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

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.

どのような場合に動物へ胸部圧迫（心肺蘇生）を行うのですか？ — 呼んでも反応がなく、呼吸がなく、心拍が触れないときだけ行います。RECOVER の犬猫蘇生原則に従い、呼吸と心拍がないことを確認したら直ちに胸部圧迫を開始します。動物病院へ電話しながら並行して行ってよく、搬送中も中断しません。二人目がいれば疲労を避けるため交代します。自発呼吸があるうちは圧迫しないでください。圧迫の回数・深さ・換気比は、かかりつけ獣医師または RECOVER ガイドラインの受講内容に従ってください。

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.

毒物を食べた疑いがあるとき、家で先に吐かせてもよいですか？ — 自己判断で吐かせるのは厳禁です。毒物、不明な薬、不明な植物に触れた・食べた疑いがあるときは、直ちに獣医師または中毒ホットラインに連絡し、包装と残った物を持って受診してください。毒物によって代謝の仕組みと致死までの速さは大きく異なり、物質によっては分単位で不可逆的な障害を起こすため、一律に分〜時間単位として扱います。

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.

熱中症のとき、搬送中はどのように冷やせばよいですか？ — 涼しい場所へ移し、常温（氷水ではない）の水で全身をぬらし、扇風機や窓開けで風を当ててから、直ちに搬送してください。搬送中の冷却が生存率を左右します。氷水につけない、ぬれタオルで包んで熱をこもらせない、体温が「正常に戻る」のを待ってから出発しない、この 3 点を守ってください。

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.