Pet Owner First Aid Kit Suggestions

• Phone numbers and addresses: Veterinarian, Emergency Vet, Poison Control 
• Basic pet first-aid book 
• Photocopies of your pet’s paperwork: important medical records, vaccinations, etc. 
• Latex Gloves: to prevent infection
• Scissors: to cut gauze or the animal’s hair 
• Antibacterial soap: to clean skin and wounds 
• Gauze pads: for wounds 
• Gauze rolls: for wounds and can also be used as a temporary muzzle 
• Alcohol prep pads: to sterilize equipment – NOT for use on wounds 
• Self-adhesive bandages: flexible bandage used to wrap and stabilize injuries
• A large cloth towel: to wrap animal 
• Benadryl - Diphenhydramine
• Stypic powder: in case of torn toenails
• Cold pack
• Hemostat: to close puncture wounds 
• Tick scoop
• skin glue, such as Nexaban
• Splinting material: Wooden dowel rod or tightly bunched newspaper rolls
• Hydrogen peroxide: to clean minor wounds 
• Eyewash: such as contact lens solution or water in a squeeze bottle to gently but thoroughly flush out wounds and eyes 
• Antibiotic ointment: for cuts and abrasions 
• Cotton applicator swabs 
• Tweezers: for the removal of foreign objects from skin and paws; and for the proper removal of ticks

Precautions on Handling an Injured Pet

• Injured dogs are prone to biting, even the most loving and docile dogs will bite their owners.  You need to muzzle your pet immediately unless they are vomiting.  
• Dogs can be muzzled with towels, stockings or gauze.
• Try to keep your dog still and confined to a small area while being transported to a vet.
• Call the veterinarian or emergency clinic ahead of time so they can be ready when you arrive.
• Even the most mild tempereddog will bite and/or scratch when injured.  Keep your hands and face away from an injured dog's mouth and feet.

Pet CPR 

• One of the risks for larger dogs at dog parks is small toys made for smaller dogs being lodged into the airway.  
• CPR is all about ABC - AIRWAY - BREATHING - CIRCULATION
• Attempt to wake the animal, gently tap the animal.  Make sure the dog is not simply deep sleeping.
• If the animal is not breathing, open the airway by tilting the head back and pull on the dog tongue.  Give the dog four or five deep breaths, watching the chest rise.
• Check for pulse.  If there is a pulse but the animal is not breathing, continue to be their artificial lungs, giving 1 breath every couple seconds.  Push down on the stomach to expel the air, breath the air back in, push it back out.  Keep doing this while en-route to the nearest veterinarian.
• If the dog does not have a pulse, you need to do chest compressions.  For small dogs, place them on their back and compress their chest like a sandwich, pumping it 1/2 to 1 inch deep over 120 times per minute.  While doing this, you need to have a second person perform the breathing for the dog while giving chest compressions.  For larger dogs, place the dog on their side and compress the rib cage 1 to 4 inches deep up to 100 times pre minute.  If no assistance is possible, give 2 breaths every 14 compressions.  Keep doing this while en-route to the nearest veterinarian.

If you suspect that your dog has injested something posionous, get to the nearest veterinarian.  The two hotlines below are staffed 24 hours.

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center 1-888-4-ANI-HELP or 1-888-426-4435

National Animal Poison Control Center 1-800-548-2423

Milk of magnesia  

Pepto Bismol 

Hydrogen peroxide 3% USP 

Activated charcoal tablets

 

If your dog is exposed to inhalation of water, ie drowning, preform chest compressions with your fist held under the dogs belly, under the ribcage.  Get the dog to the nearest veterinarian.  

 

We recomend all pet owners have at least one of these reference guides

Please read and familiarize yourself with any books or guides you may purchase, prior to an emergancy happening. Being prepared can be the difference in thousands of dollars in vet bills, the life of your pet, and in some cases the life of yourself or other family members.