In an emergency, stay calm, use common sense and quickly get your dog to the veterinarian. Call first. If your doctor's office is not open, call the nearest emergency pet clinic. Keep emergency phone numbers near your telephone.

It is important that the owner gets as much information about the accident as possible to guide what future procedures the veterinarian should follow. This information may include the way the dog was injured and how long ago it occurred, and if poisoning is likely, the type and amount of poison ingested.

Unless you have been trained and are absolutely positive you can administer CPR to your dog, it is best - and safer - to seek immediate veterinary care. However, there are some things you can do to help your dog before you get him to the hospital/clinic as soon as possible:

• Wrap your dog in a heavy towel or blanket to keep him warm and restrict his movements. Having assistance would be helpful;

• Apply a pressure bandage (sterile gauze or a clean handkerchief) to stem or stop the bleeding of a cut or bite. If the bleeding area is a limb, try to rise it;

• Apply a cold compress to a burn and gently hold it there until you get to the veterinary clinic;

• Do not induce vomiting if you suspect or know your dog has swallowed a poisonous substance;

• At any sign of choking (drooling, difficulty swallowing, pawing at the mouth, gagging), do not attempt to remove the item;

• If your dog suffers from heatstroke, take him to a cool spot and sponge him with cold water. Encourage your dog to drink small amounts of water.

• If your dog suffers from frostbite, place him in a warm room immediately. Thaw out the frostbitten areas slowly by applying warm moist towels that are changed frequently until the area becomes flushed. Severe frostbite can result in damaged paws and ear tips, so it is best to let your veterinarian determine the extent of the damage as soon as possible.