Pet First Aid Kit Supplies List

You never know when the unthinkable happens to your pet, especially when you’re away from home. You should be prepared for the unexpected by preparing a Pet First Aid Kit. You can either buy one already assembled or make one for yourself.

Here’s a checklist of pet first aid kit supplies that will help you be prepared for the unthinkable:

1. Phone numbers to your regular veterinarian, Animal Emergency Hospital. This may seem obvious, but during an emergency having these numbers easily accessible will give you access to a trusted advisor.

2. Instant Cold Pack: Use on minor burns or swelling.

3. Hydrogen Peroxide: Used to induce vomiting. Always contact the nearest animal emergency hospital BEFORE you induce vomiting. (For example: DO NOT induce vomiting if your pet ingests acid, alkali, petroleum or rat poison.)

4. Milk of Magnesia or Activated Charcoal: Also used to induce vomiting. You should always contact the nearest animal emergency hospital BEFORE you induce vomiting.

5. Digital thermometer: Check your pet’s temperature rectally. If you have it handy, you can use a little KY jelly to make insertion a bit more comfortable.

6. Gauze: Use in place of a bandage or to control bleeding.

7. Vet wrap or flexible cohesive tape: Can be wrapped around gauze or bandage pad, or be used in place as a muzzle, if you didn’t pack one. Don’t wrap it too tight or you will cut off the blood circulation.

8. Sterile Eye Wash: Flush eye of particles.

9. Syringe or Eye Dropper: To flush a wound or give oral treatments.

10. Latex gloves: To be worn by pet parent during emergency. These can also double-up as a fecal sample baggie.

11. Antiseptic Wipes: Clean abrasion or clean minor wounds such as porcupine quills, fishhooks or grass seeds. Never use on gaping wounds or severe bleeding!

12. Triple Antibiotic Cream: To be used on minor cuts or abrasions. Once again, never use on gaping wounds or severe bleeding!

13. Antihistamine tablets: To use if there’s an allergic reaction to a bee sting or plant.

14. Muzzle: To help cover a pet’s head in case of unpredictable behaviour. Never muzzle your pet if she is vomiting or unconscious.

15. Cotton Swabs: Clean wound.

Buying a similar kit online or spending 15 minutes in a pharmacy to pull these items together into a tote bag – that you keep in your kitchen, in your car or by your front door – will give you extra peace of mind that you (or a friend) can help your pet immediately in an emergency.

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