Signs that need urgent help

Difficulty breathing, collapse, pale/blue/grey gums, severe bleeding, repeated unproductive retching, a distended abdomen, a seizure lasting several minutes, repeated seizures, inability to urinate, suspected poisoning, heatstroke signs, sudden inability to stand, severe pain, choking, significant trauma, sudden eye injury or vision loss, persistent vomiting with weakness, and rapid deterioration.

Contact a veterinary practice or emergency service immediately. When in doubt, call first.

This guide does not provide complex first-aid instructions that could delay professional help.

Recognising a SeizureView source for this information

A seizure is abnormal electrical activity in the brain that causes uncontrolled body movements. Most seizures affect the whole body (a generalised seizure), but some affect only part of it and cause milder signs such as twitching in the face or a leg (a focal or partial seizure). Seizures can have causes other than epilepsy, including head trauma, heatstroke, low blood sugar, toxins, a brain bleed or a brain tumour; epilepsy is a term for recurring seizures and is not the only possible cause. Idiopathic epilepsy, the most common cause of repeated seizures in dogs, tends to begin between six months and six years of age, and affected dogs often appear normal between episodes. It is important to have your dog checked by a veterinary professional after a first seizure even if recovery appears complete.

What to Do During a SeizureView source for this information

Stay calm. If the dog is on a sofa or bed, carefully move them down onto the floor. Clear space around them so they cannot hurt themselves, dim the lights and make the room as quiet as possible. Start a timer so you know how long the seizure lasts and, where safe, video part of it for your veterinary professional. Keep the room as cool as possible, as seizures can raise body temperature. Do not transport the dog until the seizure has stopped unless your veterinary professional advises otherwise. Do not restrain the dog, do not put your hands or any object near the mouth, and never try to move the tongue — dogs cannot swallow their tongue. Do not shout at, shake or try to bring the dog round. Call your veterinary practice straight away if a seizure lasts for more than two minutes, if there is more than one seizure in 24 hours, or whenever the dog's existing emergency plan advises.

Seizure Records and Follow-UpView source for this information

After a seizure, the dog may be disorientated, wobbly, hungry, temporarily unsteady, show altered vision or behave differently for a while; this post-seizure phase varies. Keep a seizure diary noting the date, time, length and description of each episode and share it with your veterinary professional. Contact a vet after a first seizure even if recovery appears complete, and for less urgent advice if the dog has recovered. Never stop prescribed anti-seizure medication suddenly or change doses without the treating vet. Epilepsy is often lifelong but can usually be managed with medication and regular monitoring, allowing most affected dogs a good quality of life. Do not present epilepsy as the only possible cause of seizures.

Safe First ResponseView source for this information

In an emergency, keep calm and make sure you and the people around you stay safe first — an injured or frightened dog may bite or scratch. Approach quietly and slowly, avoid sudden movements, and contact a veterinary practice or emergency service promptly; call before turning up, as out-of-hours you may be referred to an emergency practice. For serious external bleeding, apply steady, direct pressure to the wound with clean material as a temporary measure and seek veterinary care. Do not remove an embedded object — stabilise the area and get veterinary help. Minimise unnecessary movement where spinal injury is suspected; a blanket or rigid support may assist safe movement of a large dog when appropriate, but telephone guidance from a veterinary professional takes priority.

Suspected PoisoningView source for this information

If you suspect your dog has been poisoned, call your veterinary practice for advice straight away. Keep the packaging of any suspected medication or household product to show your vet. If you think a plant may be responsible, try to identify it or take a photograph. Record the estimated exposure time and the quantity involved where known. Never try to make your dog vomit at home unless a veterinary professional specifically instructs it, and do not give human medication. If a toxic substance is on the coat or paws, the dog may swallow it while grooming — contact your vet even if you think you have removed it, and prevent further licking.

First-Aid Kit and Emergency PlanView source for this information

Keep your out-of-hours and daytime veterinary details written down and accessible, and know which emergency practice you may be referred to outside normal hours. Keep a basic canine first-aid kit stocked with clean material for pressure, saline, gauze and suitable items, and know how to use them safely. Take a recognised practical canine first-aid course so that stabilising actions are familiar before you need them. This general guide does not include CPR instructions, medication doses, tourniquet instructions or invasive procedures — those belong with trained veterinary professionals and hands-on training.