Dog First Aid UK: What to Do in a Pet Emergency

Knowing basic dog first aid can save your dog's life in the minutes before you reach a vet. The most important rule is this: first aid stabilises, it does not treat. Every serious situation ends with an immediate call to your vet or, out of hours, an emergency practice. This guide covers the most common emergencies UK dog owners face and exactly what to do.

Before Any Emergency: Have the Numbers Ready

Save these before you need them:

• Your daytime vet's number
• Your out-of-hours emergency vet's number (ask your practice who covers them)
• Animal Poison Line: 0300 999 0077 (24-hour, per-call charge of approximately £35, run by the Veterinary Poisons Information Service)

The Animal Poison Line is specifically for suspected poisoning. For all other emergencies, your vet or emergency vet is the first call.

Suspected Poisoning

Signs: vomiting, drooling, tremors, collapse, seizures, disorientation, pale gums. Many toxins cause no immediate signs.

What to do:

1. Remove your dog from the source immediately
2. Call the Animal Poison Line (0300 999 0077) or your vet immediately
3. Note what was ingested and when, and the approximate quantity
4. Do not induce vomiting unless specifically instructed by a vet or the Poison Line
5. Take the packaging of the substance to the vet with you

Common UK poisons include xylitol (in some peanut butters and sugar-free foods), grapes and raisins, chocolate, onions, antifreeze (ethylene glycol), ibuprofen and paracetamol, slug pellets and rat poison. Rat poison in particular may not cause visible symptoms for 3 to 5 days: do not wait for signs if ingestion is suspected.

Choking

Signs: pawing at the mouth, gagging, blue-tinged gums, distress, inability to bark normally.

What to do:

1. Look in the mouth if it is safe to do so without being bitten: a distressed dog may bite reflexively
2. If you can see the object clearly, try to remove it with your fingers; do not blindly sweep
3. For a small dog, hold them upside down briefly and allow gravity to help
4. For a larger dog, try the canine Heimlich: kneel behind the dog, wrap your arms around the abdomen just behind the ribcage, and apply firm upward and forward pressure
5. If the dog loses consciousness, call your vet immediately and begin rescue breathing if you are trained to do so

Bleeding Wounds

Signs: visible blood, laceration or puncture wound.

What to do:

1. Apply firm, direct pressure with a clean cloth or bandage pad
2. Do not remove the cloth if it soaks through: add more on top and maintain pressure
3. For limb wounds, elevate the limb if possible
4. Do not apply a tourniquet unless you have been trained to use one
5. Get to a vet as soon as possible: wounds that bleed heavily, involve punctures from bites or sharp objects, or are near the eyes, face or joints need prompt veterinary assessment

Minor cuts that stop bleeding within a few minutes and are not deep can be cleaned gently with clean water and monitored. Bite wounds always require veterinary assessment even if they appear small: the damage beneath the skin is often far greater than the entry point suggests.

Suspected Fracture

Signs: non-weight-bearing lameness, visible deformity, swelling, extreme pain on touch.

What to do:

1. Keep the dog as still and calm as possible
2. Do not attempt to splint the limb
3. For transport, support the dog's body and minimise movement of the injured area
4. Muzzle the dog if needed for safety: even the calmest dog may bite when in severe pain. Use a soft lead, tie or purpose-made muzzle. Do not muzzle if breathing is compromised.
5. Call your vet immediately

Burns and Scalds

Signs: redness, blistering, singed fur, pain on touch, the dog licking a specific area.

What to do:

1. Cool the area immediately with cool (not cold or iced) running water for a minimum of 10 minutes
2. Do not apply butter, toothpaste or any cream
3. Cover loosely with a clean, damp cloth
4. Get to a vet: burns are often more serious than they appear and can cause shock

Chemical burns require the same water treatment: rinse for at least 20 minutes and call your vet immediately. Wear gloves if possible to avoid contact with the chemical.

Heatstroke

Signs: excessive panting, drooling, red or purple gums, vomiting, collapse, disorientation. Most common in brachycephalic breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Bulldogs) and in dogs left in cars.

