How to Assemble a Pet First-Aid Kit

You never know when an emergency will happen, and just as you should have a first-aid kit for yourself, you should also have one for your pet. The kit can be a life saver and can be put together at minimal cost and effort.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• 3 large garbage bags
• Small plastic bags
• Paper towels
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Antibiotic product
• Sterile gauze pads
• Nonstick adhesive tape
• Small scissors
• Benadryl
• Small flashlight
• Bottle of water
• Water and food dishes
• Your pet’s food

1. Purchase a container to hold all of the contents. The kit should be portable, waterproof and easily stored. Lunch boxes and tackle boxes are good choices.
2. Make a list of all important names and phones numbers. Include your regular vet, an after-hours emergency vet and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal’s poison control hotline: [phone]. If you are traveling with your pet, include the name and number of a vet in the city you are visiting.
3. Start out with three large garbage bags. They can be used to protect the interior of your car as well as a place to discard any kind of waste. Include smaller plastic bags for individual waste or vomit pickup. Also include a small bottle of hydrogen peroxide to clean wounds and an antibiotic product to stop any infection. Pack different sizes of sterile gauze pads, non-stick adhesive tape, and a small pair of scissors to cut the gauze and tape. You should also include Benadryl in case your pet is stung by a bee, and a mini flashlight to pull out slivers and tiny objects.
4. In addition to the products in the first-aide kit it’s also a good idea, especially if you are traveling, to have paper towels, a bottle of water, portable water and food dishes and a small bag of your pet’s food.
5. Contact your vet if your pet is taking any life-saving medication. The vet may be able to give you a sample to put in the first-aid kit or have suggestions as to what you should do if there was no medication.

Tips & Warnings

• Learn CPR and the Heimlich maneuver for your pet.
• Make sure none of your products have passed their expiration dates.
• Never try to pull out large objects on your own.