10 canine emergencies and what to do before the vet

This guide covers the 10 most common canine emergencies with first aid instructions. This information can make the difference between life and death while you get to the vet.

Important notice

This first aid does NOT replace the vet. These are temporary measures while you head to a clinic. Always keep to hand:

• Your regular vet's phone number
• The phone number of a 24h vet in your city
• The Animal PoisonLine phone number (01202 509000 in the UK)
• The location of the nearest vet clinic open at night

Canine first aid kit

Always keep at home:

• Sterile gauze + surgical tape + elastic bandages
• Digital thermometer (rectal, normal 38-39°C)
• Saline solution (to clean wounds, eyes)
• 0.5% chlorhexidine (non-toxic antiseptic)
• Blunt-tipped scissors
• Fine tweezers (ticks, thorns)
• Emergency thermal blanket
• Soft muzzle (dogs in pain may bite)
• A printed list of vet contacts in case your phone is out of battery

1. Gastric torsion (GDV)

LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY · 1-3 hours to act. More common in large, deep-chested breeds (Great Dane, German Shepherd, Boxer, Doberman).

Symptoms:

• Abdomen swollen and drum-hard
• Retching without bringing anything up
• Excessive drooling
• Extreme restlessness, unable to lie down
• Pale gums → shock

Action: vet IMMEDIATELY. Without urgent surgery, mortality is 100% within a few hours. Do NOT try to make it vomit.

Prevention: no intense exercise 1h before or after eating · 2 small meals instead of 1 large one · no drinking water in large gulps · a raised bowl in at-risk breeds.

2. Heatstroke

Especially dangerous in summer. Brachycephalic dogs (Bulldog, Pug, Boxer, Shih Tzu) are at extreme risk.

Symptoms:

• Extreme panting, very red tongue and heavy drooling
• Staggering, weakness
• Dark red gums → bright red → grey (shock)
• Vomiting, diarrhoea
• Temperature >40°C (fatal >42°C)
• Seizures, loss of consciousness

Action:

1. Move to shade/air-conditioned area
2. Pour plenty of cool or cold tap water (not ice-cold) all over its body, or put it in cool water if you can, and place a fan or air flow in front of it. Don't use ice or leave wet towels on top: they trap the heat. Call the clinic while you cool it.
3. Water in small sips (if conscious)
4. Vet immediately, even if it seems to improve — organ damage can appear 24-72h later

Prevention: NEVER in a closed car (at 25°C outside, inside >40°C in 30 min) · walks during cooler hours · plenty of water.

3. Poisoning

Common household toxins:

• Chocolate (cocoa >theobromine)
• Xylitol (sugar-free chewing gum, baking) — HYPER toxic
• Grapes and raisins — kidney damage even in small amounts
• Onion and garlic — haemolytic anaemia
• Avocado — vomiting
• Macadamia — tremors and weakness
• Rat poison — fatal internal bleeding without an early antidote
• Antifreeze (ethylene glycol) — very attractive sweet taste, fatal within hours
• Plants: lily, azalea, oleander, dieffenbachia, poinsettia

Action:

1. Call the vet or the Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 immediately
2. Identify the exact toxin (a photo of the packaging if possible)
3. Amount swallowed (estimate)
4. Time of ingestion
5. Dog's weight
6. Do NOT induce vomiting without instructions — some toxins get worse when vomited (corrosives)

4. Road accident

Immediate action:

1. Check the traffic to avoid being hit yourself
2. If conscious, put a muzzle on it (pain makes even the gentlest dogs bite)
3. Do NOT move it abruptly — possible internal fractures
4. If you must move it: a rigid board or blanket as a stretcher, supporting the back well
5. Apply pressure to visible bleeding with gauze or clean clothing
6. Keep it warm with a blanket
7. Urgent vet. Invisible internal injuries can be serious.

5. Choking / foreign body

If the dog is choking on something in its throat:

1. Open the mouth carefully (it may bite out of panic)
2. Look to see whether you can spot the object and remove it with a finger or tweezers
3. Canine Heimlich manoeuvre:
   • Small dogs: hold it up by the hind legs and shake gently
   • Large dogs: lay it on its side, press with both hands just below the ribs (direction forward and up), 5 sharp compressions
4. Repeat until the object comes out
5. Vet immediately even if the object comes out (possible internal damage)

6. Seizures

They may be primary epilepsy, poisoning, a brain tumour or hypoglycaemia.

Action:

1. Do NOT restrain it. Do NOT put anything in its mouth (it won't swallow its tongue, that's a myth).
2. Move dangerous objects out of the way around it
3. Time the duration (important for the vet)
4. Note the characteristics (limbs only, generalised, loss of sphincter control)
5. After it stops, the dog will be disorientated for 5-30 min (post-ictal period). Stay with it calmly.
6. Vet immediately if: it lasts >5 min, several seizures in 24h, first-ever seizure, does not regain consciousness

7. Severe external bleeding

1. Direct pressure with gauze or clean clothing over the wound
2. Maintain pressure for 5-10 minutes without lifting to check
3. If the gauze is soaked, add more on top (do NOT remove the previous one)
4. Raise the area if possible (a limb)
5. Bandage with moderate pressure (don't cut off circulation)
6. No tourniquets except as a last resort (necrosis risk)
7. Vet immediately

8. Visible fracture

Bone sticking out or a limb at a strange angle:

1. Muzzle (extreme pain, it may bite)
2. Do NOT try to reset the bone
3. Immobilise the area with a soft bandage (no pressure)
4. If exposed, cover with sterile gauze
5. Transport on a rigid surface or in firm arms
6. Urgent vet for an X-ray and surgery/cast

9. Bite (from another dog / snake)

From another dog:

1. Separate the dogs carefully (NEVER by the collars — bite risk)
2. Clean the wound with saline solution
3. Apply mild chlorhexidine
4. Vet within 6-12h even if it looks small (puncture wounds get infected)

Snake bite (rarer but it happens in the countryside):

1. Keep the dog calm (movement speeds up venom spread)
2. Do NOT suck, do NOT cut, do NOT use a tourniquet
3. Remember what the snake looked like (a photo if possible)
4. Vet immediately — antivenom is available if you get there in time

10. Shock

A state of circulatory failure. Cause: severe trauma, bleeding, poisoning, serious infection.

Symptoms:

• Very pale or blue gums
• Weak, rapid pulse
• Cold extremities
• Extreme listlessness
• Rapid, shallow breathing

Action:

1. Vet IMMEDIATELY
2. Keep it lying down and warm (blanket)
3. Raise the rear end slightly
4. Do NOT give water if it is unconscious
5. Keep the airways clear

In summary: identify symptoms quickly, stay calm, basic first aid while you head to the vet. Speed of reaction saves lives. Print this guide and leave it somewhere visible next to emergency phone numbers.