WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE IN YOUR PET’S FIRST-AID KIT from the Humane Society
Learn what supplies you’ll need to keep your cat, dog, or other pet safe and healthy. Everyone who shares a home with a pet should have a basic pet first-aid kit on hand. Keep your pet’s first-aid kit in your home and take it with you if you are traveling with your pet. One way to start your kit is to buy a first-aid kit designed for people and add pet-specific items to it. You can also purchase a pet first-aid kit from a pet-supply store or catalog. But you can easily assemble your own kit by gathering the items on our lists below.
PET-SPECIFIC SUPPLIES
❒ Pet first-aid book
❒ Phone numbers: your veterinarian, the nearest emergency-veterinary clinic (along with directions!) and a poison-control center or hotline (such as the ASPCA poison-control center, which can be reached at 1-800-4264435)
❒ Paperwork for your pet (in a waterproof container or bag): proof of rabies-vaccination status, copies of other important medical records and a current photo of your pet (in case he gets lost)
❒ Nylon leash
❒ Self-cling bandage (bandage that stretches and sticks to itself but not to fur—available at pet stores and from pet-supply catalogs)
❒ Muzzle or strips of cloth to prevent biting (don’t use this if your pet is vomiting, choking, coughing or otherwise having difficulty breathing)
❒ Basic first-aid supplies
❒ Absorbent gauze pads
❒ Adhesive tape
❒ Antiseptic wipes, lotion, powder or spray
❒ Blanket (a foil emergency blanket)
❒ Cotton balls or swabs
❒ Gauze rolls
❒ Hydrogen peroxide (to induce vomiting—do this only when directed by a veterinarian or a poison-control expert)
❒ Ice pack
❒ Non-latex disposable gloves
❒ Petroleum jelly (to lubricate the thermometer)
❒ Rectal thermometer (your pet’s temperature should not rise above 103°F or fall below 100°F)
❒ Scissors (with blunt ends)
❒ Sterile non-stick gauze pads for bandages
❒ Sterile saline solution (sold at pharmacies)
❒ Tweezers
❒ A pillowcase to confine your cat for treatment
❒ A pet carrier
❒ Pre-assembled first-aid kits. The hassle of creating a kit for your pet can be reduced by purchasing one pre-assembled.
OTHER USEFUL ITEMS
❒ Diphenhydramine (Benadryl®), if approved by a veterinarian for allergic reactions. A veterinarian must tell you the correct dosage for your pet’s size.
❒ Ear-cleaning solution
❒ Expired credit card or sample credit card (from direct-mail credit-card offers) to scrape away insect stingers
❒ Glucose paste or corn syrup (for diabetic dogs or those with low blood sugar)
❒ Nail clippers
❒ Non-prescription antibiotic ointment
❒ Penlight or flashlight
❒ Plastic eyedropper or syringe
❒ Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) to clean the thermometer
❒ Splints and tongue depressors
❒ Styptic powder or pencil (sold at veterinary hospitals, pet-supply stores, and your local pharmacy)
❒ Temporary identification tag (to put your local contact information on your pet’s collar when you travel)
❒ Towels
❒ Needle-nosed pliers
COMMON-SENSE ADVICE
In addition to the items listed above, include anything your veterinarian has recommended specifically for your pet. Check the supplies in your pet’s first-aid kit occasionally and replace any items that have expired. For your family’s safety, keep all medical supplies and medications out of the reach of children and pets.