How to Create a Pet First Aid Kit

If you have ever attempted cutting your dogs nails, you may have made a common error and cut a little too close to the quick. Hitting the quick, will cause bleeding, sometimes very disturbing bleeding. The quick is the living part of a dogs nails and it contains tiny blood vessels. This happened to me the first time I attempted cutting my dogs nails, and I was horrified. Blood squirted out onto the wall and all over me as my dog screeched. I was uneducated on nail cutting and unprepared for such a disaster. Calling the veterinarian and asking frantically what to do. That day I learned that I should always have a pet emergency kit on hand, I also learned that a softened bar of soap, flour or cornstarch can fill in for styptic powder when we have failed to assemble a pet first aid kit for our home.

Here is what you will need to get started:

1.Styptic Powder Styptic powder is used to stop bleeding, it seals the cut and prevents bacteria from entering the wound. It is commonly used by groomers and can be used on broken nails or other cuts on the animal. Styptic powder can be purchased at your local pet store.

2. Cold Pack This would be the same type of cold pack used for your regular everyday first aid kit and purchased at any drug store. A cold pack would be used for cooling a burn or to reduce swelling of an injured area or insect bite.

3. Children's Benedryl This would be used for bee stings or insect bites. The Benedryl or comparable antihistamine would be needed to give to your dog at one milligram for each pound of the pet's weight. This would temporarily combat an allergic reaction until you can get your dog to a vet or contact your veterinarian. Whenever you see you pet having trouble breathing, they may be experiencing an allergic reaction and you should get to the vet immediately. Swelling can also be a sign of an allergic reaction.

4. Tweezers Tweezers can be used for removing anything from a bee stinger to an obstruction in the dogs throat.

5. Cortisone Cream A product such as Neosporin would be used to dress a cut, insect bite, rash or skin irritation.

6. Saline Solution A small bottle of saline solution will help clean an open wound.

7. Bandage/Wrap A roll of bandage, preferably the self stick type, that can be found at a pet store. The self stick type works best for an animal that may be nervous and wiggly. Bandaging an area until you can safely get your pet to the vet.

8. Muzzle A muzzle that is the proper size for your dog could be a life saving tool to assist you in administering first aid to your pet. In emergency situations, many animals become scared and may try to bite. Muzzling is always recommended at these panicked times.

9. Scissors A small pair of scissors in case you may need to cut the hair around a wound or to cut a bandage.

10. Box Some sort of box or container to keep the emergency tools in. You may also want to label the box on the outside with your veterinarians phone number and the phone number to a 24 hour veterinary hospital close to your home.

11. Peroxide Peroxide can be used to clean wounds but it also can be used to induce vomitting if your pet has eaten something he shouldn't have.

12. Pet First Aid Book The Red Cross has a Pet First Aid book available for sale or you can purchase one at your local pet store or order online through many pet retailers. A pet first aid book will give you the knowledge necessary to use the items in your first aid kit and tell you when you should consult a professional.

13.Thermometer Used to take the pets temperature when needed.

Knowing that you are prepared for an emergency involving your pet will help keep you calmer and more equipped to assist your him/her. You can also go beyond just having a pet first aid kit on hand and contact your local Red Cross to take a pet CPR Training Class. Arm yourself with everything you may need in an emergency and hopefully you will never need to use it. But, if the need does arise, you will be prepared to help your pet through the ordeal and keep him by your side for years to come.