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Canine Emergency
First Aid Kit
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Emergency
Pet First Aid Kit
Alternative First Aid Kit
Emergency Pet First Aid Kit items to keep on hand
It is probably a good idea
to tape some contact names and numbers to the inside of your first aid box.
- your name address and telephone
number
- name and telephone number
of someone to contact, in an emergency, who will take care of your dogs
if you are taken ill
- your dogs name and any
information about any medications they take, any allergies or significant
conditions they have
- name and telephone number
of your vet
You may benefit by keeping a pet safety kit and other items on hand for
emergencies. Such a kit should contain:
Alcohol or antiseptic wipes (in small individual packets)
Artificial tear gel to lubricate eyes after flushing
Ace bandage
A fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide 3% (USP)
Antibiotic ointment
(such as Bacitracin, Betadine, or others)
Bristle brush (medium hardness) - for cleaning nail beds in sandy areas
Blanket
Benadryl
custom splints
Can of soft dog food
Cotton gauze bandage
wrap - 1.5 inch width, 3 inch width
Cotton gauze pads
Cotton swabs or Q-tips
Canine rectal thermometer
(get one made specifically for dogs)
Deactivated charcoal
First aid tape
Expired credit card to scrape stingers
Forceps to remove stingers
Hemostat (useful for
pulling ticks, thorns, large splinters, etc)
Iodine tablets (if
you hike and camp in areas where the stream water may not be safe for consumption
with out first treating with iodine or boiling)
Milk
Milk of Magnesia
Mild grease-cutting
dishwashing liquid in order to bathe an animal after skin contamination
Matches
Muzzle to keep the
animal from hurting you while it is excited or in pain
New Skin liquid bandage
(useful for patching abrasions on pads)
Needle & thread
Nail clippers
Oral syringes (for
administering liquid oral medicines, getting ear drying solution into ears,
etc...very useful!)
Pet carrier to help
carry the animal to your local veterinarian
Rubber gloves to prevent
you from being exposed while you bathe the animal
Razor blade (paper
wrapped for protection)
Regular bandaids
Small jar of Vaseline
Specific medications YOUR dog may need (for allergies, seizures, etc.)
Small bottle of isopropyl
alcohol (rubbing)
Safety pins in several sizes
Small blunt end scissors
Saline eye solution
to flush out eye contamina
Vet Wrap -- 2 inch width, and 4 inch width (4 inch is sold for horses)
Vinegar or lemon juice
Wound powder
Tweezers
ziplock bags (in the event you may have to take a stool sample,
vommit sample or foreign object to the veterinary clinic)
specific
medications YOUR dog may need (for allergies, seizures, etc.)
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Alternative First Aid Kit
A Holistic Approach
What do you keep in the house for minor doggy health problems? A few carefully
chosen alternative remedy basics along with bandages etc. in your first aid
kit could save you an expensive and unnecessary trip to a vet. Frances Gavin
of Canine Natural Cures explains.
Bruises and sprains: Arnica in tablet form is your first essential.
This homoeopathic wonder will speed healing for any cuts, bruises, sprains
and strains. You can also use Rhus Tox and Ruta for sprains and strains.
Cuts and punctures: Use Ledum tablets if your dog gets a puncture
wound in a fight. Watch carefully for any signs of infection and you’re at
all worried consult a vet.
Lavender Oil is an excellent antiseptic and can be used to disinfect
and heal the cut. Lavender Oil is also great for minor burns, but make sure
you first cool the burn with lots of cold water. Hair will have the effect
of trapping heat onto the skin so cooling the burnt skin is very important.
Warning: do not use on expectant bitches!
Another effective antiseptic is Tea Tree oil. Dab a drop of Tea Tree
on any little sores or cuts and watch them heal up quickly.
Hypercal cream, a combination of hypericum and calendula, can also be put
on any cuts, once they have been thoroughly cleaned.
Shock : If your dog has been involved in any accident or trauma,
no matter how slight, a couple of drops of Rescue/Recovery Remedy, one of
the Bach Flower Remedies, should help calm and restore him or you could use
Aconite.
Stings: Does your dog like to catch bees and wasps? In addition to
trying to stop them you should never be without Apis Mel. Give a tablet immediately
and every 20 minutes or so afterwards and any swelling or discomfort should
disappear quickly. If your dog has been stung in the mouth you must seek veterinary
advice as soon as possible but keep giving the Apis Mel and you should avoid
a life-threatening situation.
Stomach problems: So much for accidents but how about a tummy upset?
If your dog has been scavenging and is now paying the price with diarrhoea,
use Arsenicum Album. Other homoeopathic remedies that may be tried for diarrhoea
include Pulsatilla, Merc. Sol and Gelsemium. If you’re treating a puppy or
elderly dog, or you see blood in the motions please consult a vet at once
and in any event if there is no improvement in your dog after 24 hours.
Camomile or peppermint teas (well cooled) are both excellent for an upset
tummy. Slippery elm mixed with water and honey will coat the digestive tract
and help calm things down.
If a dog is being sick either the chamomile or peppermint tea may help,
or you can give Ipecac homoeopathic tablets. Other homoeopathic remedies
for vomiting include Nux Vomica, Arsenicum and Phosphorus.
All the items mentioned above should be available from your local health
food store.
However, don’t forget if the dog gets worse or doesn’t respond to your treatment
within 24 hours, go to a vet straightaway.
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