What should I have in my pet’s First Aid Kit?
Basic first-aid supplies:
- Absorbent gauze pads
- Adhesive tape
- Antiseptic wipes, lotion, powder, or spray
- Blanket (a foil emergency blanket)
- Cotton balls or swabs
- Gauze rolls
- Hydrogen peroxide (to induce vomiting—do this only when directed by a veterinarian or a poison-control expert)
- Ice pack
- Non-latex disposable gloves
- Petroleum jelly (to lubricate the thermometer)
- Rectal thermometer (your pet’s temperature should not rise above 39.5°C or 103.1°F or fall below 37°C or 98.6°F)
- Scissors (with blunt ends)
- Sterile non-stick gauze pads for bandages
- Sterile saline solution (sold at pharmacies)
- Tweezers & Tick twister
- A pillowcase to confine your cat for treatment
- A pet carrier
**Please use extreme caution when using hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting as it may cause stomach ulcers and severe blood loss when used outside of the guidance of a veterinarian.
Other useful items:
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl®) A veterinarian must tell you the correct dosage for your pet’s size.
- Ear-cleaning solution
- Expired credit card or sample credit card (from direct-mail credit-card offers) to scrape away insect stingers
- Glucose paste or corn syrup (for diabetic dogs or those with low blood sugar)
- Nail clippers
- Non-prescription antibiotic ointment
- Tylenol (Formulations recommended: children’s (small dog), regular strength (large dog)) A veterinarian MUST give you the correct dosage for your dog.
- Penlight or flashlight
- Plastic eyedropper or syringe
- Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) to clean the thermometer
- Splints and tongue depressors
- Styptic powder or pencil (sold at veterinary hospitals, pet-supply stores, and your local pharmacy)
- Temporary identification tag (to put your local contact information on your pet’s collar when you travel)
- Towels
- Needle-nosed pliers
**Please NEVER give your dog any over-the-counter medications without a veterinarian’s approval. Some day-to-day human pain and/or fever relievers are extremely toxic in the smallest of doses!! Eg. Advil (Ibuprofen), Alieve, etc. If your pet is on other medications, please check with a veterinarian prior to giving OTC medications as well as some medications can produce negative drug reactions when used together (whether dosed at the same time, same day, even same week!).