Dog First Aid: Essential Skills Every Owner Should Know

Knowing basic first aid can stabilise your dog in an emergency while getting to the vet.

First Aid Kit Essentials

• Sterile saline for wound cleaning
• Non-stick wound dressings
• Conforming and cohesive bandage
• Digital thermometer
• Tick remover
• Muzzle — even gentle dogs bite when in pain

Normal Vital Signs

• Temperature: 38-39.2 degrees C
• Heart rate: 60-120 bpm
• Respiratory rate: 15-30 breaths per minute

When to Go to Emergency Vet

• Collapse or loss of consciousness
• Severe breathing difficulty
• Suspected poisoning
• Seizure lasting more than 5 minutes
• Suspected bloat

What NOT to Do

Never give human pain medication — paracetamol and ibuprofen are toxic to dogs. Do not induce vomiting without vet advice.