Dog or cat hit by a car (RTA)

Recognise the signs

• Visible wounds, bleeding, scuffed pads, or limb at an unnatural angle
• Difficulty breathing — diaphragmatic rupture or punctured lung is common
• Pale or muddy gums (shock or internal bleeding)
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Distended or painful abdomen
• Limpness or unresponsiveness
• No outward signs at all — does not rule out injury

First aid steps

1. Make the scene safe — move yourself and the pet away from traffic before doing anything else.
2. Approach calmly — injured pets bite from pain. Use a slip lead or improvised muzzle on a dog, but never muzzle a vomiting, choking or struggling-to-breathe pet.
3. Slide a coat, blanket or board under the pet as a stretcher — keep the spine as straight as possible.
4. Apply firm pressure with cloth or gauze to any heavily bleeding wound.
5. Phone the emergency vet and start driving.

While transporting to the vet

• Keep the pet warm — cover with a blanket but do not wrap tightly across the chest.
• Lay on the uninjured side if known.
• Do not give food, water or any medication.
• Phone ahead with breed, weight, and a brief injury summary.

Common causes

• Off-lead dog near a road
• Cat with outdoor access, especially at dawn and dusk
• Lost pet during fireworks, thunderstorms, or moves
• Driveway or reversing accidents at home

What the vet will need to know

• Approximate speed and angle of impact if known
• Time of accident
• Whether the pet was unconscious at any point
• Visible injuries identified
• Any vomiting, blood from nose or mouth
• Last meal time

Aftercare

• Most RTA pets are admitted overnight for observation, IV fluids and pain relief.
• Repeat chest X-rays at 24 and 48 hours — pneumothorax and diaphragmatic hernia can develop.
• Strict cage or crate rest for 2–6 weeks for fractures or soft-tissue injuries.
• Watch urine output for the first 72 hours — bladder rupture can be silent.

Prevention

• Lead and harness on dogs near any road, even quiet ones.
• Keep cats in at dusk and dawn, when most cat RTAs occur.
• Microchip and keep details up to date — recovery rate after an RTA depends on identification.
• Reflective collars for cats with outdoor access.
• Check around and underneath the car before reversing on driveways.

Breed-specific notes

• Sighthounds and small terriers more likely to chase and break recall near roads.
• Outdoor cats under 2 years are highest risk demographic for RTAs.

Frequently asked questions

Related topics

• Recognising and managing shock in dogs and cats
• Cat breathing through an open mouth
• Pale or white gums in dogs and cats