Dogs are naturally curious and playful. Just like a toddler, in fact. Also like a toddler, their curiosity is going to cause them an injury from time to time. Luckily, the principals of first aid are the same for an animal as they are a person. The key is a combination of first aid education and having the right tools readily available – which is why having a canine first aid kit at the ready is so important. Here are some essentials we recommend keeping in your kit.
EMERGENCY HELP
- Contact information for both your regular vet and the closest 24-hour emergency vet hospital.
TREATING INGESTION EMERGENCIES
- Activated charcoal for poison ingestion (use only at direction of a veterinarian).
- Canine Benadryl for allergic reactions (use only at direction of a veterinarian).
- Hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting (use only at direction of a veterinarian).
- Canine Kaopectate or Pepto-Bismol for diarrhea (use only at direction of a veterinarian).
EXTERNAL WOUNDS AND BANDAGING
- Medical tape to tape bandages and splints.
- Gauze pads for stopping blood flow.
- Gauze roll for bandaging.
- Bitter Spray to keep dogs from biting at and licking bandages and wounds.
- Cotton balls for cleaning and applying ointments.
- Cotton swabs for cleaning and applying ointments.
- Antimicrobial Wound Spray.
- Eye Wash to flush contaminants from eyes.
- Ear flush for cleaning debris from ears.
- Syringe for flushing wounds.
- Blunt tipped scissors for cutting bandages and trimming hair from wounds.
- Needle-nose pliers to remove large splinters and objects from the mouth and throat.
- Tweezers to remove small splinters.
- Hot Spot Spray to relieve itching, scratching and raw sore skin caused by pollen, allergy, dermatitis and other skin problems.