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

First aid buys time. It does not replace veterinary care, and a few well-meant actions make things worse.

Bleeding

Firm direct pressure with a clean cloth for at least five minutes without lifting to check. Tourniquets are a last resort for a limb that is otherwise unsalvageable.

Choking

If the animal can still breathe or cough, let it. If not, open the mouth and look — remove only what you can clearly see and grasp. Blind finger sweeps push objects deeper.

Seizures

Do not restrain, and do not put anything in the mouth. Clear hard objects away, dim the light, time it. Any seizure lasting more than three minutes, or clusters, is an emergency.

A kit worth keeping

Gauze, non-stick pads, self-adhesive bandage, blunt scissors, saline, a digital thermometer, styptic powder, a tick remover, and your vet's number saved on speed dial.