Dog First Aid Kit
Most individuals have a bathroom cabinet full of medicine, creams, syrups and other useful things in case of accidents around the home. Prevention is worth a pound of cure and having first aid items on hand is important. But our pets can run into accidents as well, and there’s more to being a responsible pet owner than supplying food and clean water. A simple first aid kit for your companion might mean the difference between life and death.
Given their generally voracious and heedless nature, most emergencies for dogs will involve toxins and similar problems. The basic tool for first aid in this case is a large needle-less syringe. The medicine that you need to put into your dog is loaded into the syringe and then you squirt the medicine into the dog’s mouth or into the dog’s anus, depending on what chemicals are being used. One important chemical in a canine first aid kit will be hydrogen peroxide in liquid form, which can be used both to induce vomiting (in case a dog eats or drinks something dangerous and purging it from the dog’s system fast is essential) and to clean wounds, but make sure you get only 3% hydrogen peroxide if you’re going to be placing it in a first aid kit.
Other potentially important chemicals (also in liquid form) to stock up on include: Anti-histamines (to counter act allergic reactions in dogs), activated charcoal (to treat poisonings), laxatives (to treat constipation in dogs and subsequently help the owner get some sleep knowing that their pet isn’t holding it in any longer) and anti-diarrhea medication (to treat diarrhea and salvage the owner’s floors).
Another basic essential is bandages of a variety of sizes, types and shapes, which are useful for stopping and slowing bleeding that isn’t internal, clean wounds, secure splints and restraints for an unruly dog. To make the best use of these bandages, you’ll also want a pair of scissors for clean cutting of bandages and a roll of adhesive tape to secure the bandages in place, as well as to make it harder for a dog to remove the bandage (though avoid placing the tape on the dog’s fur directly).
The last category of vital items is a set of odds and ends that could still be of great use. An antibiotic ointment that can be applied to the skin (often called topical ointment), such as Neosporin, should be applied to most external wounds to prevent infection and speed up the healing process. A pair of tweezers, for removing things like thorns and insect stingers, may not find much use but will be a life saver if needed. Similarly, an ice pack and a heat pack will go a long way towards treating hypothermia and heat stroke, respectively. The heat pack can also be applied to sprains and contusions on man and beast alike.
Naturally, you should take your dog to a veterinarian after you’re applied first aid for serious threats to your pet. While removing a thorn probably doesn’t require professional help, potential poisonings or serious flesh wounds do call for extra help. As with any first aid kit, the canine first aid kit is useful mostly for on-the-spot treatment before more intensive treatment can begin, but those first few minutes can and often do mean the difference between life and death.
Pets Editor
Dog Fancy Magazine – Dog Fancy Magazine is dedicated to the care and enjoyment of pet dogs. Each issue features articles about canine health, dog nutrition, dog behavior and dog breeding.
