Pet First Aid and CPR: What Every Pet Owner Needs to Know in an Emergency

Pet First Aid Awareness Month in April is a good reminder that emergencies don’t just happen to people. They happen to our pets, often when we least expect it. I’ve lived through more than a few of them.

One of the most alarming moments happened when my dog got into a bag of cherry pits in the trash. I didn’t realize it at first. It wasn’t until we were out on a walk that I discovered what had happened. He had passed about 10 to 15 cherry pits.

If you didn't know, cherry pits contain arsenic. I immediately called Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (save that number in your phone if you haven’t already!). They advised me to monitor him closely for signs like vomiting or lethargy and to contact my veterinarian if anything changed. Thankfully, he was okay the next day.

These Situations Are More Common Than You Think

According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, more than 451,000 calls were made in 2024 alone for pets exposed to toxic substances. That’s over 1,200 emergencies every single day, and that’s just poisoning.

Some of the most common medical emergencies pets experience include:

• Poisoning

• Environmental emergencies like bee stings and heat exposure

• Seizures

• Choking

• Bleeding

• Breathing difficulties

These happened quite a few times with my own pups. One time, my dog was stung by multiple bees on his paw while we were out walking. I didn’t notice it right away, but when we got home, he refused to put any weight on his paw and tried to hide in a closet (which is NEVER a good sign). After calling the veterinarian, I was instructed to remove any visible stingers and give him a low dose of Benadryl. He recovered, but again, it was a situation where quick action mattered.

And then there was my very first experience, over 30 years ago. My dog had a seizure while we were outside walking. If you’ve never seen that before, it’s terrifying.

When a pet is seizing, here’s what’s important to know:

• Do not restrain them

• Move objects away so they don’t injure themselves

• Once the seizure stops, roll them onto their side, especially if they begin to vomit

We rushed her to an emergency vet clinic, where we learned she had mitral valve prolapse, a condition where the heart valve does not close properly. That experience is one of the many reasons I’m so passionate about education and preparedness.

Would You Recognize the Signs of an Emergency?

Take choking, for example. If your dog is coughing, gagging, pawing at their mouth, drooling, or struggling to breathe, those are signs something may be blocking their airway.

1. The first step is to check their mouth for a visible object. If you can see it, carefully remove it. Avoid blindly reaching in, as that can push it further down.

2. If your pet becomes unresponsive, immediate action is critical. I’ve included a visual guide that walks through choking relief techniques like side compressions and abdominal thrusts based on your dog’s size and body type.

In an emergency, you don’t have time to figure it out in the moment. You rely on what you already know, and most pet owners have never been taught what to do. 

I'll tell you what I tell everyone I teach in my safety classes: I hope you never have to use what I teach you, but you'll be better prepared in the event it does.

If you have a pet, this is one of the most valuable skills you can learn. I've included a guide below that you can download of proper choking relief techniques on pets, from small to big barrel chests, courtesy of "Prepared Pet Parent" @preparedpetparent. 

Stay Safe & Prepared,

Gail Gould

The CPR and Safety Lady

DOWNLOAD DOG CHOKING MANEUVERS E-GUIDE BELOW:

Dog Choking Maneuvers E-guide.pdf

Download PDF • 7.13MB

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Gail Gould Appears on KHOU 11 on April 6, 2026 to talk about Pet First Aid Awareness Month