Jan 20, 2010

Your Home Veterinary First-Aid Kit

Ready-made first-aid kits are available at pet stores or through catalogs. You can also put one together yourself, using items from around the house. Put the kit where it can be easily found and include your veterinarian's business card, along with the phone number for and directions to the nearest emergency clinic. Check the kit every once in a while to make sure you aren't running low on any supplies and everything is still usable.

The following items make up a basic first-aid kit:


Activated charcoal (available at drugstores) for absorbing poisons
Adhesive tape to secure bandages
Antibacterial ointment or powder for cleaning wounds
Antidiarrheal agent such as Kaopectate (Ask your vet what amount is appropriate for controlling your dog's diarrhea.)
Blunt-tipped scissors to trim away hair from wounds and cut bandaging material
Cotton balls and cotton swabs
Gauze pads and rolls to make bandages
Hydrogen peroxide (3 percent) to clean wounds
Laxative or antacid such as milk of magnesia
Lubricating jelly or petroleum jelly to lubricate a thermometer
Needleless syringe for giving liquid medications
Plaster splint for broken limbs
Plastic eyedropper to administer liquid medications or eyedrops
Rectal thermometer
Rubbing alcohol
Syrup of ipecac to induce vomiting
Tweezers
Other helpful items for your kit might be needle-nose pliers to remove porcupine quills or other items stuck in the mouth or throat, sanitary napkins to help stop heavy blood flow, and towels.

I would also have food, bottle water, blankets, and anything else your pet may need.

For example in our first aid kit, I keep a shirt for my little guy because it gives him comfort, so I keep his shirt with our first kit to help him in case of emergency.

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