Chew Test Dog First Aid Kits are Important
A first aid kit is a necessity in any home or workplace. However, a dog emergency kit can be underrated or overlooked altogether. Our beloved dogs deserve to have one prepared in cases of injuries, allergies, or other unexpected situations. Let us show you how to put together an effective dog first aid kit for your home.
Making a Dog First Aid Kit
We’ll separate the kits into two parts: Essentials and Recommended. The best dog first aid kits will have the essential items. Recommended items are helpful under certain conditions and it is up to you if you’d like to include them in your own kits.
Essential Items in Dog First Aid Kits
Containers
- Kit pouch or Box – Look for boxes or pouches with many separate spaces; they make organization more accessible and will help you quickly retrieve what you need.
- Pill Box – These are required for dogs that need to take regular medications
- Zip lock bags – Perfect for keeping moisture out of the dry items like telfa pads, gauze and bandages.
Information Cards
- Your dog’s medical history and vaccination records
- Your Vet Contacts
- Your Local Pet Emergency Contacts
- Selected Pet Emergency Contacts for Travel Destinations
- A dog emergency kit booklet – This has the quintessential info you would need in a pet emergency situation from contacts to poison info and instructions on wound care.
First Aid Tools
- Medical Gloves – Put them on before every treatment or inspection. These can be nitrile or latex; they protect you and your dogs from transmission and infections of pathogens; always keep dry. Most dog emergency kits do not include this, unfortunately.
- Bandage Scissors – Regular scissors have sharp ends that can harm you and your dog during treatment. Bandage scissors have blunt ends designed to protect the users and their doggie patients, which speeds up the treatment process.
- Tweezers – These come in a couple of different designs, but they are commonly used to remove small foreign objects like stingers, splinters, or shards.
- Magnifying Glass – This works together with tweezers very well. Try to get one with LED on the handle to give yourself better illumination over the area you are inspecting.
- Flashlight – Mostly used in low light conditions, but it can also be used to do deep inspections on dogs with thick fur coats.
Wound Care Items
- Anti-Septic Cleaner – Try to use Chlorhexidine solutions as they are very gentle on wounds and preferred by Vets. Hydrogen Peroxide is a good substitute, but they are less delicate.
- Antibiotic Ointment – Use the regular formula and avoid unique formulas like “+ pain relief.” You can also pack an antibiotic spray for minor wounds or scratches that need no treatment but still pose infection risks.
- Telfa Pads – Apply a small amount of Antibiotic Ointment to these and place them over wounds for protection; keep these dry.
- Gauze – Store 10-15 gauze for a single dog in a zip lock bag. This keeps everything compact and protects them from moisture or contamination; these must be kept dry.
- Self-Adhesive Bandage – These are commonly called Vet Wrap in the industry, and you can find them in pet stores or pharmacies; always keep these dry.
Allergies – Benadryl Allergy original formula is best; never use any other unique formulas. If Benadryl isn’t available in your area, look for a substitute where the active ingredient is Diphenhydramine. Always consult your Vet before giving your dogs any medication at any time.
Eye Washer – Saline solution eye washers will often be needed if you allow your dogs to stick their heads out of your car’s window. Debris and insects will most likely be the culprit, quickly wash them off with a rinse, and do not use your fingers.
Nail Care
- Nail Clippers – These come in handy when your dog needs a quick cut on damaged nails.
- Styptic Powder – Always have this with nail clippers as you can cut your dog’s nail too deep. Put some styptic power on your finger and press up against the cut to quickly stop the bleeding. The best dog first aid kits would include this.
Recommended Dog First Aid Kit Items
Soft Muzzles – Pain and discomforts can cause your dogs to react defensively. These foldable muzzles can come in handy when you need to restrain your dog’s jaws.
Digital Thermometer – It is faster than its analog counterpart if you set spare batteries aside and do regular kit maintenance.
Cotton Balls – These can be used as disposable wipes and applicators in place of gauze. However, they take up more space and must be kept dry.
Dry Towel – This takes up the most space, but it can be handy when it rains or when you take your dog to bodies of water. They can help raise your dog’s body temperature when wrapped or used to dry up your dog quickly.
Take Good Care of Your Dog First Aid Kits
Your dog emergency kit needs to be regularly maintained, just like a kit meant for humans. Keep your dog’s medical information and all contact info up to date. Make sure your tools are functional and aren’t stuck or broken. Check for water damage or moisture collection in your dry item bags and replace anything that is no longer usable. Be aware of all items with expiration dates; replace them as needed. The best dog first aid kits are not the most expensive or impressive. They are the well-organized ones that are easily accessible and work whenever required.
