Dog First Aid & Emergency Response Guide — Ingestion, Injuries & Heatstroke

Dogs face various emergency situations requiring immediate first aid response. Knowing how to respond to common emergencies—before professional veterinary help arrives—can mean the difference between life and death.

Recognizing Emergencies

Life-threatening emergency indicators - Loss of consciousness or unresponsiveness - Difficulty breathing or gasping - Severe bleeding that won't stop - Choking or inability to swallow - Seizures or convulsions - Pale gums (indicates shock or severe blood loss) - Extreme temperature (fever over 40°C or hypothermia below 37°C) - Severe trauma from accidents - Signs of extreme pain

Urgent situations (requires veterinary care within hours) - Moderate bleeding - Visible wounds or lacerations - Limb dysfunction or inability to bear weight - Persistent vomiting or inability to hold water - Distended, hard abdomen - Loss of appetite lasting more than 12 hours - Inability to urinate or defecate

When to Seek Emergency Care

Don't delay—when in doubt, contact emergency veterinary services immediately.

Call emergency immediately if: - Dog is unconscious - Breathing is labored or absent - Uncontrollable bleeding - Severe trauma from accidents - Ingestion of toxins (chocolate, grapes, antifreeze, medications, etc.) - Signs of poisoning (drooling, tremors, difficulty walking) - Inability to urinate or defecate for more than 8-12 hours - Abdominal pain or distension - Severe eye injuries - Potential fractures - Suspected internal bleeding

Basic Life Support

CPR for dogs

Important: Only perform CPR if dog has no pulse and no breathing

1. Place dog on firm, flat surface
2. Position dog on right side
3. Locate heart (behind left front leg, in chest)
4. Apply chest compressions:
5. Give rescue breaths every 30 compressions:
6. Continue until:

Recovery position