Top 40 Things to Include in your Pet First Aid Kit

Often when we are away at the cottage, there is not a veterinarian close by.  It's important to be prepared in case of an accident or emergency with your four legged friend.  The supplies listed can be kept in a plastic tackle type box, small Rubbermaid box, or duffel bag...so it is always at the ready.  There are a variety of companies found on the internet that sell first aid kits.  In our experience many of these are far from complete.

This Emergency First Aid Kit is not intended to be a substitute for professional care.  No list of supplies or thoughts on care are as helpful or safe as actual Veterinary medical assistance.  While not complete, this list gives a good idea of what you should have on hand in case your dog becomes sick or injured.  Many items on this list double as first aid for humans as well. 

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Pet First-Aid Kit

Its always good to have on hand the number of your own Veterinarian, Pet Insurance info as well as the closest Veterinarian to where you are staying and or the after hours Veterinary Emergency Clinic.

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1. Flashlight

• To illuminate hard to see places, look down throat etc.

2. Blanket

• For warmth or to carry injured animals

3. Leash

• A means of control/restraint

4. Muzzle

• Never muzzle an unconscious dog or one who is vomiting or having difficulty breathing
• sick or injured animals can become aggressive. This protects both dog & handler

5. Rectal Thermometer

• To assess fever, hypothermia & heat stroke

6. Surgical Gloves

• Keep handler from contaminating wound, or from getting blood or bacteria on hands

7. Gauze Wrap 

• For use as pressure bandage
• To secure wound dressings
• For use as a muzzle
• To cover a splint

8. Adhesive Tape- Elastoplast & Vetwrap

• To cover & protect pressure bandages, wound dressings or splints; aids in the adhesion of dressing to body
• Can protect areas such as feet that are difficult to bandage

9. Absorbent Cotton roll or Sanitary Pads

• To clean wounds, apply topical medications or as a padding for pressure bandages, for use as compress to control bleeding

10. Gauze Pads

• To apply disinfectants & ointments to wounds

11. Ace Bandage

• stretchable bandage used to create localized pressure

12. Tourniquet (rubber tubing)

• a device for stopping the flow of blood through a vein or artery, typically by compressing a limb with a cord, tubing or tight bandage.

13. Eyedropper or Syringe  (plastic)

• For flushing wounds or eyes with saline solution, for administering liquid oral medication

14. Compressed Activated Charcoal (5 grams, #30)

•  Treatment of poisoning and drug overdoses, used to reduce bloating and gas
• To induce vomiting in case of certain poison or foreign body ingestion

15. Cotton tip applicators

• To clean wounds in hard to reach places

16. Tweezers

• For the removal of splinters & ticks, also to remove debris from wounds

17. Bandage Scissors & Blunt tip scissors

• To cut bandage material & clip hair around external wounds

18. Small grooming clippers

• Very helpful in removing hair from around a wound to keep it clean ,sanitary & improve visibility of wound

19. Needle Nose Pliers or Hemostats

• To remove porcupine quills, fishhooks, or large splinters

20. K-Y or Petroleum Jelly

• Covering the wound with a water based lubricant will make removal of hair from wound easier & decrease contamination. Also can be used as a lubricant for rectal thermometer.

21. Rubbing Alcohol ( Isopropyl)

• Can be used to sterilize scissors, tweezers etc. Also will remove adhesive from bandages

22. Sterile Saline  wash

• To clean debris out of eyes and flush wounds

23. Topical Antibiotic Ointment (Polysporin)

• To treat wounds & burns

24. Wound Gel ( Derma Gel)

• Fast healing for wounds, available from Vet or Tack shops

25. Hydrogen Peroxide 3%

• To clean wounds, sterilize water or induce vomiting

26. Antiseptic Iodine or Hibitane

• For use as a disinfectant for wounds & to sterilize emergency instruments

27. Sterile non-stick dressing pads (Telfa Pads)

• For use under a bandage to prevent adhesion of bandage to open wounds

28. Pepto Bismol

• To help control vomiting & diarrhea (see Graval)

29. Baby Aspirin

• To relieve pain & to bring down fever

30. Gravol

• To help control vomiting

31. Benedryl

• Antihistamine, It is used in the treatment of many symptoms, allergies, insect stings and car sickness

32. Wooden Paint Mixing Sticks

• For use as emergency splints

33. Wound Glue & or Steri Strips

• For use as emergency wound sutures for both people & pets

34. Kwik Stop Powder

• Quickly stops bleeding caused by clipping nails, docking tails & minor cuts

35. Epsom Salts

• Speeds healing by drawing out infection & soothing wounds. Antibacterial, anti-fungal & helps to dry out wet wounds.

36. Socks

• Use on injured feet or tails for protection of wounds & to prevent licking

37. Epi-Otic Solution

• Keeps ears clean & reduces infection

38. Stainless Steel Pail or Bowl

• Use to wash instruments, make an Epsom salt soak or throw used wound dressings

39. Chart of normal temperature, heart rate & respiratory rate

• Temperature: Adult Dog 100-102.5 degrees F Average is 101.3 F
• Normal Heart Rate: Adult Dog 60-160 beats per minute/Toy Breeds up to 180 bpm
• Normal Respiratory Rate: Adult Dog, average is 24 breaths per minute at rest, range is 10-30 breaths per minute

​40. Towels & Waterless Spray Shampoo

• Towels can be used for Epsom salt soak or to towel off a dirty dog when using spray waterless shampoo