What should I do if my dog is choking?

Stay calm and look in the mouth — if you can clearly see the object and reach it safely, remove it with fingers or pliers without pushing it deeper. If you can't, do a pet Heimlich: for a large dog, stand behind them and give firm thrusts up and forward under the ribcage; for a small dog or cat, hold them with the back against you and give gentle thrusts below the ribs. Get to a vet immediately.

How do you perform CPR on a dog or cat?

If the pet is unconscious and not breathing with no heartbeat: lay them on their side, give 30 chest compressions (about 100–120 per minute, pressing one-third to one-half the chest width), then 2 rescue breaths by closing the mouth and breathing into the nose. Continue 30:2 and get to an emergency vet as fast as possible.

What do I do if my pet is poisoned?

Do not wait for symptoms and do not induce vomiting unless a professional tells you to. Call your vet or a poison line immediately — in the US, ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 — and have the product or substance, the amount, and your pet's weight ready.

Pet First Aid Guide

Calm, step-by-step help for the scariest moments — what to do on the way to the vet.

🚨 In an emergency, call your vet or nearest animal ER first. US poison lines: ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 · Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661. First aid buys time — it does not replace a vet.

Quick answer In any pet emergency: stay calm, keep yourself safe (scared pets bite), call your vet or animal ER right away, and give first aid on the way. For choking, clear the airway / pet Heimlich; for no breathing or heartbeat, start CPR (30 compressions : 2 breaths); for poisoning, call a poison line and don't induce vomiting unless told to; for bleeding, apply firm pressure; for heatstroke, cool with room-temperature water and go.

Tap an emergency for steps

🫁 Choking

1. Stay calm and gently open the mouth. If you can clearly see the object and reach it safely, remove it with fingers or tweezers — never blindly sweep or push it deeper.

2. If you can't remove it, do a pet Heimlich: for a large dog, stand behind, wrap arms under the ribcage, and give firm thrusts up-and-forward; for a small dog or cat, hold their back against your chest and give gentle thrusts just below the ribs.

3. Re-check the mouth, then go to the vet immediately — even if the object comes out, the throat may be injured.

❤️ Not breathing — CPR

Only if the pet is unconscious, not breathing, and has no heartbeat:

1. Lay them on their side on a firm surface.

2. Compressions: 30 firm, fast pushes on the widest part of the chest — about 100–120 per minute, pressing ⅓–½ the chest width. (For cats/small dogs you can cup the chest one-handed.)

3. Rescue breaths: close the mouth, breathe into the nose twice until the chest rises.

4. Continue 30 compressions : 2 breaths and get to an ER fast — ideally have someone drive while you continue.

☠️ Poisoning

1. Move your pet away from the poison. Note what, how much, and when.

2. Call a poison line now: ASPCA (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661, or your vet.

3. Do not induce vomiting unless a professional tells you to — for some toxins (and for cats) it makes things worse.

4. Bring the packaging or a sample with you. See our toxic foods list.

🩸 Bleeding / wounds

1. Press firmly on the wound with a clean cloth or gauze for 3–5 minutes without lifting to peek.

2. If blood soaks through, add more cloth on top — don't remove the first layer.

3. For a limb, you can wrap a snug (not tourniquet-tight) bandage. Keep your pet calm and get to the vet for heavy or spurting bleeding.

🥵 Heatstroke

Signs: heavy panting, drooling, bright red gums, wobbliness, collapse. This is an emergency.

1. Move to shade/AC immediately.

2. Cool with cool (not ice-cold) water over the body, especially belly and paws; a fan helps.

3. Offer small sips of water if conscious.

4. Go to the vet even if they seem to recover — heatstroke causes internal damage that shows up hours later.

⚡ Seizure

1. Don't restrain or put hands near the mouth. Clear the area of hard objects.

2. Dim lights, keep quiet, and time it.

3. Most seizures pass in 1–2 minutes. Call the vet after; go immediately if it lasts over 5 minutes or they come in clusters.

🦴 Suspected broken bone

1. Keep your pet as still as possible; muzzle gently if needed (pain causes biting), unless they're vomiting or struggling to breathe.

2. Don't try to splint or reset it — you can do more harm. Support the body on a flat surface/board.

3. Transport calmly to the vet.

Build a pet first aid kit

Keep one at home and in the car: gauze and non-stick bandages, self-adhesive wrap, blunt scissors, tweezers/tick tool, digital thermometer, saline, disposable gloves, a clean towel/blanket, a muzzle, and your vet + poison-line numbers. A pet first aid course (Red Cross and others) is well worth it.

⚠️ This guide is for emergency awareness and can't replace hands-on veterinary care or a certified first aid course. When in doubt, get to a vet.

Frequently asked questions

What's a pet's normal temperature?

About 101–102.5°F (38.3–39.2°C) for dogs and cats — higher than humans. Over 103°F or under 99°F warrants a vet call.

Should I induce vomiting at home?

Only if a vet or poison line specifically tells you to, and never in cats. Some substances cause more damage coming back up.

How do I check a pulse/heartbeat?

Feel for the heartbeat on the left side of the chest behind the front leg, or a pulse on the inner thigh. Practising on a healthy pet helps you stay calm in a crisis.