08/28/2026
Such invaluable information to have on hand!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Em2rQmSfV/
The RECOVER Initiative has just published its 2026 First Aid Guidelines for Dogs and Cats — the first evidence-based consensus guidelines on first aid in dogs and cats, specifically addressing veterinary first aid in the prehospital setting.
The guidelines address 38 treatment recommendations across 10 clinical questions, covering emergencies including:
• Heat stroke
• Hypoglycemia
• Toxin ingestion
• Burns
• Choking / airway obstruction
• Respiratory distress
• Severe extremity bleeding
• Opioid exposure
• Out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest
• And more
One of the most important concepts is that first aid starts before the patient reaches the veterinary hospital.
RECOVER introduces a First Aid “Recognize and Act” (FARA) Algorithm designed to help owners, handlers, and paraprofessionals recognize emergencies and understand what actions may be appropriate while seeking veterinary care.
And there are some recommendations that may challenge familiar first-aid habits.
• 𝗖𝗣𝗥: A single rescuer should begin chest compressions within 10 seconds of recognizing unconsciousness and lack of regular breathing — without stopping first to check the airway or give breaths. The guidelines explicitly identify this compressions-first approach as a change from previous RECOVER guidance.
• 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲: 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿. The evidence reviewed did not report harm or hypothermia associated with cold-water immersion or other active cooling techniques.
• 𝗧𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The guidelines recommend against routinely inducing emesis in the prehospital setting after acute non-caustic toxin ingestion. If immediate access to a veterinary facility is not available, emesis may be considered when specifically recommended by a veterinarian or animal poison control center.
• 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲: RECOVER recommends naloxone for animals with suspected opioid exposure and altered mentation or a respiratory rate below 10 breaths/min. Intranasal or intramuscular administration can be used. If an animal is unresponsive and apneic or agonal, BLS should be initiated first, followed by naloxone as soon as possible.
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝘃𝗲𝘁𝘀.
It gives veterinary teams a framework for teaching owners and animal caregivers what to do — and what not to do — during the critical minutes before professional care is available.
The document is linked in the comments.
