How to Pack a First Aid Kit for Pets

Keep a first aid kit for your pet accessible at home or in your car when traveling. Gathering the necessary items ahead of time could help save your pet's life in an emergency.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Blankets
• Masking Tape
• Muzzles
• Masking Tape
• Kaeopectates
• Antibacterial Ointments
• Cotton Swabs
• Eyebrow Tweezers
• Gauze
• Gauze Pads
• Hydrogen Peroxides
• Ipecacs
• Medicine Droppers
• Cotton Swabs
• Plastic Storage Containers
• Scissors
• Scissors
• Adhesive Tape
• Adhesive Tape
• Forceps
• Blankets

1. Get a durable, waterproof (or at least water-resistant) container that opens and closes easily yet securely. It should be large enough to hold the items mentioned below.

2. Include bandage material, such as gauze pads, cotton gauze, adhesive tape and masking tape.

3. Keep a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and anti-bacterial ointment or cream in the kit.

4. Include diarrhea medication, but seek your veterinarian's approval before use.

5. Be sure to pack a pair of scissors, plus tweezers or forceps.

6. Add a few eyedroppers for dispensing liquid medication or for cleaning superficial wounds.

7. Include syrup of ipecac to induce vomiting in the event your pet is poisoned. If your pet is poisoned, consult your veterinarian before inducing vomiting.

8. Find activated charcoal at any health food store. This remedy is good for poisoning or diarrhea and controls flatulence resulting from any stomach or intestinal upset.

9. Store blankets in the kit to keep your pet warm in extreme conditions.

10. When traveling, call ahead to your destination to see if there are any particular dangers, such as snakes, poisonous plants or extreme heat, that you will need to consider when packing your first aid kit.

11. Include the phone numbers of your pet's regular veterinarian and of a nearby emergency veterinary hospital.

Tips & Warnings

• Muzzle an injured dog, since overly stressed dogs are more at risk of biting.
• For spinal injuries, secure your pet to a board with masking tape that will not hurt the fur or skin. Avoid placing the dog inside a crate or carrier, and call your veterinarian before heading to the hospital so the staff can prepare for your arrival.
• Never give your cat aspirin or acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol). They are extremely toxic to cats. Avoid giving ibuprofen to dogs, as it can cause kidney failure.

[BeingArtsy]

on 6/10/2009 Thanks for writing this article on how to pack a first aid kit for pets. I often travel with my cat in the car and although I have most of this with us, there are things here I never thought of. Awesome comment feedback too! 5*s!

[Suzsunshyne]

on 4/13/2008 I just took the Red Cross Pet First Aid course and the instructor said not to use Hydrogen Peroxide. My vet has also said this. Dr Oz said even for humans it's best to use a saline flush so you won't kill the white blood cells fighting infection.

Also the Red Cross will be splitting the Pet First Aid course into one for dog and one for cat. If you are considering taking the course sign up now to save financially.

on 2/10/2006 The American Red Cross teams up with chapters of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) to provide First Aid courses for pet owners. The cost of the class usually includes a manual and a First Aid Kit, which you can purchase separately from some chapters of the Red Cross.

on 1/18/2006 All essential oils are toxic to cats, because the cat's liver can't properly metabolize them. Cats lack an important detoxification mechanism that most other animals and people have. You should never give essential oils to cats, especially not sick cats!

on 11/22/2005 Keep sanitary napkins in your pet's first aid kit, along with Vetwrap. For a severe cut (you can see bone, for example) apply pressure with the absorbent side of the napkin, then wrap with Vetwrap. The Vetwrap is a bandage that only sticks to itself, not to the fur! Be careful not to wrap too tight and cut off circulation.

When my large dog broke the glass in the storm door by jumping into it, he cut one of his forepaws deep enough to see bone. I used this method until we could get to the veterinarian. My veterinarian asked which veterinarian I had taken him to first.