First Aid Kit

In an emergency situation you are your pets' best hope of survival. Being prepared could save your pets' life. The information that we are providing here should not be considered replacement of care by qualified medical professionals. This information is provided to help you keep your animal alive long enough to get it the appropriate care.

We highly recommend that you have a first aid kit available. If you travel frequently with your pet a second kit in your vehicle or in an otherwise convenient place would be advisable. In addition the kit should be easily accessible by someone else in the event that you are injured and cannot help your pet directly. The kit should be easily identifiable from any side. The kit should include any pertinent medical information about you and your pet, include allergies or other medical conditions, such as diabetes, epilepsy, etc. Age and weights are highly recommended to properly gauge dosing of any medications. If possible prepare a sheet with proper dosages ahead of time and have it in your first aid kit. A cellular phone or other means of communication with emergency services would be advisable. The name and phone number for a person to contact in an emergency, name and phone number for your physician and your veterinarian should be included. Also keep a copy of your pets vaccination records (especially rabies) in the kit. If you engage in activities or live in areas that might result in unusual emergencies (such as snake bites) for you or your pet you should prepare your kit accordingly. If you have the room available a book or pamphlet on veterinary first aid would be advisable.

First Aid kits are available in some stores (check with your local pharmacy) or you can make your own. If you choose to make your own you can use either a fish tackle box or an artists drawing box. Both come with dividers inside to keep the various supplies neat. Using labels, decals, or tape, clearly mark the outside of the box as to what it is. Mark the sides of the box as well.

Here is a list of the materials that you should have in your first aid kit:

  • Adhesive Tape - 1 inch
  • Alcohol Wipes (or rubbing alcohol)
  • Antibiotic ointment
  • Band-Aids
  • Bandage Scissors
  • Betadine Solution
  • Bulb Syringe
  • Cotton Swabs and Cotton Balls
  • Ear Cleaning Solution
  • Epson Salts
  • Eye Wash Solution
  • First Aid Tape
  • Gauze Sponges 3x3 or 4x4 (approximately 30)
  • Gauze Bandage Roll (various sizes if room permits)
  • Hemostats
  • Ice/Cold Packs (Commercially available - used for sports injuries)
  • KY Jelly or Vaseline
  • Latex Gloves
  • Matches
  • Nail Clipper
  • Needle And Thread
  • New Skin liquid Bandage
  • Non stick pads such as Second Skin or New Skin for burns
  • Oral Syringe (1 teaspoon = 5ml)
  • Otoscope
  • Razor Blade (sterile and wrapped for safety)
  • Rectal Thermometer
  • Sanitary Napkins (can be used to dress wounds)
  • Safety Pins
  • Small pair of Pantyhose
  • Splints
  • Sterile Pads
  • Thermal or Heat Packs
  • Triangular Bandage
  • Tweezers or Forceps
  • Vetwrap
  • Wash Cloth - Clean (store in a plastic bag)
  • Wire Cutters or Leatherman tool (has pliers, wire cutters, knife, etc)
  • Ziplock baggies (good for ice packs)

 

Here is a list of medicines (and approximate dosages) that you should consider keeping in your first aid kit.

  • Ascriptin or Buffered Aspirin (5 mg per pound every 12 hours)
  • Benadryl 25 mg. (1-2 mg/lb every 8 hours)
  • Honey
  • Hydrocortisone Topical Spray - Gentocin or Cortaid
  • Hydrogen Peroxide (to induce vomiting - 1 to 3 teaspoon every 10 minutes until dog vomits - Warning - Do not induce vomiting unless told to do so by a medical professional, depending on the material ingested vomiting may cause more damage to the dogs systems.- Here is a link to our page on poisons with the telephone number for the Animal Poison Control Center.
  • Immodium (1 mg per 15 pounds, 1 or 2 times daily)
  • Iodine Tablets (for treating drinking water)
  • Kaopectate (1 ml per pound every 2 hours)
  • Mineral Oil (as a laxative) - Do not use long term and consult your vet for dosaging info
  • Panalog
  • Pepto Bismol Tablets ( 1 tablet per 40 pounds)
  • Pepto Bismol Liquid (1 Tablespoon per 20 pounds every 6 hours)

 

 

Remember - do not medicate your pet without consulting your vet as to the safety of particular medicines for your animal and the proper dosages for your size pet. Consult your vet BEFORE an emergency occurs to get dosages for your pet and keep that information in the first aid kit where it will be readily available in an emergency and you can save time by not having to calculate dosages or risk making mistakes.

Any medications kept in your kit should be replaced regularly to ensure freshness. We would recommend going through the kit on at least an annual basis. Check expiration dates on any medications in your kit and replace as necessary, replace any used supplies such as band-aids.

 

 

We are not veterinarians and any information provided on these pages is for educational purposes only. Any decisions with regard to the care or treatment of your own pets must be made in consultation with appropriate medical professionals. In accessing these pages you agree to hold the web site administrator/owner harmless.

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