Your cat or dog is bleeding: what to do first

Pets can hurt themselves while playing, out on a walk, or just moving around at home. Seeing blood makes most of us panic. Take a breath: the right first moves buy your pet valuable time.

Remember these five steps

1. Calm your pet. Speak softly and keep them still.
2. Look at the wound. Where is it, how big is it, and is the blood oozing or flowing?
3. Press to stop the bleeding. Hold clean gauze or a towel firmly on the wound for 5 to 10 minutes. Try not to lift it to check.
4. Rinse and cover. Rinse gently with saline or clean water, then cover with clean gauze.
5. Call a vet. Get advice as soon as you can, and go straight in if needed.

Don't

• Don't pour alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or other harsh disinfectants on the wound.

Go to the vet straight away if

• the bleeding is heavy or won't stop
• your pet is breathing oddly, very weak or can't stand
• you suspect a broken bone, or something is stuck in the wound

Stay calm, act, then get to the vet. Every right step you take spares them a little pain.