First aid kit for your dog: what’s mandatory to have into a kit!
We all want to protect our pets and be ready for any potential “doggy disaster“. One of the best ways to not finding ourselves unprepared when any situation arises is creating a first aid kit for dogs. The following is a list of things that should never be missing at home.
Disinfectant spray
There are several ways in which your pet can get cuts, scrapes, and wounds, both at home and outdoors. Select and include a disinfectant spray in the kit, non-toxic, non-burning, and designed to clean the wound and speed healing.
Elastic bandage
In the event that your dog has had a severe tear or other injuries, it is likely that you want to cover the wound with a bandage, after using the disinfectant spray. In such cases, always use bands that do not adhere to your dog’s coat to avoid the painful removal later.
Bandage scissors
You will find it useful to include a pair of scissors for bandages in your first aid kit for dogs; These are designed to cut gauze, garments, and bandages.
Eye and ear wash
If your dog´s eyes or ears come into contact with any contaminant or other toxic substances, these can cause itching, burning, or even worse. Therefore, it is important to always have a weak solution in drops, they are also sold in pharmacies and are specific for the washing of eyes and ears.
Elizabethan collar
When our puppies have a problem or injury in their body, they will always do their utmost to rub or lick the affected area. Keep this from happening through the use of the classic “Elizabethan collar“, which will also work to avoid the risk of the dog removing stitches following a surgery or from licking a specific point during the treatment.
Muzzle
Even a normally quiet and balanced dog can misbehave when wounded or hurt. In some cases, he can even bite his wound, which, of course, gets worse. A modern and safe muzzle will serve the dual purpose of keeping a nervous and suffering dog from harming others or harming himself.
Leash
A leash is an important tool to always have at hand since it is the best way to gain control of your dog at a time in which they can be found in a state of panic and try to escape. In these cases, we will want to make sure that we focus on the incident and not only think about how to keep him from escaping and running away.
Hydrogen peroxide
In the unfortunate event that your dog swallows any amount of poison, you might not have time to take him to the vet. Depending on the poison, induce vomiting in dogs may be the most important tactic, at least until given adequate treatment. A safe and effective way to induce vomit and expel the poison out of their system is to make them drink hydrogen peroxide. Always keep a bottle on hand. But do not assume that the hydrogen peroxide is the answer to every situation. It is best to call the veterinary emergency in your country for advice and recommendations about how to handle the situation.
Telephones of interest
If we want to be always ready to face and help in a fast and efficient way in an emergency situation, don’t forget to include the telephone number of your veterinary services, nearest emergency veterinary clinic, and your city´s Poison Control Center’s number. If possible, paste it somewhere inside your first aid kit for dogs.
Medical records
If you face the situation of having to carry your dog to someone that not is your usual veterinary, it will certainly be useful to give them a general picture of his medical history, like, for example, the tests of his vaccine against rabies.
With these elements in your first aid kit for dogs, you’ll be ready to help your dog in many common dangerous situations but remember that it is always best to seek veterinary attention.