You Need a Canine First Aid Kit

A picture of a dog with hurt paw giving thanks to the vet.

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.