What You Need to Know About Pet First Aid -

When an emergency strikes your beloved pet, it is natural for you to panic. Animal first aid can cause immense amounts of stress for you as the pet owner and your furry friend. Being prepared for a disaster before it strikes by assembling a first aid kit such as a pet emergency kit, k9 trauma kit, or dog bite first aid kit will give you the peace of mind of knowing that you and your dog will be prepared in the event of an emergency.

What do you need to know about dog first aid, what should you include in your kit, and how can you prepare for a potential need to use this canine first aid kit? Throughout the course of this article, we will discuss exactly what you should include in your dog’s first aid kit and in what situations you should use each item.

Why You as a Pet Owner Need a Dog First Aid Kit

Simply put, accidents happen. These canine accidents can happen at any time without any warning, and you need to be prepared. Below are some instances where you might need to step in and perform dog first aid in the event of an emergency:

First aid for poisoned dogs due to eating human food or another harmful substance.
When your dog is bitten by a potentially venomous snake.
Your dog licks or eats a venomous toad or plant.
Your dog is involved in a fight and is bitten by another dog.
When your dog is hit by a vehicle.
Your dog is choking on their food or stick.
Your dog is having an allergic reaction to a food or plant.

None of these situations is something you, as a dog owner, wish to find yourself in, but with proper preparedness, you and your dog can make it to the vet in time if needed.

What Should You Include in Your Canine First Aid Kit

Items might be running through your mind like band-aids and gauze that might be found in a human first aid kit, but what goes in an animal first aid kit? Dog experts, The American Kennel Club, have put together a compressive list (shown below) of what you should include in your kit:

Container. A sturdy, waterproof container, such as a fishing tackle-type box, will keep the items clean and safe from damage.
Label. Clearly label the container as a pet first aid kit and include all pertinent contact information: primary veterinarian; poison control center phone number; nearest emergency veterinary hospital; names and doses of medications taken regularly by each dog; owners’ names, addresses, and phone numbers. This information is helpful to the owner at a potentially traumatic time, but it is also helpful if the owner is incapacitated or other people less familiar with the dog(s) need to find or use the kit.
Canine First Aid Reference Guide. This resource contains instructions on how to navigate common canine medical emergencies.
Sterile, non-stick gauze pads in several sizes.
Adhesive tape
Antiseptic wipes, liquid, powder, or spray.
Antibiotic ointment
Styptic powder helps stop superficial bleeding; this is especially useful for injuries to the nails.
Towels can be used to apply pressure to a bleeding area or to stabilize an injured or broken limb.
Splint
Muzzle. Shock and pain from injuries can cause dogs to unwittingly bite.
Rectal thermometer
Petroleum jelly
Hot/Cold packs
Latex/Rubber Gloves
Slant-tipped scissors, a disposable razor, and/or clippers, depending on the dog’s coat. Some wounds may require fur removal in order to be adequately cleaned and/or dressed.
Tweezers remove ticks or embedded objects from a dog’s skin.
Sterile saline solution to flush debris from wounds, ears, or eyes.
Hydrogen Peroxide. This can be used as an emetic to produce vomiting.
A can of wet food can help reduce the effects of poisoning. If poisoning is suspected, contact the poison control center before administering anything to your dog by mouth. Treatment varies depending on the type of poison. Make sure the can opens by a pull tab and doesn’t require an opener.

Consider what is necessary for your dog in the area that you live in. Perhaps you won’t need one thing or another, and maybe you should add in a few items, like your dog’s favorite toy or treat. That’s up to you!

Common Types of First Aid and How to Perform Them

Just like humans, your dogs can experience a wide variety of medical emergencies. It is important to discuss the variety of problems your furry friend can face and what tools and knowledge you can use to help them in these situations.

First Aid – CPR and Choking:Dog

If you find your dog completely unresponsive or catch them choking on an object, quick action is essential. Follow these steps to help save your dog’s life:

Pull your dog’s tongue out of its mouth with care and inspect their mouth to see if anything is stuck in its airway.
Carefully pull out whatever is stuck in your dog’s mouth. If there isn’t anything stuck and your dog still isn’t breathing, then you should extend the head and neck (if there is no obvious sign of neck trauma)
Put your hand over your dog’s muzzle while holding its mouth shut.
Blow into their nostrils, giving three breaths in and watching their chest for a sign of rising. If you do not see a rise in their chest, look again for an obstruction in their airway.
For continued rescue breathing assistance, provide 20 -225 breaths per minute until you can get your dog to a vet.

Dog First Aid – Cuts and Blood Loss

First things first – try and locate the source of the bleeding. Once you have located the source, apply pressure to try to get the flow of blood to decrease or stop. If the bleeding persists past a few minutes of pressure and is soaking through the cloth, the best thing you can do is not to waste time and get your dog medical attention as soon as possible.

Dog First Aid – Burns

Cool the affected area with cold water ASAP. Cover the burned area of skin with damp towels and keep it wet. If the burn is significant, contact your vet.

Dog First Aid – Heat Stroke

If you live in a hot weather climate, you need to be prepared for the possibility of your dog facing heat stroke. This happens when dogs are left in hot cars, spend too much time in the sun, or get overheated. As soon as you know there is a problem, try to cool your dog’s temperature as fast as possible using cold (not ice) water and moving them to a cool shaded area. Take your dog to the vet immediately. During transport to the vet, keep the car’s windows open to help with air flow.

Dog First Aid – Poisoning

f your dog is poisoned by food or other substance, call your vet immediately to discuss specifics and treatment

Dog First Aid – Seizure

Hold your dog as still as possible during their seizure and move them to a cool, dark place until you can transport them to your vet’s office – which should be done ASAP.

While these are just a few issues you might face as a pet owner, they are the most common. If your specific dog breed is prone to a different problem, you should read up on it and prepare accordingly.

Final Thoughts

Emergencies are never a good thing, but with proper preparedness, you can help your pet through them and get them the care that they need to get well and survive.

Remember that no matter what, it is ALWAYS a good idea to contact your vet during or after experiencing a medical emergency with your pet. They will be able to help you make the right decision regarding future care and if you should bring your dog to their office.

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