Cuts, abrasions and small wounds - these are common after walking the dog in the country or park. Clean with salt water and cover if the pet licks excessively.

Deeper wounds – deeper cuts, commonly to the legs, usually require stitching so ring the vet for advice. Clean any obvious dirt from the wound and cover with a clean dressing and bandage firmly but not too tightly.

Severe bleeding – the amount of bleeding will depend on the site of the injury and how deep it is. Cuts to the feet, tongue and muscles will often bleed a lot and may require stitching, so take them to your vet without delay.

Road accidents – all pets that have been hit by a car should be examined by a vet as internal injuries can be difficult to recognise. Signs to look for are:
- shock – the pet will seem confused, weak and have pale gums
- broken limbs – abnormal movement and position of the limb, pain and fear.
Use a blanket or towel to move the pet to the vets for examination and pain relief.
Internal injuries to the chest or abdomen may not be obvious and require a vet to diagnose; these can be fatal so consult a vet immediately.

Poisoning - most cases happen unintentionally in the home. Usually the substance is eaten, but some cause damage by inhalation on contact.
- medication – human or animal
- cleaning substances – bleach, toilet cleaners, often drunk from the toilet
- weed killers, rat/mouse bait, slug pellets can all be fatal and require urgent treatment from the vet
- antifreeze – drunk by dogs as tastes sweet but causes kidney damage so must be treated promptly
- cats may walk on tar based substances eg creosote which they try to clean off by licking, it is very toxic to cats
Signs of poisoning are sickness, diarrhoea, muscle twitching or sleepiness.
If a poison is swallowed which is not caustic you can make the dog sick by giving salt or washing soda crystals by mouth, but this is only useful within 1 hour of the substance being eaten.
ALWAYS contact your vet for advice and gather as much information about the substance as possible. Take the bottle to the vet with you if you can.

Bites – dog bites can appear small but cause deep wounds and bruising. Dogs carry bacteria on their teeth so infection of the bite wound is common. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatories are often required so consult the vet.
Initially you can clip the area and clean it thoroughly with salt water.
Cat bites are very common, especially around the face or tail base, as well as scratches. The cat will be in pain and stressed. Again, clip and clean the area. Infection is very likely, so consult the vet.

Allergies – acute reactions can be caused by bee/wasp stings or jellyfish. Signs can be a sudden skin swelling, especially around the head, vomiting or violent shaking/fitting. This causes stress and discomfort to the pet and requires veterinary attention.

Burns – hot water, chemicals and electricity can all cause burns. Always contact the vet for advice. Cats can burn their paws by jumping onto the cooker, and the sun can cause sunburn to the ears and nose of white cats.

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