SPECIAL FEATURES:
Email
What items do I need for a pet first aid kit?
Morieka Johnson and her dog Lulu know all too well about emergencies.
Wed, Sep 08 2010 at 10:43 AM
Related Topics:
Q: My dog got into a fight with a neighbor’s dog. I spent about $500 and half a day at the emergency clinic one Saturday. Lesson learned — it’s time to have a better emergency plan. What first aid items do I need in case there is another dog emergency? A: My dog Lulu has amassed quite a few vet bills over the years for ailments ranging from allergies to tummy disorders, so I feel your pain. Fortunately, a well-stocked pet first aid kit can go a long way toward helping your pooch and lowering your bill at an emergency vet clinic. Most items will be familiar because they typically come in a standard first aid kit. (You do have a first aid kit, right?) You can buy a pet first aid kit with all the essentials or assemble your own. Here are a few essentials for a good kit, along with some items I recommend based on trial and error.
Bandages, cotton balls and rubbing alcohol: All that fur gets in the way of cute cartoon-covered Band-Aids, so it’s best to have gauze, cotton swabs and adhesive tape on hand to cover up doggie boo-boos.
Latex-free gloves and tweezers: Dogs can get into some pretty precarious situations. Gloves help reduce the risk of spreading infection and just generally keep you from touching yuck, which is always a good thing. Since ticks are a common problem, make sure you also have a pair of tweezers on hand to remove them. ASPCA.org offers tips on effective tick removal. There are times when tweezers should not be used, so bookmark their site for quick reference if you live in an area where ticks are prevalent.
Muzzle and leash: While cloth will work in a pinch, consider investing in an inexpensive muzzle for emergency transport, along with a leash.
Digital thermometer: Invest in a separate thermometer for your pet. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommends using a “fever” thermometer, which tracks higher temperatures than typical versions. Instant ear thermometers get the job done, but the AVMA advises getting a rectal reading for the best results. PetPlace.com offers tips for taking a dog’s temperature using both methods. (By now, I’m sure you understand why that emergency muzzle is a must-have.)
Activated charcoal: Readily available in most drugstores, activated charcoal helps prevent poison from being absorbed and is often used to help induce vomiting. However, the AVMA warns that you should consult a professional before taking this route.
Benadryl: Bug bites happen, so do bee stings and other incidents that require a quick dose of diphenhydramine, otherwise known as good, old-fashioned Benadryl. I buy it in bulk because Lulu needs it for frequent allergy flare-ups, and I don’t get along with red ants.
Clean cloths: If you have a pet, there already should be plenty of old towels and T-shirts on hand for occasional accidents. Keep a stash near your kit in case you need to absorb bleeding or cover wounds. A thick blanket also makes it easier to pick up and move an injured pet.
Emergency phone list: Now that your little bruiser has seen an emergency vet, I’m sure the clinic name has been burned into your memory bank. Write that number down next to the contact info for your veterinarian. I also suggest adding the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center hotline, 1-888-426-4435. A $65 consultation fee may be applied, but that is still cheaper than some emergency clinics, which charge twice that amount before they even look at the animal. Plus, the hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Remember that if your pet overdoses on the family’s Thanksgiving Day feast, or a new pair of shoes, the ASPCA also has great information about potentially dangerous household products. (I never knew avocadoes were a no-no.)
Cone of shame: If you’ve seen the hilarious film “Up” then you will understand my reference to Elizabethan collars (E-collars) as the ultimate torture device for pets. These collars do a great job preventing pets from licking or irritating wounds, but plastic E-collars also limit peripheral vision. Thanks to the E Collar, Lulu has knocked over glasses of water, figurines and anything else in her path. A nasty paw infection required an extended tour of duty in the E-collar, so I broke down and invested in a Comfy Cone. It’s a soft, fabric E-collar that causes less doggie destruction. Velcro closures make it easier to remove when I give in to Lulu’s sad puppy dog eyes. This more tolerable option comes in four sizes that range from 25 centimeters to 30 centimeters.
