Emergency Red Flags | Cross-Species Red Flag Table (≥25 items; any one of them = go to a vet immediately) | Evidence chain

FAQ

When are chest compressions (CPR) appropriate for an animal?

Only when the animal does not respond when called, is not breathing, and has no heartbeat that can be felt. Following the RECOVER canine and feline resuscitation principles, once you have confirmed there is no breathing and no heartbeat, start external chest compressions immediately; this can be done while phoning the clinic, must not be interrupted on the way there, and should be shared with a second person, taking turns to avoid fatigue. As long as the animal is still breathing on its own, do not compress. For compression count, depth and ventilation ratio, follow the training given by your vet or the RECOVER guidelines.

If poisoning is suspected, can vomiting be induced at home first?

Inducing vomiting yourself is strictly forbidden. If contact with or ingestion of poison, unknown medication or unknown plants is suspected, contact a vet or a poison hotline at once and bring the packaging and any remnants to the clinic. Metabolic mechanisms and speed of lethality vary enormously between toxins, and some substances cause irreversible damage within minutes, so every case should be treated as minutes to hours.

How should an animal with heatstroke be cooled on the way to the clinic?

Move it to a cool shaded place, wet the whole body with room-temperature (not iced) water, use a fan or open the windows for airflow, and then go to the clinic at once; the cooling done on the way determines survival. Do not immerse the animal in ice water, do not wrap it in wet towels so that heat is trapped, and do not wait for the body temperature to "return to normal" before setting off.