04/09/2026
The RECOVER Initiative has just published its 2026 First Aid Guidelines for Dogs and Cats โ 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:
โข Heat stroke
โข Hypoglycemia
โข Toxin ingestion
โข Burns
โข Choking / airway obstruction
โข Respiratory distress
โข Severe extremity bleeding
โข Opioid exposure
โข Out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest
โข 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 โRecognize and Actโ (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.
โข ๐๐ฃ๐ฅ: A single rescuer should begin chest compressions within 10 seconds of recognizing unconsciousness and lack of regular breathing โ 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.
โข ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ธ๐ฒ: ๐๐ผ๐ปโ๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ. The evidence reviewed did not report harm or hypothermia associated with cold-water immersion or other active cooling techniques.
โข ๐ง๐ผ๐
๐ถ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: 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.
โข ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ผ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐ฒ๐
๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ: 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.
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐๐ปโ๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐ฎ ๐ด๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐.
It gives veterinary teams a framework for teaching owners and animal caregivers what to do โ and what not to do โ during the critical minutes before professional care is available.
The document is linked in the comments.
