Emergency Response and Veterinary Care When Your Dog Is Hit by a Car

When your beloved dog is unfortunately hit by a car, the owner's first reaction is often panic. However, in this critical moment, staying calm and taking the correct steps may be key to saving your dog's life. This article compiles a complete first aid protocol to help you make the right decisions when it matters most.

## Four Steps for Emergency Response

### Step One: Ensure Scene Safety

Before any first aid actions, the primary task is ensuring your own safety and your dog's safety. If the accident happened on a road:

* Turn on hazard lights or place warning triangles
* Confirm there's no danger from oncoming traffic
* Avoid becoming the next victim yourself

Only after ensuring safety can you effectively proceed with subsequent first aid.

### Step Two: Contact a Veterinary Hospital Immediately

Search on your phone for the nearest 24-hour emergency animal hospital and call to inform them of:

* Your dog's injury status (presence of wounds, bleeding, consciousness level)
* Your current location
* Estimated arrival time

Follow the veterinarian's phone instructions for handling, giving the hospital time to prepare for receiving the patient.

### Step Three: Avoid Moving Carelessly

Car accidents can cause fractures, spinal injuries, or internal bleeding. Moving carelessly may cause secondary injury. The correct approach is:

1. Find a rigid board, large cardboard box, or thick towel to use as a makeshift stretcher
2. Slide the dog onto the stretcher as a whole unit, keeping the body as straight as possible
3. Gently cover the dog with a towel or blanket for warmth and security
4. If the dog struggles, speak soothingly but don't forcefully restrain them

**Note**: Injured dogs may bite due to pain, so approach with extra caution.

### Step Four: Basic Bleeding Control

If your dog has obvious external bleeding:

* **Minor bleeding**: Use clean gauze or cotton to gently press on the wound for 3-5 minutes
* **Heavy bleeding**: This may indicate arterial damage. Use a tourniquet or cloth strip above the wound, but don't tie too tightly, and record the time of application
* **Open wounds**: Cover with clean gauze; don't attempt to wash or remove foreign objects

After stopping bleeding, get to the hospital immediately. Continue monitoring breathing and consciousness during transport.

## The Importance of the Golden Rescue Window

Success of emergency care is closely related to response time after the accident. If your dog's heart and breathing stop, performing CPR within the golden 3 minutes greatly improves success rates. If you notice loss of breathing and heartbeat during transport, you can attempt pet CPR under veterinary phone guidance.

## After Arriving at the Hospital

Upon arrival at the hospital, provide the vet with this information:

* Time and location of the accident
* Direction and force of impact (if known)
* Dog's reactions after injury (vomiting, seizures, loss of consciousness)
* Any changes during transport

The vet will perform X-rays, ultrasound, and other examinations to assess for fractures, internal bleeding, or organ damage.

## Taiwan Regulations and Emergency Resources

In Taiwan, leaving the scene after injuring an animal may violate the law. According to New Taipei City's Animal Protection Ordinance, failing to promptly seek medical treatment for an injured animal can result in fines of NT$30,000 to NT$100,000. Whether it's your own pet or a stray animal on the street, you should take responsibility to help get them medical care.

**Emergency Contact Resources:**

* Taipei, Hsinchu, Taichung: Call the 1999 citizen hotline
* Local Animal Protection Office emergency rescue lines
* 24-hour emergency animal hospitals (recommended to save nearby hospital numbers in advance)

## Prevention Measures

The best way to avoid tragedy is prevention:

* Always keep your dog on a leash when outside; don't let them run freely near roadways
* Choose leashes or collars with reflective strips to increase nighttime visibility
* Train your dog in "wait" and "recall" commands
* When crossing streets, keep your dog at your side and confirm it's safe before proceeding

Accidents always come unexpectedly, but being prepared allows you to respond calmly in critical moments and give your dog the best chance of survival.

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**References:**
* [PetStell - Pet Traffic Accident Handling SOP](https://petstell.tw/小動物遇上車禍的處理｜寵物主須知sop四步驟)
* [Poai Animal Hospital - Dog Injury First Aid Methods](https://www.poaipets.com.tw/狗傷口/)
* [Pet CPR First Aid Guide - Golden 3 Minutes](https://sbm9e.com/blogs/dr喵小教室/108128)

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