Pet First Aid Kit
From a muzzle to karo syrup be full stocked in event of an emergency.
Jun 22, 2006
Preparedness is always a good idea. When an accident happens and your pet needs medical attention it's handy to have a pet first aid kit available with everything you may need. This kit will not replace proper veterinary care but will help out until you can get your pet to a veterinarian.
There are several items you should include in a pet first aid kit. Some of these items are not just for an emergency but if your pet were to become ill and you need to do home nursing care, this way you can keep medical items you might use on your pet separate from what you would use on the humans in the household. Items you may want in your pet first aid kit include:
- Information card with your Veterinary Hospitals phone number and address, along with the number for poison control and your local animal control. I recommend including animal control in case you happen to come across a stray animal that needs your help.
- Information card with pets first aid health chart. This card should indicate all of your pets current health information.
- Muzzle or length of fabric to make a muzzle. Pantyhose or an old necktie work great for making muzzles.
- Latex gloves.
- Bandaging materials - gauze squares, rolls of gauze, non-stick Telpha pads, bandage tape, elastic bandage, and blunt tip scissors for clipping hair and cutting bandage material.
- Electric clippers for shaving hair from wounds.
- Lubricant KY Jelly works well for lubing the thermometer and if you apply it to any open wounds it will prevent hair from sticking to the wound while the hair is clipped away (the KY will rinse easily from the wound and take any hair that may have been trapped in the KY during shaving, with it).
- Rectal thermometer.
- Antiseptic wash like Betadine solution for soaking and flushing wounds.
- Tweezers for removing splinters or grass seeds.
- Clean towels and wash cloths for use as restraint or to keep your pet warm.
- Ready made cold and hot packs.
- Sterile eye flush.
- Karo syrup for shock.
- Triple antibiotic ointment, for example Neosporin, works well on wounds.
- Hydrogen Peroxide to induce vomiting. Check with your veterinarian before inducing vomiting, some poison substances should not be vomited.
- Antihistamine - Benedryl for itching or allergic reactions. Check with your veterinarian before using and for the correct dose.
- Syringes for giving liquid medications orally, remove the needle first.
- Styptic powder for minor bleeding, like trimming a toe nail to short.
- Blankets to help keep pets warm and can be used as a stretcher for large dogs.
- Box or pet carrier to use as a stretcher for small dogs or cats. A trash can lid also makes a good stretcher.
Keep your pet first aid kit together in a box so that you always know where everything is. You'll be able to act fast in an emergency if you are able to grab the box and go help your pet. In a perfect world you'll never have to use a pet first aid kit but it is better to be prepared and never need it then wish you had everything together and were ready to roll in the face of an emergency.
Related Articles -
Disaster Preparedness For Pets
Understanding Dog Vaccinations
Understanding Cat Vaccinations
