Pet First Aid Kit: What You Need
Emergencies happen all the time whether you are traveling, out around town or when you are at home. It is always best to be prepared, and when you have pets, you need to be extra prepared with a dog First Aid Kit. When your pet suffers an illness, injury, or even poisoning, it is important to know what to do. Your preparedness can have a significant impact on the recovery, safety, and comfort of your pet. What does your pet need, in case of emergency? According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, there are certain essentials for your emergency kit.
Emergency Kit Essentials
Here is a list of essentials to keep your dog safe during a medical emergency or a health issue:
Absorbent gauze pads: Gauze pads are useful both for cleaning wounds and as the primary layer in a bandage where you do not need to worry about the first covering sticking to the wounded skin.
Adhesive tape: Tape will hold the different layers of a bandage in place while applying the bandage layers. Tape is also used for "stirrups" when applying bandages to paws, tails, and other difficult-to-bandage places.
Cotton balls or swabs: Cotton items can be used for bathing your petâs wounds as well as applying pressure to the wounded area.
Fresh 3% hydrogen peroxide: Hydrogen peroxide is used to induce vomiting if your pet ingests something they are not meant to ingest. (Always check with veterinarian or animal poison control expert before giving to your pet)
Disposable gloves: Gloves do not just keep your hands from getting blood and other "fluids on them, but they protect your dog's wound from becoming contaminated by bacteria that might be on your hands.
Scissors with blunt end: The scissors are used to cut and remove bandages safely. The extended, "leading blade" will make it easier to get the scissor under the bandage, while the blunted nature of the tip decreases the chances of cutting your dog's skin while you are cutting.
Tweezers: Tweezers are helpful when picking splinters out of your dogâs paw or ticks out of their fur.
OTC antibiotic ointment: If your pet gets a small cut or scratch, antibiotic ointments will help prevent infection and relieve pain.
Oral syringe or turkey baster: Syringes are used both for administering hydrogen peroxide to get your dog to vomit after they have eaten something they should not have. Syringes can also be used to clean and flush wounds.
Towels/Blanket: Rags and towels can be used for cleanup. Towels or blankets can also be used to help transport and comfort your pet.
Small flashlight: A reliable source of light is important for night time injuries, as well as for looking closely in between toes and paw pads, or into your dog's mouth, ears, or nostrils.
Alcohol wipes: Wipes can be used to clean the petâs wounds.
Saline eye solution: Saline solution can be used to flush your pet's eye(s) in the event of pollen, grass seed, or other objects getting stuck in their eye.
Artificial tear gel: This gel restores lubrication to your pet's eye(s) and prevent discomfort or irritation after you have flushed their eye(s) out with a saline eye flush
Muzzle: A muzzle can be used to prevent a dog in pain and distress from biting you or anyone else helping you while transporting or administering first aid. Dogs in distress and pain are more likely to bite even if they normally would not.
Activated Charcoal: In certain situations, charcoal can help with certain poisonings and toxicities. Never administer activated charcoal without first checking with a veterinarian or animal poison control.
Emergency contacts: Phone number, clinic name, address of your veterinarian as well as local veterinary emergency clinics.
Another essential: Benadryl, active ingredient: Diphenhydramine, can be useful in bee and wasp stings and other allergic reactions. While diphenhydramine is safe for most pets in these situations, you should check with your veterinarian to ensure that your pet can be given diphenhydramine and how to measure the dose appropriately.
Make sure to keep your kit updated to ensure that nothing has expired or needs to be replaced.
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