Severe bleeding (severed artery / deep wound)
🔴 CRITICAL
Severe bleeding (severed artery / deep wound)
🚨 Trauma · 🐶 🐱
Blood spurting in jets, or still flowing after 5 minutes of pressure — an artery may be cut.
⚠️ Symptoms to watch for
- ▸ Blood spurting in jets (artery) or oozing steadily (vein)
- ▸ A wound deep enough to show the tissue underneath
- ▸ Your pet is pale and weak
- ▸ Racing heart, rapid breathing
- ▸ Chalk-white gums
✅ DO THIS NOW (in order)
- 1 Put on gloves (if you have them) or use a clean cloth
- 2 PRESS DIRECTLY on the wound with clean gauze and HOLD IT THERE — do not lift it to look
- 3 If the gauze soaks through — add more on top, never replace it
- 4 Raise the injured limb (if it is a leg) if your pet allows it and no fracture is suspected
- 5 Call the clinic and get there within 30 minutes
❌ NEVER DO THIS
- ✕ DO NOT keep lifting the gauze to check (it breaks up the clot)
- ✕ DO NOT apply a tourniquet unless the vet tells you to — it can cause tissue death
- ✕ DO NOT sprinkle turmeric/charcoal/ash on the wound (infection and delayed healing)
- ✕ DO NOT give water or painkillers
🚑 Getting there safely
Keep pressure on the wound the whole way. Lay your pet on their side with the head slightly lower (to counter shock). Use a warm blanket to hold body heat.
⏱️ While you wait for the vet
- ▸ Watch the gums — still pink = no shock yet; white = heavy blood loss
- ▸ Count breaths (normal is 10-30 per minute)
- ▸ Keep your pet warm with a blanket
- ▸ If your pet loses consciousness → check the pulse and be ready for CPR
🚨 RED FLAG — get emergency care right away if you see:
- 🚨 Blood spurting in jets
- 🚨 A wound over 5cm, or with bone showing
- 🚨 Your pet faints / loses reflexes
- 🚨 Chalk-white gums + heart rate >180 bpm
This guide does NOT replace a vet's diagnosis. Always contact the clinic, even if your pet seems fine.