Pet First Aid Kit
Putting together a first aid kit for your pet can be very easy. You can even have a few things added to your own first aid kit to save on space when travelling.
Some basic things that need to be in both human, and pet first aid kits are:
- Bandaging Material – sterile gauze squares, sterile non-stick gauze pads, roll gauze, bandage tape and a large fabric bandage/sling, blunt tip scissors
- Cleaning solutions – saline solution for flushing wounds, concentrated antibiotic soap, iodine and/or alcohol cleaning wipes, antibiotic cream
- Tweezers – to remove splinters or ticks, to pick small pieces of debris from wounds
- Disposable latex gloves
- Instant ice packs
- Emergency blanket
- Emergency contact numbers – include your veterinarian and their emergency contact numbers, as well as a poison control center. The human poison control center has some information on pets, but if you want exact information, be sure to call the ASPCA’s pet poisons help line.
Some things that are specific to pet first aid kits are:
- A 2 day supply of your pets medications
- A muzzle to fit each of your pets
- Extra leash & collar/harness
- Nail trimmers and clotting powder – in case a nail is broken
- Digital thermometer and lubricating jelly to take a rectal temperature
- Peroxide and a few different sized oral syringes – this can be used to induce vomiting, but do not administer without veterinary advice. Some things can be more dangerous to throw up than to digest.
- Liquid Benadryl – make sure there is no other medications other than diphenhydramine in the bottle. Some formulations contain decongestants or pain relievers that can be toxic to pets. You should ask your veterinarian for a safe dose for your pets weight, age and breed as well as the signs/symptoms of an allergic reaction. Write these instructions directly on the bottle encase of emergency.
What to do if you pet has an emergency
- Always be prepared with the telephone number for the following:
- Your pet’s regular Veterinarian
- The Emergency Hospital (for after-hours emergencies)
- The closest veterinarian in your current area (if travelling)
Poison control
Always, always phone a veterinarian if your pet has an emergency. They can tell you what is most appropriate to do for your pet while you are on your way to the hospital.
If possible, always try to phone a head to let your veterinary team know you are coming with an emergency. The veterinary team can be prepared for your pet allowing them to focus on immediate treatment when you arrive.
First protect yourself
If your pet is in pain, he/she may lash out at you out of fear, so before you attempt to clean wounds or move your injured pet always put a muzzle on them first, no matter how friendly the pet. Once you are protected, you can proceed with providing basic first aid with such steps as:
Stop the bleeding
If your pet is bleeding badly, apply pressure directly to the wound using gauze or other absorbent material. If the wound in on an extremity and is bleeding uncontrollably you can use a length of roll gauze as a tourniquet. Do this by wrapping it around the leg a few times 2-3 inches from the wound and tying tightly to stop blood flow long enough to clean and bandage the wound. Do not ever leave a tourniquet on for more than 15 minutes.
Check for shock symptoms
If your pet is injured in any way he/she may be in shock. The symptoms include: pale or white gums, fast heart rate (over 150/min for dogs, over 200/min for cats), low temperature, cold limbs, losing consciousness. To help combat these affects, try to lay your pet on his/her side with the head extended and hind end elevated slightly to keep blood flowing toward the heart, lungs and brain. Stop any external bleeding, wrap them in a blanket and get to a veterinary hospital immediately.
If you think your pet has ingested a toxic substance and you cannot get to a veterinarian within 15 minutes, you should call your clinic and ask for instructions. If you cannot reach a veterinary hospital, you could call poison control to ask for advice. Either one may advise to induce vomiting, and will instruct you on how much hydrogen peroxide to administer by mouth. DO NOT do this without guidance, as some substances can be more dangerous to throw up than to digest.
If your If you pet is having swelling and redness around his/her eyes, nose, lips, tongue or ears they could be having an allergic reaction. As always it is best to call a veterinarian, but if you cannot reach someone, you should administer a dose of Benedryl orally based on the instructions your veterinarian has already given you and get to a clinic as soon as possible. These reactions can become life threatening if the tongue or throat swells, so immediate treatment is the most important.
To clean minor wounds use saline flush with gentle pressure to flush debris from wounds. If very dirty dilute antibiotic soap with saline or water and use gauze to clean gently, then rinse off any soap. Apply non-stick gauze to the wound and cover lightly until it can be examined.