Dog health and first aid in Liverpool

First aid doesn't replace veterinary care. In an emergency, ring your vet (or your out-of-hours vet) straight away.

Out-of-hours emergencies in Liverpool: Medivet 24 Hour Alder, 410 Eaton Road, West Derby, L12 3HG, says it is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 0151 220 4668 (Medivet, checked 18 Oct 2026). Vets Now Liverpool, based in the PDSA Pet Hospital on Woolfall Heath Avenue, Huyton, L36 3YD, opens from 6pm on weeknights, from noon on Saturdays, and all day on Sundays and bank holidays. Call 0151 271 5727 (Vets Now, checked 18 Oct 2026). Always ring before you set off, and ask your own vet which service covers their out-of-hours calls.

Dog first aid

• Dog first aid: the basics – Dog first aid basics: staying safe, approaching and handling an injured dog, muzzling, moving them safely, calling ahead and getting out-of-hours help.
• Dog poisoning: first aid and toxins – What to do if your dog eats something poisonous: common UK toxins, signs of poisoning, why not to make them sick, and how Animal PoisonLine can help.
• Heatstroke and cold: dog first aid – Heatstroke in dogs: the signs, and why UK vets now say cool first, transport second. Plus hypothermia signs and how to warm a cold dog safely.
• Dog cuts, bites and ticks: first aid – First aid for dog cuts, bleeding, paw injuries and bites: how to apply pressure, clean and bandage a wound safely, plus how to remove a tick the right way.
• Stings, burns and eyes: dog first aid – First aid for bee and wasp stings, allergic reactions, burns, scalds and eye injuries in dogs, with warning signs that mean you should ring the vet now.
• Choking, seizures and collapse in dogs – What to do if your dog is choking, has a seizure or collapses: the signs, safe first steps, when timing matters and what UK vets say about CPR for dogs.
• Dog first aid kit: what to pack – What to keep in a dog first aid kit at home and in the car, based on PDSA and Blue Cross lists, plus a tick remover and the phone numbers to keep with it.

Illnesses and vaccinations

• Dog illnesses: how they spread – How dog illnesses spread, from dog-to-dog contact, poo, puddles, ticks, fleas and slugs to rats, plus the warning signs and hygiene tips for families.
• Dog vaccinations: a UK owner's guide – Which vaccines UK dogs need: core jabs for parvo, distemper, hepatitis and lepto, plus kennel cough and rabies, booster timings and titre testing.
• Puppy vaccinations: a jab timeline – When UK puppies have their jabs, when they can go out and meet dogs, how to socialise them safely before then, and when puppy classes can start.
• Parvo in dogs: symptoms and prevention – Parvovirus in dogs: the symptoms to watch for, when to call the vet, how parvo spreads on shoes, bowls and grass, and how vaccination protects your dog.
• Kennel cough: symptoms and prevention – Kennel cough in dogs: symptoms, when to call the vet, how it spreads at day care, boarding and the park, and what the nasal vaccine can and can't do.
• Lungworm in dogs: signs and prevention – Lungworm in dogs: the symptoms to watch for, when it's an emergency, how dogs catch it from slugs, snails and frogs, and how prescription wormers help.
• Leptospirosis in dogs: signs and risks – Leptospirosis in dogs: symptoms, when it's an emergency, how it spreads through water and rat urine, the yearly vaccine, and how to protect your family.