Injuries in dogs and cats
Injuries are what happen on walks, in gardens, after fights, after falls. Most need calm assessment, simple first aid, and a vet phone call. Some — like a hit-by-car case or severe bleeding — need to go straight to the practice.
Every page leads with the action to take in the first 60 seconds.
Emergency — phone the vet now
- Cat
Cat choking on an object
Open the mouth, remove only what you can clearly see, deliver back blows, and head to the vet within 1–2 minutes if not cleared.
- Cat
Cat with an eye injury
Squinting, third eyelid showing, discharge, or cloudiness in a cat needs same-day vet review — feline eyes deteriorate quickly.
- Cat
Cat with string, thread, or tinsel hanging from mouth or anus
Visible string from mouth or anus is a linear foreign body emergency — DO NOT pull; cut visible end if practical and head to the vet now.
- Dog
Dog bitten by a UK adder
Carry the dog to the car — do not let them walk — and head to the vet now; antivenom works best within hours.
- Dog
Dog choking on an object
Open the mouth, look — only sweep with a finger if the object is clearly visible — then back blows or chest thrusts; head straight to the vet if not cleared in 1–2 minutes.
- DogCat
Dog or cat electric shock (chewed cable)
Cut the power at the mains before touching the pet, then check breathing and head straight to the vet — pulmonary oedema can develop hours later.
- DogCat
Dog or cat hit by a car (RTA)
Treat every road traffic accident as an emergency — internal injuries can be invisible and present hours later.
- Dog
Dog stung by a bee or wasp in the mouth or throat
Throat or mouth stings can cause airway swelling within minutes — phone the vet now and head to the practice; do not wait.
- Dog
Dog with a suspected broken leg
Do not attempt to splint or straighten the limb.
- Dog
Dog with an eye injury
Squinting, redness, discharge, cloudiness, or pawing at the eye — fit a buster collar and head to the vet today; eye conditions worsen rapidly.
- DogCat
Eye injury in a dog or cat (squinting, pawing, or visible damage)
Stop the pet rubbing the eye, do not try to flush with anything except sterile saline, and head to the vet today — most eye problems worsen rapidly without treatment.
- DogCat
Pet bleeding heavily
Apply firm, continuous direct pressure using the cleanest material available and get to a vet immediately.
- DogCat
Pet stuck or trapped
Do not pull the animal forcefully.
- DogCat
Pet with a burn injury
Cool with cool (not cold, not icy) running water for 20 minutes.
Urgent — same day vet contact
- DogCat
Burn injury in dogs and cats (heat, hot liquid, or chemical)
Cool the burn under cool (not ice-cold) running water for 10–20 minutes, do not apply creams or butter, and contact the vet for any burn larger than a 2p coin or affecting the face, paws, or genitals.
- Cat
Cat bite wound or abscess from a fight
Cat fight wounds are tiny on the surface but trap bacteria — book a vet visit promptly even if the cat seems fine; abscesses develop within 1–3 days.
- Cat
Cat injured in or after a hunting incident
Outdoor cat with bite/scratch injuries from prey or aggression — clean superficial wounds, monitor for abscess, and book a vet visit for any puncture.
- Cat
Cat with a broken tooth or dental pain
Drooling, dropping food, chewing on one side, or visible broken tooth in cats — book a vet appointment; feline dental disease is widespread and painful.
- Dog
Dog mouthing a toad (UK common toad)
Foaming, drooling, head shaking after mouthing a UK toad — rinse the mouth with water and phone the vet; UK toads cause local irritation, not the lethal toxicity of cane toads abroad.
- DogCat
Dog or cat with a cut paw pad
Clean with saline or clean water, apply firm pressure with a clean cloth for 5 minutes, bandage and head to a vet for anything deeper than a graze.
- Dog
Dog stung by a bee or wasp
Remove the sting if visible (scrape, do not squeeze), apply a cold compress, and watch closely for facial swelling or breathing changes for 60 minutes.
- Dog
Dog stung by a jellyfish on UK beaches
Rinse with sea water (not fresh), remove visible tentacles with a stick or gloved hand, and phone the vet — UK jellyfish stings vary, with lion's mane the most painful.
- Dog
Dog with a broken or torn nail
Apply firm pressure to stop bleeding, dip the tip in cornflour or styptic powder if you have it, and book a vet visit the same day for a fully torn or split-down-the-quick nail.
- Dog
Dog with a broken tooth
Visible broken tooth or sudden chewing on one side — phone the vet within 24 hours; broken teeth with exposed pulp are painful and become infected.
- Dog
Dog with a hot spot (acute moist dermatitis)
Hot spots spread fast — clip surrounding fur, gently clean, prevent further licking with a buster collar, and book a vet visit today.
- Dog
Grass seed in dog's paw, ear, eye, or nose
Sudden severe symptoms after a summer walk — limping, head shaking, eye squinting, or violent sneezing — point to grass seed; same-day vet visit prevents migration and abscess.
- DogCat
Paw pad burn from hot pavement
Move your pet off the hot surface immediately onto grass or a cool area.
- Dog
Suspected cruciate ligament rupture in dogs
Sudden severe lameness on a back leg, often after a twist or a jump, points to cruciate disease — book a vet visit; surgery is usually needed.
- Dog
Tail injury or 'happy tail' in dogs
Bleeding tail tip from wagging hard against walls or kennel walls — clean, bandage gently, and see the vet; tail wounds are notoriously hard to heal.
Monitor — routine vet appointment
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