Please note this is a guide for owners but is not intended to replace veterinary advice.

If you have any concerns regarding your pet, it is important to seek veterinary advice as soon as you can. However, we appreciate sometimes it isn’t always easy to contact your vet straight away. In those situations, we hope the information we provide within this pet first aid guide can help you if you ever need to help your pet if they accidently injure themselves.

The best way to be prepared for emergencies is to keep your vets number stored in the contacts of your phone and have a per first aid kit for use at home and a smaller one when you are out and about, maybe on a walk. Some people may prefer to have two, one at home and one in the car, other people may prefer to always carry the same one with them.

Here are some items you could store in your first aid kit:

  • Bandages
  • Blunt scissors
  • Cotton wool
  • Self-adhesive tape
  • Disposable gloves
  • Antiseptic wipes
  • Tick remover
  • Wound cleaner eg Hibiscrub
  • Dressings

Alternatively, there are ready put together kits that can be bought from several stores online.

It is important to remember that in an emergency your pet is likely to feel frightened and scared so they may react differently to normal, this could include lashing out and biting. With this in mind, you will want to keep your voice as calm as possible and be slow with your movements to help your pet stay calm and comforted.

Before beginning any first aid you should always assess the situation to make sure you are not putting yourself in danger as well, as if you get injured you will not be able to help your pet. If you can call your vets, do so, as they may be able to give you advice over the phone to help you administer first aid.

There are multiple online pet first aid courses if you want to learn more about the subject, there are also many guides you can read, like this one provided by the Royal Veterinary College that has the basic ‘to do’s’ for situations like bleeding, collapse, bites, and burns.

As always, if you are unsure about anything or need further advice, it is always best to speak to your local vet!