Pet first aid in your pocket
Even when you're offline.
A free app that turns “what do I do right now?” into calm, step-by-step answers you can trust while you get to a vet. Written by Australian vet Dr. Tania Mitchell.
Coming soon to both platforms. Tap yours and we'll email you the day it launches.
FreeNo accountNo adsNo tracking
A first-aid reference, not a substitute for professional veterinary care. In a serious situation, contact your vet or nearest emergency animal hospital immediately.
The most dangerous places have the least signal
Snake bite, tick paralysis, bait poisoning, heatstroke: the hazards Australian pets face are concentrated exactly where mobile coverage isn't. Out there, a phone can't call a vet and can't search for an answer. Unless the answer is already on it.
So we built the Vet in a Van Pet First Aid app to carry the whole first-aid library on your phone. No internet connection is required to use it. Open the app, find the symptom and follow clear steps. The only time it goes online is to quietly check for updated first-aid content.
What's in the app
96 first-aid topics at launch: 48 for dogs and 48 for cats, across 12 categories each, from poisoning to heatstroke to bloat. And the library keeps growing.
Triaged, always
Every topic tells you how urgent it is: emergency (drive now), urgent (same day) or routine (book a visit). You know straight away which one you're in.
46 emergency 30 urgent 20 routine
Find it fast
Type what you can see and the search will find it, across every topic and nearly 300 recognisable symptoms. Or browse by pet, category and topic. All in a clean, readable layout designed for stressful moments.
Complete answers
Every topic gives you symptoms, step-by-step treatment, prevention and when-to-see-a-vet guidance, including what-NOT-to-do warnings and Australia-specific notes on local hazards like snake bite and tick paralysis.
The big four, covered
These are the situations travelling pet owners fear most. Each has calm, step-by-step guidance in the app.
If one of these is happening right now, don't wait for an app: call your nearest vet or emergency animal hospital straight away.
Snake bite: what do I do first?
Recognise the signs early and know exactly what to do on the way to the vet.
Full steps in the app →Paralysis tick: what are the signs?
Spot the early wobble and weakness, and know the next steps and how urgent they are.
Full steps in the app →1080 bait poisoning: what do I do?
Recognise the signs fast and know the immediate first-aid steps for one of the bush's true emergencies.
Full steps in the app →Heatstroke: when is it serious?
The warning signs, the first response, and how to tell when it's drive-now serious.
Full steps in the app →Written by Australian vet Dr. Tania Mitchell
Dr Tania Mitchell BVSc (Distinction) is Australia's travelling vet. With more than two decades of veterinary experience, she has cared for animals across Australia, working in traditional clinics, as a mobile and travelling veterinarian, and throughout rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
Since taking Vet in a Van on the road in 2020, Dr Tania has treated pets in places where veterinary help can be hours away. The guidance in the app is grounded in her clinical experience and the real situations she encounters while helping animals and their owners across the country.
The app is also clear about the role of first aid. It does not replace veterinary care. It helps you respond calmly in those critical first minutes, avoid common mistakes that could make the situation worse, and understand how urgently your pet needs professional help.
Be ready before you need it
The app is free. Android arrives first and iPhone follows. Leave your email and we'll send you one email the day it launches. That's all.
You're on the list
One email the day it launches. While you wait, have a look at Dr Tania's Pet First Aid Kit.
One launch email, that's all. We'll only use your address to tell you when the app launches: no general marketing list, and you can opt out any time. The app itself has no account, no ads and no tracking, and we never ask you for personal information. Read our Privacy Policy and Website Terms. To opt out, or if the form is playing up, email hello@mypetfirstaid.com.au.
Vet in a Van Pet First Aid is a first-aid reference, not a substitute for professional veterinary care. In a serious or life-threatening situation, contact your veterinarian or nearest emergency animal hospital immediately.
And the kit to go with it
The app tells you what to do. The Pet First Aid Kit is what you'll reach for while you do it. Developed by Dr Tania, it packs the supplies her guidance calls for, along with its own quick-reference guide.
Visit dogfirstaidkit.com.au“Camping at Perlubie and the old chihuahua was unwell and vomiting. Read the first aid book, mixed up some of the Lectade… all good the next day! Everyone should have one if travelling with pets.”
Ann, kit owner“I love it… already used it and saved me a fortune on a vet bill. Absolutely invaluable, every pet owner should have one.”
Clare, kit owner“The kit is amazing. The booklet is so handy for peace of mind and there's so much jam-packed into a sturdy little bag!”
Ali, kit owner