It is extremely important to understand first aid for your pets. Knowing how to treat your pets during an emergency is something that not many pet parents know but need to know. Pets experience emergencies just like humans do, and it’s important to know how to handle them when they arise.

Emergency first aid should never be used in place of seeing your vet – so if you experience an emergency with your pet, treat them as you should and always bring them for a check-up with your vet.

Here are 3 common emergencies your dog may experience and how you should handle them:

1. Choking

This is a common thing that happens that pet parents don’t know how to treat at the moment. If this happens to your pet, don’t freak (we know, easier said than done) but take these steps:

• Look into your pet’s mouth to see if you can see the object
• If you see it, try to remove it gently with tweezers – be careful not to push it farther into their throat
• If it’s not easy to reach, get your pet to the vet immediately
• Perform CPR on your pet: place your hands on the side of their rib cage and apply quick but firm pressure. You can also lay your pet on its side and strike their rib cage firmly with the palm of your hand. The idea behind both of these techniques is to push air out of their lings quickly and push the object out. Keep doing this until the object is out or they are at the vet

2. Seizures

Another common emergency pet parents need to know how to handle. If your pet is having a seizure, do the following things:

• Keep them away from any objects such as furniture. Don’t try to restrain them
• Time the seizure to see how long they last (they typically last 2-3 minutes)
• Keep your pet warm, quiet, and as calm as possible
• Contact your vet immediately

3. Heatstroke

First things first, never leave your pet in a warm vehicle for extended periods of time. Pets can experience heatstroke easier than humans, so if this happens to your pet, here’s what you should do if you can’t immediately get to your vet:

• Move them to a shaded area and out of the sun
• Place a cold, wet towel on their head and neck. Remove the towel, wring it out and repeat this step every few minutes
• If you have access to a hose, bring your pet to it and keep running water on them for a couple of minutes.

Being prepared for an emergency with your pet is so important. If you love your pet, then you’ll take the time to educate yourself on pet first aid. Become the best pet parent possible by learning basic pet first aid!