What to do:

1. Move the dog to a cool, shaded area immediately
2. Wet the dog with cool (not ice cold) water: focus on the neck, armpits and groin
3. Fan the dog while wetting them
4. Offer small amounts of cool water to drink if conscious
5. Call your vet immediately: heatstroke requires veterinary treatment even if the dog appears to recover

Do not use ice or ice-cold water: this causes blood vessels near the skin to constrict, trapping heat inside. Do not cover the dog with wet towels: these trap heat rather than allowing it to dissipate.

The PDSA advises that heatstroke can be fatal within minutes. A dog left in a car on a 22-degree day can experience fatal heatstroke within an hour.

Bloat (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus)

Signs: distended, hard abdomen, unproductive retching (trying to vomit without producing anything), distress, restlessness, collapse. Most common in large, deep-chested breeds: Great Danes, Weimaraners, German Shepherds, Standard Poodles, Dobermanns, Irish Setters.

What to do: This is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate surgery. There is no home treatment.

1. Call your vet or emergency vet immediately: do not wait to see if it resolves
2. Keep the dog calm and still
3. Do not give food or water
4. Get to the vet as fast as safely possible

Without treatment, bloat can be fatal within hours.

Seizures

Signs: loss of consciousness, convulsions, paddling legs, jaw chomping, loss of bladder or bowel control, foaming at the mouth.

What to do:

1. Stay calm and time the seizure
2. Do not restrain the dog or put your hands near their mouth: dogs do not swallow their tongues
3. Remove any nearby objects that could cause injury
4. Dim the lights and reduce noise if possible
5. A single seizure lasting less than 2 to 3 minutes: call your vet during or immediately after; monitor the dog closely
6. Seizure lasting more than 3 minutes, or multiple seizures in quick succession: emergency vet immediately. Prolonged seizures (status epilepticus) require urgent medical intervention.

After a seizure, dogs are often disoriented, wobbly and may temporarily lose vision. This passes within minutes to an hour. Keep them calm and confined.

Road Traffic Accidents

Signs: obvious trauma, pain, shock (pale gums, rapid breathing, weak pulse), inability to move.

What to do:

1. Ensure your own safety first: move the dog off the road using a blanket, coat or board as a stretcher if possible, supporting the whole body
2. Check for breathing: if not breathing and you are trained, begin CPR
3. Control any obvious bleeding with direct pressure
4. Keep the dog warm and as still as possible: spinal injuries are possible
5. Call your vet or emergency vet immediately

Do not assume the dog is uninjured because they are conscious and moving: internal injuries may not be immediately apparent.

For broader guidance on preventative health care, see our Dog Health Hub. For symptoms that warrant a same-day vet visit rather than an emergency, see our guide to Signs Your Dog Needs a Vet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I muzzle my dog in an emergency?

Only if it is safe to do so and will prevent a bite to you or others. Use a soft lead, tights or a commercial muzzle. Never muzzle a dog that is vomiting, having breathing difficulties, or has a suspected muzzle or jaw injury.

What should be in a dog first aid kit?

A basic kit should include: absorbent wound dressings, cohesive bandage, adhesive tape, sterile saline wash, blunt-ended scissors, tick remover, digital thermometer (normal dog temperature: 38 to 39.2 degrees Celsius), disposable gloves, a foil emergency blanket and a copy of the Animal Poison Line number.

Can I give my dog human pain relief like ibuprofen or paracetamol?

No. Ibuprofen and paracetamol are both toxic to dogs and can cause organ failure. Never give human pain relief to a dog without specific veterinary instruction. If your dog is in pain, call your vet for guidance.

How do I know if my dog is in shock?

Signs of shock include pale, white or blue-tinged gums, rapid and shallow breathing, a rapid and weak pulse, cold extremities and extreme lethargy or collapse. Shock is a medical emergency: call your vet or emergency vet immediately.

What is the normal temperature for a dog?

A healthy dog's rectal temperature is 38 to 39.2 degrees Celsius. Below 37.5 degrees suggests hypothermia; above 39.5 degrees suggests fever or heatstroke. A thermometer specifically for pets is a useful addition to a first aid kit.

Is there a dog first aid course available in the UK?

Yes. The Pet First Aid Registrar and Canine First Aid both offer accredited dog first aid courses in the UK, available as in-person and online options. These are worth doing: reading about techniques is not a substitute for practice.