In each of our homes, we typically have some form of first aid kit and a plethora of medications in our cabinets. Most of our cars probably (hopefully) have a roadside Emergency kit inside with jumper cables and something that looks like a space blanket. Maybe most importantly, we have emergency chocolate or emergency wine stashed away for those long, stressful days – IMPORTANT!
What about an emergency kit for our devious fur monsters friends that seem to find themselves in all sorts of… unique situations? These are the dogs that will always stay at least 3 ft away from a harmless vent on the floor but chase after a wild animal 10x their size. They’ll pounce on a pile of spilled ibuprofen but refuse to touch the new gourmet food you just bought.
Whether an allergic reaction, a cut/scrape, or accidental ingestion…
Step 1. Breathe
Step 2. Call Regular Vet, Emergency Vet, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center @ (888) 426-4435 depending on the situation
Step 3. Follow advice, which could involve bringing your pet in immediately, cleaning a wound, bandaging, inducing vomiting, careful observation, administering Benadryl, etc.
There may be times you’re out on the road, or miles away from the nearest emergency vet when disaster strikes. In any of these cases, it’s particularly important to be prepared and have certain items on hand. Based on my own experiences and after scrolling through pages of articles, personal pet owner stories and reviews, I’ve come up with my own comprehensive list of [what I believe are] essentials for a dog first-aid and Poison Prevention Kit.
What about Pet First Aid Kits Online?
Yes, a search of “Pet First Aid” on Amazon will return a ridiculous amount of results. Unfortunately, most of these are filled with items not specific to dogs and frankly pretty useless. After some quick browsing, you will notice that in these 200-piece packs, you will find 60 bandages, 50 cotton balls, 40 alcohol wipes, 20 safety pins, and then a few actual useful things. These are potentially a good start and if nothing else, at least you get a sweet bag for the rest of your items. However, the most cost effective solution is building a kit from the ground up… so let’s get to it! Remember: you may want to add or subtract items based on your own pet’s needs.
Complete List: Dog First-Aid & Poison Prevention Kit
Bandaging & Wound Care
Gauze Pads/Rolled Gauze/Vet Wraps: Proper bandaging of a wound to control bleeding and prevent infection is a basic skill that is extremely easy to learn, especially when you have the proper tools. This 5-minute YouTube video is perfect!
Pro-tip: Rolled gauze can be carefully used as a muzzle in an emergency if your dog is acting out from pain. If your dog it vomiting or having trouble breathing, DO NOT put a muzzle on or wrap the snout.
Disposable Gloves: for preventing transfer of infection from you to your dog or your dog to you
Medical Tape: for securing bandages or other multipurpose uses
Antiseptic Wipes: for removing bacteria and fungus on dogs’ skin
Styptic Powder: for controlling bleeding of superficial cuts. I use it most often for those terrible times I accidentally cut the quick during nail trimming sessions (aka wrestling with the tiny crocodiles).
Medications & Consumables
Antibiotic Ointment: for reducing or preventing infection in open wounds. It is most commonly applied before wrapping a bandage.
3% Hydrogen Peroxide: for inducing vomiting when your dog has ingested something that is safe to throw up. ALWAYS CONSULT A VET OR POISON CONTROL BEFORE INDUCING VOMITING because, depending on what your dog ingested, it may not be safe.
Note: Only use 3% hydrogen peroxide – avoid higher percentages.
Amount: The general rule is 0.5 – 1 mL per lb with a maximum of 45 mL per dose.
Activated Charcoal (Toxiban): for absorbing poisons and toxicities in certain situations. ALWAYS CONSULT A VET OR POISON CONTROL BEFORE ADMINISTERING activated charcoal because only certain poisons can be absorbed safely by this substance.
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl): for allergies such as bug bites or seasonal allergies. It’s important to note that this just covers up symptoms and doesn’t treat underlying causes. For example, if your dog is having food allergies, symptoms will not go away until the root problems are resolved.
Pro-tip: Pre-calculate your dogs’ dose and write it on the packaging so you don’t have to look up doses in the middle of an allergy attack.
Canned Pumpkin: for digestive upset. Add a small amount of pumpkin to your dogs’ food if they are having digestive issues such as diarrhea.
Treats: Treats are good to have as a distraction for your dog if you have to treat a wound.
Tools
Oral Syringe: for effectively administering hydrogen peroxide and flushing wounds
Pro-tip: Mark the amount of hydrogen peroxide each dog should receive per dose in case of emergency. In an emergency, it can be difficult for your panicked brain to figure out the calculations.
Tweezer: General multi-purpose tool for removing foreign objects such as glass.
Blunt-tip Scissors: for cutting bandages and also removing existing bandages safely
Flashlight: It’s important to have a reliable light source if you’re in a situation where you’re not able to see clearly. In many cases a headlamp may be the best option because it is hands free.
Tick Key: for easily and successfully removing ticks that may be embedded in your dogs’ skin. The tick key is specially designed to fully and safely remove ticks.
Thermometer & Lubricant Gel: for (obviously) taking your dogs’ temperature at home or on the road.
Note: Dogs have a higher average body temperature than humans. A normal temperature for dogs is between 101 and 102.5 F. Since a rectal temperature is the most accurate for dogs, be sure to use the appropriate lubricant gel for comfort and insert about an inch.
Documents & Emergency Preparedness
Emergency Phone Numbers: I recommend having the following numbers both on your fridge and in your first-aid kit
-ASPA Animal Poison Control Center (888) 426-4435
-Veterinarian
-Local Emergency Vet
Vet/Vaccination Papers: You never know when you’ll need pertinent information about previous treatments or vaccinations. As predictable as our dogs may seem, unfortunately there can be those rare times when our dogs can feel threatened, causing them to act out. As loving dog owners, we hope we are never in the situation of having to prove a rabies vaccine, but it’s always best to be prepared. Plus, it’s good to keep all of these papers in one place anyway!
“Please Save Our Pets” Stickers: These alert emergency personnel that there are pets inside your house and are even recommended by the Fire Department. Read my blog post about these stickers here.
Final Important Tips
- Check expiration dates often
- Refill your kit each time you use an item
- I’ve included links for certain online products where I found it appropriate. In many cases, it is more cost effective to purchase particular items at a local drug store (e.g. gauze, tape, gloves, Benadryl, 3% hydrogen peroxide, etc.)*
*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make purchase using the link provided, at no additional cost to you. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
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