Have you ever wondered what to do if your dog had an emergency? We’ve touched on preparing for emergencies in other posts on our blog, but we have not yet gone over prepping for injuries, sickness, or poisoning. A first aid kit for dogs is something you might not think about until you really need it, but that’s not the best time to discover you need one.
Here’s a list of things that should be included in every dog first aid kit, as well as why they should be in there.
#1. A muzzle that fits your dog
If your dog is severely injured, they are more likely to bite people trying to help them. A muzzle can make it possible for you or a veterinarian to help them. The best type of muzzle for your first aid kit is a soft style that can easily slip on over your dog’s mouth, and clips behind the ears.
It’s also worthwhile to train your dog to be comfortable wearing one, even if you have the nicest dog in the whole world. The shock and trauma of getting hit by a car, or the panic from getting stuck in barbed wire for example, can cause your pup to react even when they never otherwise would.
If your dog won’t let you help him, a muzzle could make the difference between being able to treat them and having to hope for the best.
#2. Towels or Blankets
If your dog goes into shock or loses a lot of blood, they can become hypothermic very quickly. A towel can help keep your dog warm and cozy, clean up injuries so you can better see, or provide a barrier from hot pavement where you lay your dog.
In a pinch, towels can be cut up and used to help wrap wounds or staunch blood. We have blankets in our car, and in our tiny hiking first-aid kit, a space blanket.
#3 Vet Wrap
Unfortunately, when you’re dipping into your first-aid kit it’s probably because of some kind of wound. Vet wrap is very practical because it sticks to itself and can easily be used on most parts of the body. It works similarly to an Ace Bandage but doesn’t need to be clipped together at the end.
#4 Gauze
Gauze is a sterile padding used to protect wounds and help soak up blood. Gauze doesn’t stick to itself like vet wrap does but can be used in combination with it. Place the gauze over the wound, and then hold it in place with the vet wrap.
#5 Cotton balls
Cotton balls can be used as an applicator for disinfectants. They can also be used to protect smaller wounds such as punctures. Dogs can get all kinds of scrapes and minor injuries, and having a way to clean them is very practical.
#6 Saline solution
Dogs tend to explore their world face first, and that can sometimes get them into a lot of trouble. You may notice they come back from exploring a field with itchy, watery eyes or have a big scratch with gravel in it. Saline solution is a great all-purpose cleaner for moments like this. Plain saline solution with no other additions in it can be used in the eyes and also in wounds.
#7 Antibiotic Ointment
Dogs can get infections from their wounds the same way people can. An antibiotic ointment will help treat minor scratches and other wounds to help prevent infection. Antibiotic ointment is a wonderful tool in first aid, but remember it isn’t a complete cure. You will still want to follow up with your veterinarian to see if oral antibiotics or closure of the wound is necessary.
#8. Kwick stop
Kwick stop helps stop bleeding. If your dog breaks a toenail, this product is very handy for getting that bleeding stopped. This product can also be used to stop bleeding on shallow wounds but should never be used on deep cuts or punctures.
#9 Digital Thermometer
Two very common emergency scenarios is hypothermia, when your dog gets too cold, and hyperthermia, when a dog is suffering from heat related issues such as heatstroke. A thermometer can help you determine if your dog is suffering from one of these.
A dog’s normal temperature is 100-102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Hypothermic would be 99F or below. If the dog’s temperature is above 103F, it may be suffering from hyperthermia.
Dog temperature can be somewhat flexible, but having an idea of where your pet’s temperature is can help you decide what actions to take in helping them.
#10 Hydrogen Peroxide
While many people think of this as something to clean wounds with, hydrogen peroxide is best used to make your dog throw up. If you’ve ever been on a walk and seen your dog gulp down something it shouldn’t, hydrogen peroxide can be used in an emergency to make them throw it back up.
How much peroxide is needed to make your pet throw up varies depending on body weight. You can get a dosage for your pet by letting your veterinarian know about your first aid kit, and asking how much you should give in an emergency scenario.
11. Hemostats
These are a useful tool if you need to remove splinters, or objects from a dog’s nose or ears.
12. Scissors
These are to cut bandages and vet wrap to size. They can also be used to cut your dog out of trouble, should they get tangled in netting or other easily cut materials.
#13 A set of gloves
Sometimes the trouble dogs get into is every bit as disgusting as it is urgent to take care of. A pair of gloves can help make the job easier and cleaner on you.
14. Slip Lead
One final thing to include in the first-aid kit is a slip lead. Sometimes, it isn’t your dog that needs helping. A slip-lead can be used as a makeshift muzzle, it can be used to catch lost dogs, or to add additional security if you know a collar is too loose.
A slip lead is a very general tool, but one of the most all around useful when it comes to handling dogs in need.
Although we’ve shown all these things individually, we found this first aid kit on Chewy.com and added in kwik stop, a slip lead, a muzzle and a space blanket. One might ask for a little bit more space in the bag, but otherwise it does a good job of holding all the stuff, including the extras I crammed into it.
Having a first-aid kit for your home, car and hiking bag helps keep your pet safer. While it’s true that many dogs will go their whole lives without ever being put through an emergency situation, you can’t depend on your pet being lucky.
A first-aid kit can help save your pet’s life, and also make those minor wounds more comfortable.
We’ve included links to these items on Amazon to help you find them if you want to start building your dog first-aid kit now. They are affiliate links which give us a small commission at no cost to you. Please consider using our link to support us if you plan to make one of these kits.
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