Create Your Own Pet First Aid Kit
Creating your own pet first aid kit is an important part of being prepared for a pet health emergency. Route 66 Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Center is available to provide medical care for your furry family member when your primary veterinarian is unavailable. However, having your own kit means you can provide initial care in a pet health emergency.
The following items are what Dr. Jeremy Welcome keeps in his own pet first aid kit:
- A container or bag to place items in
- Latex gloves
- Alcohol Swabs
- Cotton Tipped Applicators
- Bandage Material | Learn basic wound dressing »
- Self-adhering bandage material such as Vet Wrap, Coban, or Co-Flex
- Non-stick bandages
- Cotton bandage roll cast padding or
- Gauze squares
- Rolled Gauze
- Terry-cloth towels
- Tweezers, scissors, pliers, magnifying glass
- Quik Stop or cornstarch (stops blood flow from a bleeding toenail)
- Neosporin
- Rectal thermometer
- Chlorhexadeine scrub
- A slip leash
- Diphenhydramine/Benadryl 25mg
1mg per pound (weigh pet, 25mg=25 lb. pet). Only to be used for minor allergic reactions usually indicated by mild swelling of the muzzle or hives to the skin. However, if your pet has allergic reaction, even with Benadryl, the pet still NEEDS to be seen by a veterinarian!
You should be able to find most of these supplies at a local pet store.
Keep Kits Handy
Please take your pet first aid kit with you whenever you take your pets on trips, camping, and hiking. Having multiple kits, for home and car, is a good idea if you travel with your pet.
If you have any trouble finding any of these items please request them from your regular veterinarian or from Route 66 Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Center.
Remember pet first aid should always be followed up by a visit to your veterinarian!