Build a compact first aid kit
- Bandaging: vet wrap, gauze squares, non-stick pads, adhesive tape
- Cleaning: sterile saline pods, alcohol gel for your hands
- Tools: blunt-tip scissors, tweezers, tick remover
- Monitoring: digital thermometer, water-based lubricant
- Safety: soft muzzle or elastic bandage to fashion one if pain makes biting likely
- Transport: spare harness, short leash, towel or blanket
- Info: copy of current meds and doses, clinic phone numbers, notepad and pen
Store a full kit at home and a lighter version in the car.
Check vital signs calmly
- Gums: healthy is pink and moist
- Heart rate: about 70 to 120 beats per minute, faster when stressed
- Breathing: smooth and regular, no tugging at the ribs
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Temperature: about 38.0 to 39.2 °C
Practice these checks during quiet cuddle time so they feel normal.
Spine-safe handling
- Suspected back pain or hind-end weakness requires strict care.
- Do not let your dog walk to the car.
- Slide one arm under the chest and the other under the hindquarters so the back stays level.
- Place on a firm, padded surface in a crate or box that prevents rolling.
Cuts and scrapes
- Rinse once with sterile saline.
- Pat dry and cover with a non-stick pad.
- Wrap lightly with vet wrap. Toes must stay warm and pink.
- Seek a vet for deep, dirty, gaping, or bite wounds, or if bleeding restarts.
Bleeding control
- Apply firm pressure for 5 to 10 minutes without lifting the pad to check.
- If blood soaks through, add layers on top.
- Use a soft muzzle if pain makes handling unsafe.
Torn nails and paw injuries
- Press a gauze square to the nail for several minutes.
- Cover with a clean sock and tape at the ankle.
- Vet review is best if bleeding restarts or the nail bed is exposed.
Eyes and ears
- Flush minor eye debris once with saline, then stop. Do not rub.
- Do not use human eye drops.
- For ear irritation, keep the ear dry and book a vet visit. Avoid cotton buds inside the canal.
Tummy upsets
- If mild and your dog is bright, offer small water sips and a bland diet only on your vet’s advice.
- Go to the vet for repeated vomiting, blood in stool, black stool, belly swelling, or lethargy.
Heat and cold
- Heat stress: move to shade or air conditioning, offer small sips of cool water, wet belly, armpits, groin, and paw pads with cool water, then travel to the clinic if signs persist. Do not use ice baths.
- Cold and wet: towel dry, provide warmth, and watch seniors for shivering or stiffness.
Ticks and toxins
- Run hands over the body after bush or coastal walks. Check lips, ears, under collar, armpits, belly, groin, between toes, and tail base.
- If you find a tick, remove with a proper tool close to the skin or head to the vet promptly.
- For toxins, note what, how much, and when. Bring the packet or a photo. Do not induce vomiting unless a vet instructs you.
Seizures
- Time the event, clear space, dim lights, keep voices calm.
- Do not hold your dog or place anything in the mouth.
- If a seizure lasts over two minutes or repeats, leave for the clinic at once.
What not to do
- Do not give human painkillers.
- Do not delay overnight for severe pain, breathing issues, collapse, or back signs.
- Do not splint a limb unless transport is impossible and you have training.
Record and communicate
- Write a short timeline: when signs started, what you did, any meds given.
- Bring notes and any videos of gait changes or unusual behaviour.
Practice that pays off
- Once a month, rehearse a gentle lift, crate loading, and a short drive past the clinic.
- Replace expired items in your kit every six months.
A calm checklist and a ready kit turn panic into action. Treat first aid as a bridge to veterinary care, keep the spine level, and choose transport over trial-and-error treatments at home.
