Pet first aid, step by step

What to do in the first minutes when your pet is not breathing, choking, poisoned or overheated. Written by a CPR instructor from current veterinary guidelines, with a short video for the steps that are hard to picture.

Written by Justin Alcalde, AHA and American Red Cross instructor, CPR West Covina · Reviewed September 27, 2026

Online courseRed Cross, $50

PetAid appFree for iPhone

Pick your pet

DogCPR, Choking, Toxic foods, Heat stroke, Seizure, Bloat, Bleeding, Chocolate, Coughing and gagging

CatCPR, Choking, Toxic foods

RabbitGI stasis, Picking up safely, Head tilt

BirdEgg binding, Blood feather, CPR

Fish or reptile? PetAid, our free first aid app for iPhone, has step by step guides for them too. Get PetAid

The first minute, whatever the emergency

Before the specific steps for CPR, choking or poisoning, the same five things help in almost every pet emergency.

Keep yourself safe
A hurt animal can bite, even your own. Move slowly and speak softly.
Check breathing
Watch the chest for up to 10 seconds.
Call ahead
Tell the emergency hospital you are coming and what happened.
Move them carefully
Support the back and neck. A board or blanket works as a stretcher.
Bring the evidence
The wrapper, the plant or the pill bottle, or a photo of it.

For every pet

Pet CPR. Dogs, cats, rabbits, birds: what is the same, what is not.

Choking, any pet. Dogs and cats: up to 5 back blows. Others: vet now.

Pet first aid kit. Home and trail checklists, and both poison line numbers.

Pet sitters and dog walkers. Emergency plan, walk kit and which training to pick.

Who to call, before you need to

Save these in your phone today. In an emergency you will not want to search for them.

Your nearest 24 hour emergency animal hospitalLook it up now and save it as a contact. Call ahead so they are ready when you arrive.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control, (888) 426-4435Open 24 hours. A consultation fee may apply.
Pet Poison Helpline, (855) 764-7661Open 24 hours. A per-case fee applies.

Learn it properly

American Red Cross Cat and Dog First Aid, online at your own pace. $50, certificate when you finish.

See the online pet first aid course

Keep the steps on your phone

PetAid for iPhone, for dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, fish and reptiles. Free on the App Store.

Get PetAid

Work with animals? Groomers, sitters, shelter and clinic staff usually need a human CPR card too. Those are in-person classes at our West Covina classroom. Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED for sitters and groomers, BLS Provider for veterinary staff.

This is first aid, not veterinary care. Get to a vet or an emergency animal hospital as soon as the steps are done.

Sources