ABSTRACT
Objective
To present evidence- and consensus-based guidelines for prehospital first aid in dogs and cats.
Design
Prioritized clinical questions pertaining to first aid posed in the Population–Intervention–Comparator–Outcome (PICO) format were used to inform systematic literature searches by information specialists, which facilitated extraction of research findings from relevant publications and these findings’ synthesis into evidence. This evidence was assessed for quality and used to draft treatment recommendations. These steps were followed by an international commenting period for veterinary professionals prior to finalization. These 2026 RECOVER First Aid Guidelines summarize treatment recommendations enabling veterinary professionals to provide clear, actionable instructions to animal owners, handlers, and paraprofessionals in the prehospital setting.
Setting
Transdisciplinary, international collaboration in university, specialty, emergency, and general practice.
Results
A total of 10 PICO questions pertaining to first aid in dogs and cats were addressed in the main portion of this project. This resulted in 38 treatment recommendations covering a variety of conditions for which timely aid in the prehospital setting may improve morbidity and mortality outcomes in dogs and cats. Conditions included heat stroke, choking, burns, noncaustic toxin ingestion, hypoglycemia, and severe extremity bleeding, among others. One main and four condition-specific RECOVER First Aid Recognize and Act Algorithms display the flow of assessments and actions bystanders may use to help distressed animals outside the clinical setting. Six additional instructional figures can be used to teach small animal owners, handlers, and paraprofessionals to provide first aid.
Conclusions
These 2026 RECOVER First Aid Guidelines present a concise and comprehensive framework for first aid provision for dogs and cats in the prehospital setting. These works serve to support veterinary professionals, educational systems, and research initiatives in conducting, implementing, and advancing the provision of first aid in dogs and cats.
Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, Volume 36, Issue S1, Page S36-S62, August 2026.Wiley: Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care: Table of Contents