Section 8 of 8 · about 2 min read

Safety, First Aid & the Law

Emergencies, when to call the vet, safe walks and travel, ID and your legal duties.

This guide is for information only. It doesn’t replace advice from your vet or a qualified behaviourist — if you’re ever worried, call your vet.

Lesson 1

Emergency first aid

Choking (gagging, pawing at the mouth, blue gums): gently check the mouth and remove visible objects carefully — never push them deeper. Cuts: muzzle gently (pain can cause nipping), clean with saline or clean water — never hydrogen peroxide or alcohol — and apply pressure with a clean cloth; see a vet if bleeding lasts over 5 minutes or the wound is deep. Poisoning: remove your puppy from the source, identify what and how much, don’t induce vomiting unless your vet advises, and call your vet straight away.

Practise

If your puppy is choking

Put the guide’s choking response in order. In a real emergency, call your vet as soon as you can.

1Give five quick thrusts to the abdomen, just below the ribs
2Recheck the mouth after each attempt
3If breathing doesn’t return, begin CPR and get to a vet immediately
4Gently open the mouth and check for a visible obstruction
5Carefully remove a visible object — never push it deeper
6If they’re not breathing, hold your puppy with their spine against your chest, head up