There are many possible emergencies from automobile injury, to acute internal problems such as an intestinal blockage, but the following are the most serious and require immediate attention:

• Any severe difficulty in breathing
• Heart failure
• Massive hemorrhage (bleeding)
• Profound shock from any cause
• Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions)
• Penetrating wounds of the thorax (chest) or abdomen
• Coma and loss of consciousness
• Poisoning
• Massive injuries to the body
• Seizures
• Burns and scalds
• Heat stroke
• Bites and fight wounds
• Continuous vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Canine bloat (gastric dilation)
• Emergencies to the eye

• Keep calm.
• Contact the veterinary hospital, appraise them of the situation and get first aid advice.
• Keep your pet warm, as quiet as possible, and keep movement to a minimum if there is possible trauma, broken limbs, etc.
• Obtain a suitable container such as a strong cardboard box. Drop a blanket or thick towel over the patient. Tuck it in carefully or maneuver the pet onto the blanket so it can be gently placed in the cardboard box or directly into your car. Be careful, since a pet that is injured or in pain may bite.
• Avoid being bitten! An injured pet may bite out of pain or fear. If necessary, you can make a muzzle out of fabric: take a long strip of fabric, make a loop and tie it around your dog’s mouth. Then ties the ends behind the dog’s ears.
• Get to a veterinary hospital or emergency clinic as soon as possible, but drive carefully.

Automobile injury – Make sure your pet has a clear airway, but do not put your hand in its mouth if your pet is conscious. Cover wounds with the cleanest material available. Handle your pet with care, supporting its body as much as possible. Carry it in a basket, box, or cage to the veterinary hospital.

Fractures (broken leg) – If there is an obvious fracture, you can stabilize it with a homemade splint. Rolled up newspapers or magazines can create a rigid support that can be firmly tied on either side of the break to stabilize it during the trip to the hospital.

Bleeding (hemorrhage) – If hemorrhage is severe on a limb, apply a pad above the wound just tight enough to significantly reduce flow of blood; it has to be loosened within 20 minutes. It is safer just to apply a pad of cotton or wool over a gauze dressing to the wound or bleeding point and bandage it firmly and/or simply apply direct pressure.

Seizures – Prevent your pet from injuring itself. Do not put your hand in its mouth. Keep your pet as quiet as possible and prevent it from falling.

Burns – Cool the burned area with cool water by running water over it or cover it with wet towels. This also helps remove caustic substances (acid or alkaline) if these are the cause. If loss of skin occurs, cover the area with the cleanest material available.

Heat stroke – Place your pet in a tub of cool water. When you are ready to transport to the veterinary hospital, wrap it in a cool, wet towel. You may place the pet and the towel on a plastic bag to prevent getting your car wet.

Bites, fight wounds – Clean with cool water and seek veterinary attention.

Poisons – Induce vomiting with 5 mL (1 teaspoon) of hydrogen peroxide orally or a teaspoon of salt placed in mouth. Keep a sample of the vomit for testing. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING if your pet has ingested corrosive products such as strong acid, alkali, or petroleum-based products. If corrosive or toxic material is on the skin, wash it profusely. Bring a sample of the suspect poison with its container to the veterinary hospital.

Eye injury – If the cornea is penetrated or perforated it will be very painful. Prevent your pet from scratching at its eye and doing further damage. If the eyeball is out of its socket keep it moist with saline solution (e.g. contact lens solution) and protect if from direct injury. Seek veterinary help immediately.

Shock – Shock is a complex body reaction to a number of situations. These include acute loss of blood volume such as hemorrhage, heart failure and other causes of decreased circulation (e.g. severe and sudden allergic reaction and heat stroke). If not treated quickly and effectively shock may cause irreversible injury to body cells, and it can be rapidly fatal. Signs include rapid breathing which may be noisy, rapid heart rate with a weak pulse, pale (possibly even white) mucous membranes (for instance gums, lips, under eyelids) and severe depression (listlessness) and cool extremities (limbs and ears). The pet may vomit. Seek veterinary help immediately. Keep the pet warm and quiet.