If you're ready to take your emergency preparedness to the next level, consider a pet CPR class so that you can master mouth-to-snout resuscitation. The American Red Cross offers classes across the country. Visit RedCross.org to locate a local chapter. Also, make sure to include your pets in disaster plans. The Red Cross offers a thorough checklist that includes many items from your pet first aid kit, along with recent pet photos, food and water bowls and medical records.
Hopefully your pet has reached its lifetime maximum on emergencies, but better safe than sorry!
— Morieka
Got a question? Submit a question to Mother Nature and one of our many experts will track down the answer. Plus: Visit our advice archives to see if your question has already been tackled.
Photos:
Stuffed dog: Amazon
Pug: Jupiterimages
MNN homepage, dog with icepack: WebSubstance/iStockphoto
You might also like:
Sign in with one of these accounts to add your comment.
EDITORS' PICKS
Advertisement
TODAY'S MOST POPULAR ON
- Student science experiment finds plants won't grow near Wi-Fi router
- 15 famous people who mysteriously disappeared
- How to get a second crop of tomatoes -- for free
- 10 false facts most people think are true
- 9 habits that may do more harm than good
- Jon Stewart explains the ‘Monsanto Protection Act’
- Bras don't actually work, says French study
- Food fraud: 10 counterfeit products we commonly consume
- What is the 'Monsanto Protection Act'?
- 13 natural remedies for the ant invasion
MNN'S ADVICE TEAM
Chanie Kirschner (Fridays)
Smart and funny maven.
Some of our favorite Q&As.
Eco-activist and consultant.
Author and television host.
NEWSLETTER
Advertisement
... and read this item to compare notes :)
I found the dog first aid kit list in It's a Vegan Dog's Life and teamed up with the author to sell the kits: http://www.etsy.com/listing/46751847/doggy-first-aid-kit
http://1aidkit.com/product_large-pet-first-aid-kit-44pc-p56948.html - for all pets. For my cats and dogs ;)
Bought this kit two months ago - used for 3 times. Bleeding and diarrhea - can be fixed without problems. Mandatory thing in the arsenal of any lover of animals. Especially if you have not just dogs.
My dog ingested rat poisoning one time and we were lucky enough to catch him in the act, when I called the emergency vet they told me to make him drink Peroxide until he vomited........He is a very large dog (150 lbs.) and after 2 bottles I called them back and said it wasn't working, they said keep giving it to him and walk him around til he vomits....it took awhile but it worked. Saved the dog and no costly vet bill for me
....make a 150 lb dog (or any dog, for that matter) drink hydrogen peroxide???
If you have a large breed of dog (labs, goldens, shepherds) make sure to take your dog to the vet ASAP for stomach issues when they are attempts to vomit and acting weird. Push on their stomach and see if they look uncomfortable or whine. It could be twisted gut which is often deadly if untreated.
You are headlining this article as emergency help for 'PETS", and yet it specifically for dogs. If I'm not mistaken, Benedryl will kill a cat. Please be more specific as to what is safe for dogs vs. cats. When in doubt, call your vet before administering emergency aid, or you can do more harm than good.
my vet has recommended it many times for my cats
That would be "Cone" of Shame, not "Crown" of Shame...
...I do not like the cone of shame... ;)
Great info for dog owners, but what about cats?????
If it is really hot and you think your dog is overheating you can rub rubbing alcohol on the insides of their ear flaps and in their "armpits" and it will help cool the dog off as alcohol evaporates really fast. Alcohol is probably one of the most important items for "emergency" situations.
Alcohol rubs aren't effective for people or pets. Put a few ice cubes in a baggie and hold that against the inner areas where you can normally feel a pulse - groin, armpits, or throat. That will cool them off quickly. If the ice is too cold (against an area that doesn't have much fur), you can put it in a towel or t-shirt.