Dog First Aid Kit

Making a First Aid Kit for Your Dog
Holly Frisby, DVM, MS
Veterinary Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.

Since you never know when an accident will happen, keeping a pet emergency kit at your home is a good idea. A smaller kit could be used in the car. You can put a first aid kit together yourself and buy the items separately, or buy one ready-made. If you make one yourself, use a small plastic tub with a tight fitting lid to store the following items:

Important phone numbers
•	Veterinary clinic phone number and directions to the clinic
•	Emergency clinic phone number and directions
•	Poison control center phone numbers
Equipment and supplies
•	Muzzle, or roll of gauze for making a muzzle
•	Magnifying glass
•	Scissors
•	Tweezers
•	Nail clippers and metal nail file
•	Styptic powder or sticks, Kwik Stop, or cornstarch
•	Penlight
•	Nylon slip leash
•	Eye dropper or oral syringe
•	Cotton swabs
•	Cotton balls
•	Clean towels - cloth and paper
•	Rectal thermometer
•	Lubricant such as mineral oil or KY Jelly (without spermicide)
•	Disposable gloves
•	Syringes of various sizes
•	Needle-nose pliers or hemostats
•	Grease-cutting dish soap
•	Bitter Apple or other product to discourage licking
•	Pet carrier
•	Towel or blanket to use as a stretcher, another to keep your dog warm during transport (some pharmacies and camping outlets carry a thermal blanket)
•	Cold packs and heat packs (wrap in towel before using)
•	Stethoscope

Bandaging materials
•	Square gauze of various sizes - some sterile
•	Non-stick pads
•	First aid tape - both paper (easily comes off of skin) and adhesive types
•	Bandage rolls - gauze and Vetwrap
•	Band-Aids (for humans)
Nutritional support
•	Rehydrating solution such as Gatorade or Pedialyte
•	Nutritional supplement such as Nutri-Cal, Vitacal, or Nutristat
•	High sugar source: Karo syrup or honey
Medicines*
•	Wound disinfectant such as Betadine or Nolvasan
•	Triple antibiotic ointment for skin
•	Antibiotic ophthalmic ointment for eyes, e.g., Terramycin
•	Eye wash solution
•	Sterile saline
•	Antidiarrheal medicine such as Pet Pectate
•	Buffered or canine aspirin
•	Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for allergic reactions
•	Cortisone spray or cream, such as Itch Stop
•	Ear cleaning solution
•	Hydrogen peroxide (used to make a dog vomit)
•	Activated charcoal to absorb ingested poisons (consult your veterinarian before using)
*Watch the expiration dates on any medication, and replace as needed.

� 2001 Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.
Reprinted as a courtesy and with permission from PetEducation.com
(http://www.PetEducation.com)
On-line store at http://www.DrsFosterSmith.com
Free pet supply catalog: 1-800-323-4208

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