If you are a pet parent you should be prepared for any bad thing that may happen to your pup. There can always be accidents that can happen at a moment’s notice and you need to be ready to handle anything from minor bruises to major emergencies. This is why you should try to make a dog first aid kit always accessible in your car or house.
Things to Keep Handy in a Dog First Aid Kit
Here in this post we will discuss six of the most essential items you should always keep in your dog’s med kit.
1. Essential medicines
Medicines like analgesics and antiseptic or antifungal medicines should always be in your dog first aid kit, but you should get some extra advice from a vet about which specific medicines will suit the best. If your pet has some existing conditions too, you should make sure to include medicines that specifically treat those conditions too.
2. Bandaging supplies
You should also keep a large collection of bandaging supplies in your kit too because cuts and bruises can happen when your dog is playing where there is a lot of debris. Things like gauze pads and rolls, some amazing adhesive bandages with a trimmer, triangular bandages and elastic bandage wraps can be very useful with minor scrapes and some really serious injuries like sprains or a broken bone.
3. Tools for emergencies
Things such as scissors are very important because you never know when they will come into incredible use, also tweezers and thermometers should also be a part of your dog first aid kit. In addition to these things, you may also want to include some kind of light such as a penlight for inspecting wounds closely and a magnifying glass to find any splinters or other things.
4. Medical records
Whenever you are taking your dog to a vet, you will have to show them the records of your dog’s past vaccination records and other medical history, so you should keep them in your dog medical kit because it will help you do the best for your dog when there is an emergency situation. Some medicines that will be given to your dog will conflict with others and to avoid that, vets must have records of what medicines your dog is taking to ensure the best health.
5. Emergency plan
Always plan out what you will do before you encounter an emergency to keep your pet safe. Some good vets and doctors and also YouTube videos can train you on what you should do in emergency situations. You should do proper research online to ensure you have complete knowledge on the ways to administer basic first aid care or even giving CPR if god forbid the situation arises.
6. Extra supplies
Finally, you should pay attention to anything extra that you may need in case there is any emergency such as some towels and a muzzle strap. We suggest you also include a few treats for keeping your pet calm, also you can keep some soothing smells and music too which can keep them especially calm when they are in stressful situations. You should especially keep medicines for dental allergies because they are the most common health claim for dogs.
Conclusion
Your pet matters, and their safety and well-being are of the most importance and by having a dog emergency first aid kit which has all the necessities for your dog, you will be well prepared whenever something has a possibility of going really wrong.
This concise list of six must-have items for a first aid kit for your dog is the perfect place to begin when it comes to making sure your pet remains safe at all costs. You should also check with your vet and get their recommendations on anything that you may have missed and also get trained on some emergency protocols.
If you have a comprehensive first aid kit, it will be an important step in ensuring the best care for your dog if there is ever an emergency. And do not forget to celebrate your dog’s presence with a beautiful pet portrait painting from Pawstro.
FAQs
Where is the best place for hiding a dog first aid kit?
Dog first aid kits should be kept in locations easily visible and accessible to all family members and the second one should be in your car.
How can I learn to apply CPR on a dog?
Many organizations such as the American Red Cross, offer first aid and CPR courses for dogs and you can also find numerous instructional videos online from reputable sources.
Why are snouts important in first aid kit boxes?
A dog which is in pain or is very scared can bite people and it does not matter if they are being gentle. A muzzle can protect you and people around you from being bitten while you are doing first aid such as an injection or applying solutions that may hurt.
Do human medications work for dogs when they are in pain?
No, you should never give your dog any human medications because they are toxic and can kill them.
