Pet First-Aid Checklist (Emergency Reference)
A pet first-aid checklist — owner + pet info, vet + 24-hour ER vet contacts, poison control number, common emergencies (bleeding, choking, heatstroke, poisoning, seizure, broken bone) with steps, transport-to-vet rule, kit contents.
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PET FIRST-AID EMERGENCY REFERENCE
Owner: Morgan Lee Pet: Cooper
Species: Dog — Golden Retriever Age/Weight: 5 years · 68 lbs
Allergies/conditions: Bee-sting reaction (carry Benadryl); mild hip dysplasia
Current meds: Carprofen 75 mg PRN for hip pain
EMERGENCY CONTACTS (CALL FIRST)
Primary vet: Springfield Animal Hospital · (217) 555-0144 · 14 Main St
24-hr ER vet: Lincoln Emergency Veterinary Center · (217) 555-0999
Poison control: ASPCA Animal Poison Control · (888) 426-4435 ($95 fee)
Human contact: Sam Patel · (217) 555-2210
★ CALL A VET BEFORE ACTING. ★
When in doubt, transport to the ER vet. These steps STABILIZE
for transport — they do NOT replace veterinary care.
1) BLEEDING (heavy)
• Apply direct pressure with clean cloth or gauze for 3 full minutes.
• Do NOT lift to peek — pressure must be uninterrupted.
• If bleeding through, add a second pad on top — do not remove the first.
• Elevate the wound above heart level if possible.
• Transport to vet immediately.
2) CHOKING (cannot breathe, pawing at mouth, blue tongue)
• If you can see the object: gently sweep with finger.
• Do NOT push the object further down.
• Small dog/cat: hold upside down by hips, sharp shakes.
• Large dog: Heimlich — stand behind, fist below ribcage, sharp upward thrusts (3-5).
• Transport even after dislodging — airway damage possible.
3) HEATSTROKE (panting hard, drooling, weak, collapse, temp >104°F)
• Move to shade / cool area immediately.
• Apply cool (NOT ice) water to belly, paws, ears.
• Offer small sips of water if conscious.
• Do NOT submerge in ice — causes shock + constriction.
• Transport to vet — internal damage possible even after cooling.
4) POISONING (vomiting, drooling, seizures, collapse, known ingestion)
• Call poison control (ASPCA $95 fee — worth it) FIRST.
• Note the substance + amount + time ingested.
• Do NOT induce vomiting unless told to (some toxins damage on the way back up).
• Bring the packaging / plant / sample with you to the vet.
• Common: chocolate, grapes/raisins, xylitol, lilies (cats), ibuprofen, antifreeze.
5) SEIZURE
• Do NOT restrain — clear hazards from around the pet.
• Time the seizure (>3 min = emergency).
• Dim lights, low noise, no touching.
• After seizure: keep warm, quiet; cool water sips if alert.
• First seizure ever OR >1 in 24 hr → transport now.
6) BROKEN BONE / SEVERE LAMENESS
• Do NOT realign — splinting at home risks more damage.
• Confine to a carrier or stretcher.
• Muzzle (even gentle dogs may bite from pain).
• Transport without weight on the limb.
7) CARDIAC ARREST (not breathing, no pulse)
• Check airway, sweep mouth.
• Compressions: lateral chest, 100-120/min, 1/3 to 1/2 chest depth.
- <30 lbs: one hand
- >30 lbs: two hands
• 30 compressions : 2 rescue breaths (mouth-to-snout, hold mouth closed).
• Continue while transporting.
8) BURNS
• Cool (NOT ice) water over burn 10 min.
• Cover with damp clean cloth — no ointment.
• Transport — burns underestimate badly.
9) BEE STING / ALLERGIC REACTION
• Scrape stinger out with credit card (do NOT pinch — squeezes venom).
• Benadryl: 1 mg per lb body weight (verify dose with vet ahead of time).
• Watch for swelling of face / throat — that is anaphylaxis: transport NOW.
10) BLOAT (GDV — big-chested dogs: Great Dane, Lab, Setter)
• Symptoms: distended belly, unproductive retching, restless, drooling.
• EMERGENCY — transport immediately, this kills within hours.
• Do NOT give food / water.
FIRST-AID KIT (have ready)
• Gauze pads + vet wrap + adhesive tape
• Hydrogen peroxide 3% (induce vomiting ONLY when poison control says yes)
• Saline solution (eye flush + wound rinse)
• Antibiotic ointment (NOT for eyes / large wounds)
• Tweezers + scissors + nail clippers (styptic powder for nail bleeds)
• Digital thermometer (normal dog 100.5-102.5°F; cat 100.5-102.5°F)
• Muzzle sized to your pet (any injured pet may bite from pain)
• Benadryl tablets (verify dose with vet)
• Carrier / blanket for transport
• Photocopy of this checklist + vet records
About this template
**Pet first aid is about stabilization for transport** — not replacement of veterinary care. Almost every emergency listed on this card is followed by "transport to vet" because the goal is to keep the pet alive, conscious, and protected from further injury during the drive to the clinic. The single biggest source of preventable harm in a pet emergency is the **wrong intervention** — inducing vomiting after the wrong poison (corrosives, sharps), submerging a heatstroke pet in ice (causes shock + peripheral vasoconstriction that traps heat), feeding water to an unconscious pet (aspiration), realigning a broken limb (turns a fracture into a compound fracture). A second source of harm is **delay**. **GDV (bloat) in big-chested breeds**, **heatstroke** in summer, **antifreeze ingestion**, and **chocolate / xylitol toxicity** all kill within hours. When the symptoms appear, call the vet from the car. The **ASPCA Animal Poison Control hotline** (888-426-4435, $95 fee) is worth every dollar — they consult with veterinarians in real time on toxin ingestion and tell you whether vomiting helps or harms. **Keep this card visible** — fridge, glove box, dog walker's briefing folder. The emergencies on this card are the ones a typical pet sitter or family member needs to recognize, not the full toxicology textbook. Five practical setup rules. **(1) Know your vet hours** and have the **24-hour ER vet** programmed in the phone. (2) Keep a **muzzle sized for your pet** in the kit — even gentle dogs bite from pain. (3) Keep **Benadryl** with verified dose (1 mg per pound body weight) — bee-sting + allergic reaction is the most common "do I have time to call?" question. (4) Photograph the **bottle, plant, or substance** ingested before driving to the vet — the toxin is often more useful than the symptom. (5) Update the **vet records summary** twice a year — current meds, vaccinations, weight — because the emergency vet who has never seen your pet is faster with a paper history than with twenty minutes of phone calls. **This card is educational; it is not a substitute for a licensed veterinarian.** When the situation is ambiguous, transport.
When to use it
- On the fridge as the household emergency reference.
- Pet-sitter / dog-walker briefing folder.
- Travel kit when leaving the house with the pet.
- Boarding kennel or daycare intake form.
What to include
- Owner + pet identity, weight, allergies, current meds.
- Primary vet + 24-hour ER vet contacts.
- Animal poison control hotline.
- Step-by-step emergency procedures for 8-10 common scenarios.
- Kit contents to keep on hand.
- "Call vet, do not act blindly" disclaimer at the top.