Pet first aid skills
Practical first aid skills are best learned before you need them. This section covers CPR, taking a temperature, checking pulse and breathing, bandaging a paw, building a UK pet first aid kit, and knowing when to call the emergency vet.
For hands-on training, a Pet First Aid course is genuinely worth doing. Every page links to professional sources at the bottom.
Emergency — phone the vet now
Urgent — same day vet contact
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Dog
Dog with a bandage that's too tight or wet
Cold, swollen, smelly toes, or a wet bandage need immediate attention — remove the bandage and phone the vet.
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DogCat
How to safely move an injured dog or cat
Use a board, blanket, or coat as a stretcher; muzzle a painful dog (never a cat); keep the spine straight; minimise handling.
Monitor — routine vet appointment
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DogCat
Building a UK pet first aid kit (dogs and cats)
A basic kit costs around £20–40 and covers most home and walk emergencies — gauze, bandages, blunt scissors, tick hook, sterile saline, and …
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Cat
End-of-life decisions and euthanasia for cats
Cats hide deterioration — quality-of-life assessment with the vet matters; home euthanasia is increasingly available and reduces the cat's s…
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Dog
End-of-life decisions and euthanasia for dogs
Quality-of-life assessment — pain, mobility, eating, interaction, dignity — guides timing; the vet supports the decision and home euthanasia…
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Dog
How to bandage a dog's paw or lower leg
Pad between the toes, cover the wound with a non-stick dressing, wrap firmly enough that two fingers slide under at the top, and re-check or…
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DogCat
How to check a pet's pulse and breathing rate
Find the femoral pulse high on the inner thigh; count breaths by watching the chest for 30 seconds and doubling — establish normal numbers f…
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DogCat
How to safely remove a tick from a dog or cat
Use a tick hook or fine-tipped tweezers to grip at skin level and twist gently anti-clockwise — never burn, smother, or yank.
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DogCat
How to take a dog or cat's temperature
Use a digital rectal thermometer with a little water-based lubricant — normal range is 38.3–39.2°C; above 39.5°C is fever, above 40°C is eme…
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DogCat
Low-cost UK vet options
PDSA, Blue Cross, and RSPCA hospitals offer reduced-cost or free care for those on qualifying benefits; some vets offer payment plans for em…
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DogCat
Microchipping and keeping details up to date
Microchipping is legally required for UK dogs and cats; details must be kept current — use the database (Petlog, Identibase) to update after…
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Dog
Pet insurance basics for UK dogs
Pet insurance protects against unexpected costs — choose lifetime cover for chronic conditions, get it before any health issue, and read the…
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Dog
Preventing bloat (GDV) in dogs
Bloat is preventable in deep-chested breeds — multiple small meals, slow feeding, no exercise around food, and consider gastropexy in highes…
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Dog
Preventing heat stroke in dogs (UK summer guide)
UK summer heat stroke is preventable — walk early/late, never leave dogs in cars, use 5-second pavement test, and cool with damp towels at t…
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Cat
UK kitten vaccination schedule
First kitten vaccine at 9 weeks, second at 12 weeks; annual boosters; full protection 1-2 weeks after second jab.
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Dog
UK puppy vaccination and socialisation schedule
First vaccination at 6-8 weeks, second at 10-12 weeks; full protection ~2 weeks after second jab — until then keep puppy off public ground b…
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Cat
When to call an emergency vet (cats)
Cats hide illness — phone the vet for any cat off food over 24 hours, breathing changes, urinary straining, jaundice, or sudden behavioural …
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Dog
When to call an emergency vet (dogs)
If in doubt, phone — emergency vets and Vets Now triage by phone for free; your home vet should provide an out-of-hours number 24/7.