Pet First Aid kits are like insurance. You need to have them, and you hope you never need to use it. As a responsible pet owner, it is important to put a pet first aid kit together in case of an emergency.
There are a lot of things you can do at home before you transport your dog to the vet in case of an emergency. The main objective is to remain calm. The calmer you are, the calmer your pet will be.
Take a few minutes to assess the situation, take a deep breath, think about the resources and people available to assist you, get your first aid kit and then assess your pet. This is also a good reason to get to know your neighbors. You may need their help and they may be a great resource for you.
I recommend buying a store-bought kit and doing a thorough inventory when you get home. As a pet owner you will want to add items to your kit such as a leash and collar, poop bags and muzzle. Those don’t usually come standard in a first aid kit.
I like to take the entire kit apart and put it back together, so I know where all the items are in the kit. I have found that tool boxes, fishing containers and storage totes make excellent first aid kit containers.
If you travel with your pets to the lake for the weekend, camping, to visit family, etc, make sure to take your kit with you. Emergencies can happen anywhere. Also make sure you have local veterinarian contact information and hours (that is the reason for the vet paperwork in your first aid kit). You want to be able to show a new vet what vaccinations, procedures or medications have been given to your dog in the past.
Make sure to inventory your kit and check expiration dates (mainly for the hydrogen pyroxide). A good time to do this is when you check your smoke detector batteries twice a year.
Here is a sample list of items to include in your kit
- Paperwork: Vaccination & Medical Records And Emergency Phone Numbers
- Pet First Aid Class handbook
- 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
- Antibiotic Ointment
- Absorbent gauze pads
- Adhesive tape/vet wrap
- Activated Charcoal
- Digital thermometer
- Eye dropper or large syringe
- Muzzle
- Leash
- Cotton balls or swabs
- Scissors
- Rubber Gloves
- tweezers
- Wet Or Grooming Wipes
- A Towel Or Blanket
- Collapsible Travel Food and Water Bowls.
- Comfort item
- Extra leash, collar and poop bags
- Flashlight
- Benedryl (liquid capsules are good with a safety pin taped to the back)
- Apple cider vinegar
- Dramamine
- Neosporin or some type of OTC antibiotic ointment
- Cornstarch or flour (or styptic powder)
- Saline solution
- Electrolyte gel or solution
- Warming blanket
- Tampon (they are great for absorbing blood like a cut or torn ear)
We encourage all of you to put a kit together and send us your pictures! Is there anything you keep in your kit that we didn’t include? Let us know.
Hopefully in mid to late summer we will be offering another Pet Tech Pet First Aid class and we encourage you to attend. We cover lots of great information for pet owners included CPR, rescue breathing, choking, bleeding, allergies, bites, stings, heat and cold injuries and more. If you are interested in being added to the waiting list once we offer a class, let me know.