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Pet First Aid Awareness

Aside from taking a pet first aid & CPR course, which every pet owner

and pet professional should do, it's also important to have a pet

first aid kit. Having a well-stocked pet first aid kit can be a key

factor in your pet's well-being during an emergency. It will serve to

help you prevent further injury, lessen the chance of infection,

and even save your pet's life.

You can either purchase a commercial pet first aid kit or put one

together yourself. In my pet first aid classes I recommend putting

one's own kit together. This way you'll know what's in it and items

can be tailored to your pet. I've heard from many pet owners who

have bought a pet first aid kit and didn't look through it because they

just assumed it had what they would need in an emergency. That

may or may not be true, but when you're in the middle of an emergency

you don't want to find out you assumed wrong.

At the very least a pet first aid kit should contain the following:

sterile gauze pads, gauze rolls, first aid tape, scissors, 3% hydrogen

peroxide, antibacterial ointment, antiseptic wipes, eye dropper,

muzzle, leash, digital thermometer, antihistamine (Benadryl or

generic), and a blanket or stretcher. It should also include the

address and phone number for your veterinarian as well as the

nearest animal emergency center. And, be sure to have the

phone number for the Animal Poison Control Center: 888-426-4435.

If you would rather buy a pet first aid kit, be sure to familiarize

yourself with the contents. Take all of the items out and make sure

you know what they are, how to use them, and if they're appropriate

for your pet (for example, if a muzzle's included make sure it's the

right size and that you know how to put it on your dog.)

The hope is that you will never need to use your first aid kit, but

if you do, having it handy will save time and may save your pet's

life.