Pet First Aid Skills: CPR, Bandaging & More
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.
Emergency — phone the vet now
Urgent — same day vet contact
- 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.
- 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
- 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 emergency phone numbers.
- 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 stress.
- 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 is increasingly available.
- 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 change daily.
- 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 for your pet on a calm day before you need them in an emergency.
- Dog
How to clip a dog's nails safely
Clip small amounts at a time, watching for the quick.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 emergencies.
- Dog
Low-fat diet for dogs (pancreatitis recovery)
After pancreatitis, a strict low-fat diet is essential for recovery and long-term management.
- 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 a move or rehoming.
- 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 small print.
- 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 highest-risk breeds.
- 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 the first signs.
- Dog
Puppy-proofing your home
Walk through your home at puppy height and remove or secure every hazard before your puppy arrives.
- Cat
Safe flea treatment for cats
NEVER apply a dog flea product to a cat.
- 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.
- 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 but socialise carefully through carries and known healthy dog gardens.
- 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 change.
- 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.
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Vet-prescribed prescription & OTC treatments for dogs and cats
Prescription and over-the-counter treatments from a licensed UK veterinary pharmacy — flea, tick, worm, skin and wound care for dogs and cats.
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