Dog First Aid: What to Do in an Emergency Before You Reach the Vet

Every Dog Owner Should Know Basic First Aid

Emergencies don't give you time to Google. Knowing what to do in the critical minutes before you reach a vet can mean the difference between life and death for your dog. This guide covers the most common dog emergencies in Australia and the first aid steps you can take right now.

Important: First aid is not a substitute for veterinary care. Always contact your vet or an emergency animal hospital as soon as possible.

Emergency Contacts to Save Right Now

  • Animal Poisons Helpline Australia: 1300 869 738 (24/7)
  • Your regular vet's after-hours number
  • Your nearest 24-hour emergency animal hospital

1. Heatstroke

Heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency that can develop within minutes in hot conditions.

Signs: Excessive panting, drooling, red gums, vomiting, weakness, collapse, seizures.

What to do:

  1. Move your dog to a cool, shaded area immediately
  2. Apply cool (not cold or icy) water to their body, especially the neck, armpits, and groin
  3. Use a fan if available
  4. Offer small amounts of cool water to drink if conscious
  5. Do not use ice — it can cause blood vessels to constrict and slow cooling
  6. Get to a vet immediately, even if your dog seems to recover

2. Bleeding

What to do:

  1. Apply firm, direct pressure to the wound using a clean cloth or bandage
  2. Do not remove the cloth if it becomes soaked — add more on top
  3. For limb wounds, keep the limb elevated if possible
  4. Do not apply a tourniquet unless bleeding is severe and uncontrollable, and you have no other option
  5. Get to a vet as soon as possible

3. Choking

Signs: Pawing at the mouth, gagging, blue-tinged gums, distress, inability to breathe.

What to do:

  1. Look inside the mouth and remove any visible obstruction with your fingers — only if you can clearly see it and safely reach it
  2. Do not do a blind finger sweep — you may push the object further in
  3. If the object is not visible, perform the Heimlich manoeuvre: for large dogs, stand behind them, place your hands just below the ribcage, and give 3–5 firm upward thrusts; for small dogs, hold them with their back against your chest and apply the same technique
  4. Get to a vet immediately

4. Suspected Poisoning

Signs: Vomiting, drooling, tremors, seizures, collapse, pale gums, difficulty breathing.

What to do:

  1. Remove your dog from the source of the toxin
  2. Do NOT induce vomiting unless specifically instructed by a vet or the Poisons Helpline
  3. Call the Animal Poisons Helpline (1300 869 738) or your vet immediately
  4. Bring the packaging or a photo of the substance to the vet
  5. Note the time of exposure and how much your dog may have ingested

5. Snakebite

Signs: Sudden weakness or collapse (may appear to recover), trembling, dilated pupils, vomiting, paralysis progressing from hind legs forward.

What to do:

  1. Keep your dog as still and calm as possible — carry them, don't let them walk
  2. Do not cut the wound, suck out venom, or apply a tourniquet
  3. Get to a vet immediately — antivenom is the only effective treatment
  4. Take a photo of the snake from a safe distance if possible

6. Seizures

What to do:

  1. Stay calm and keep your dog safe from injuring themselves — move furniture away
  2. Do not restrain your dog or put anything in their mouth
  3. Time the seizure — if it lasts more than 5 minutes, this is a medical emergency
  4. Keep the environment quiet and dark
  5. After the seizure, keep your dog warm and calm, and contact your vet immediately

7. Dog CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)

If your dog is unconscious and not breathing:

  1. Check for a heartbeat by placing your hand on the left side of the chest, just behind the front leg
  2. If no heartbeat: place your dog on their right side on a firm surface
  3. For medium to large dogs: place both hands over the widest part of the chest and compress 30 times at a rate of 100–120 per minute
  4. For small dogs: use one hand or two fingers
  5. After 30 compressions, give 2 rescue breaths by closing the mouth and breathing into the nose
  6. Continue until the dog breathes on their own or you reach a vet

Consider completing a pet first aid course — several are available online and in-person across Australia.

Build Your Dog First Aid Kit

  • Sterile gauze pads and bandages
  • Adhesive tape (not on fur)
  • Digital thermometer (normal dog temp: 38–39°C)
  • Saline solution for wound cleaning
  • Blunt-ended scissors
  • Disposable gloves
  • Emergency vet and Poisons Helpline numbers
  • Your dog's medical records and microchip number

And don't forget — in any emergency, knowing exactly where your dog is matters. A GPS tracker or AirTag in a secure Pawfetchers waterproof collar holder means you can find your dog fast when every second counts.

Back to blog
1 3