Interactive lesson

First aid for animals, step by step

Interactive lesson: what to do in the first hour until the vet arrives — safety, a quick check, wounds, bloat, birthing and the newborn.

Free sample Chapters 1 and 2 (8 steps) are free. The full lesson comes with the First aid module. Already bought? Unlock

This lesson is general guidance, not professional training. Local regulations and expert advice always take precedence. Read our disclaimer.

The whole lesson as text

1. Safety first

First aid means: protect yourself and the animal, call the vet and do the little that is safe.

  1. Go in with a helper — Approach a cow, horse, bull, billy goat or a sow with piglets with a helper and an escape route behind you. Don't stand behind a horse or beside a cow's hind legs.
  2. Tie the animal up — Tie it up or hold it with a halter or lead. Don't go under the legs of a horse that is rolling; wait until it stops.
  3. Gloves — Gloves for every wound, birth, abortion and dead animal.
  4. Call early — Call the vet early, and a helper. It's easier to cancel a call than to lose an hour.

Why: A large animal in pain kicks, treads and crushes. Q fever, ringworm and other diseases pass to people, and waiting “till morning” kills just as surely as rough, hasty handling.

  • Electric shock: switch off the power at the fuse box first, and only then go to the animal.
  • In the US and Canada, suspected rabies: don't touch the mouth or saliva; if it bites you or licks a cut, see a doctor at once.

2. Quick check

Before you do anything, take 1–2 minutes to look and measure.

  1. Alertness and breathing — Does it respond to voice and touch, is it standing? Count the flank movements. Open-mouth breathing, groaning and an outstretched neck are alarm signs.
  2. Gums — Look at the gums or the eyelid. White, blue, yellow or dark red membranes are alarm signs.
  3. Temperature — Thermometer in the rectum. Write down the reading and the time.
  4. Flank and pain — In ruminants, look at the left flank and tap it with a finger: tight as a drum is an alarm. Rolling, looking at the belly, grinding teeth, hunched up: pain.

Why: This is exactly what you'll tell the vet on the phone. From alertness, breathing, gums, temperature and pain, they decide how urgent it is.

  • A temperature more than 1 °C (about 2 °F) above or below normal is a reason for alarm.
  • Normal values for each species are in the table in the module.

3. Wounds · Locked

Buy the First aid module and you get the PDF to download and print, plus lifetime access to this interactive lesson: all 6 chapters, 24 steps.

4. Bloat · Locked

Buy the First aid module and you get the PDF to download and print, plus lifetime access to this interactive lesson: all 6 chapters, 24 steps.

5. Birthing · Locked

Buy the First aid module and you get the PDF to download and print, plus lifetime access to this interactive lesson: all 6 chapters, 24 steps.

6. The newborn's first hour · Locked

Buy the First aid module and you get the PDF to download and print, plus lifetime access to this interactive lesson: all 6 chapters, 24 steps.