Since you never know when an accident will happen, keeping a pet emergency kit at your home is a good idea. You can put a first aid kit together yourself and buy the items separately, or buy one ready-made. If you make one yourself, use a small plastic tub with a tight fitting lid to store the following items:
Important Phone Numbers
Veterinary clinic phone number and directions to the clinic
Emergency clinic phone number and directions
Poison control center phone numbers
Equipment and Supplies
Muzzle, or roll of gauze for making a muzzle
Magnifying glass
Scissors
Tweezers
Nail clippers and metal nail file
Styptic powder or sticks, Kwik Stop, or cornstarch
Penlight
Nylon slip leash
Eyedropper or oral syringe
Cotton swabs
Cotton balls
Clean towels – cloth and paper
Rectal thermometer
A lubricant such as mineral oil or KY Jelly (without spermicide)
Disposable gloves
Syringes of various sizes
Needle-nose pliers or hemostats
Grease-cutting dish soap
Bitter Apple or other product to discourage licking
Pet carrier
Towel or blanket to use as a stretcher, another to keep your dog warm during transport (some pharmacies and camping outlets carry a thermal blanket)
Cold packs and heat packs (wrap in a towel before using)
Stethoscope
Bandaging Materials
Square gauze of various sizes – some sterile
Non-stick pads
First aid tape – both paper (easily comes off of skin) and adhesive types
Bandage rolls – gauze and Vet wrap
Band-Aids (for humans)
Nutritional Support
A rehydrating solution such as Gatorade or Pedialyte
A nutritional supplement such as Nutri-Cal, Vitacal, or Nutristat
High sugar source: Karo syrup
Medicines*
Wound disinfectants such as Betadine or Nolvasan
Triple antibiotic ointment for skin
Antibiotic ophthalmic ointment for eyes, e.g., Terramycin
Eyewash solution
Sterile saline
Antidiarrheal medicine such as Pet Pectate
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for allergic reactions (obtain dose from your veterinarian)
Cortisone spray or cream, such as Itch Stop
Ear cleaning solution
Hydrogen peroxide (used to make a dog vomit – only use as directed by a veterinarian)
Activated charcoal to absorb ingested poisons (consult your veterinarian before using)
