Emergency triage (all animals)

Stay calm and check in this order. For species details, see the emergency-care section of each animal page.

1. Make it safe

Secure yourself and the surroundings (electricity, fire, escape routes)
Use a towel or thick gloves to avoid being bitten
Keep your face away from an agitated animal

2. Assess (within 30 seconds)

Consciousness: call its name, touch lightly and watch for a response
Breathing: chest or belly movement, air at the nostrils
Bleeding, fractures, abnormal posture, body temperature (cold / hot)

3. Go to an emergency vet now

Not breathing, extremely shallow breathing, open-mouth breathing
Unconscious, continuous seizures, cannot stand
Heavy bleeding, exposed bone, body cold or hot
Possible poisoning (medicines, onions, chocolate, houseplants, insecticides)

4. What to tell them on the phone

Species, age, weight, sex
Since when, what happened, what it ate and how much
Current consciousness, breathing and bleeding
Estimated time of arrival

5. Transport

Keep warm (do not place a towel-wrapped hot-water bottle directly on the body)
Use a dark, quiet carrier and avoid shaking
If breathing is labored keep the head raised; if a spinal injury is suspected keep it flat
Bring photos or samples of vomit, feces or what was eaten

6. Never do this

Give human medicines
Force vomiting or pour water into the mouth
Cool rapidly with ice water or warm with anything too hot
Pull out an impaled object or reset a broken bone

Emergency-care manual by animal