. It's an emergency.

What you see: Excessive panting, dark red or pale gums, staggering, vomiting, collapse.

Step-by-step:

1. Move to cool shade immediately
2. Apply cool (NOT ice cold) water to the head, neck, armpits, and inner thighs
3. Use a fan if available to accelerate cooling
4. Do NOT use ice water or ice — this causes blood vessels to constrict and traps heat inside
5. Offer small amounts of cool water (not cold) — if the dog can drink without difficulty
6. Monitor rectal temperature if thermometer is available — aim for 39.5°C, then stop cooling
7. Transport to veterinarian even if dog seems to recover — internal damage from heat stroke may not be visible immediately

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Your Dog First Aid Kit

Keep this kit accessible alongside your human first aid supplies:

• Sterile gauze pads (10+)
• Elastic bandages
• Antiseptic solution (chlorhexidine — safe for dogs)
• Sterile saline for wound cleaning
• Blunt scissors
• Tweezers (for splinters and ticks)
• Tick removal tool
• Disposable gloves
• Improvised muzzle material (cloth strip, pre-cut)
• Rectal thermometer (normal dog temperature: 38-39.5°C)
• Emergency vet telephone number

Consider completing a pet first aid course — courses are available through veterinary associations and run 3-4 hours.