Home

About

Greyhound Care

Jack

George

Jerry

Tegan

Buttons

Jet

Mouse

Links

Guestbook

Send e-mail to Fiona

First Aid Kits for Dogs

The subject of what to have in a first aid kit for your dog has recently been discussed on several of the greyhound lists I am a member of.

Below I have written about the sort of items I would usually carry on a daily basis in the car, the supplies I keep in the house, and also the things I would add when going away on holiday with the dogs. Please bear in mind that at the time of writing most of these items were sourced from either my vet or chemist in England. If you live elsewhere some of the brand names may differ, but I have added an explanation of what each item is for in parentheses.

Obviously the contents will vary depending on the specific needs of your dog(s), how far you will be from home/help/a vet, and also the type of activities you are planning on doing with your dog.

There are a variety of pet first aid kits available to buy commercially, but in general these seem rather expensive, particularly when you consider that it is unlikely you will need all of the items they contain. In my experience it is far cheaper to buy the things you need from your local chemist and/or vet, and pack them all into a sturdy plastic container yourself.

And finally, the contents of any first aid kit are only as useful as the person who is utilising them. If you don't know what something is for or how to use it, then it is no good to your dog, so there is little point in including it. The whole idea of making your own first aid kit is that it is personalised for your own dogs, and your knowledge and experience.

When using medications designed for humans (such as Piriton antihistamine tablets) make sure that you have checked the appropriate dosage with your vet first. All vets should have a book that details which medications are safe for use in dogs, any contraindications, and the relevant dosage instructions. Once you have this information write it on a piece of paper and stick it to the outside of the box of tablets, so there can be no mistake about how to administer them.

Whether you dog has never had an accident or is constantly at the vet's, I still believe it is worthwhile for every owner to have some awareness of basic first aid and how to use some simple but essential supplies in an emergency. Chances are that if you have half of the things listed below, you will never need to use them, and surely an unused first aid kit is the best type to have.

First aid kit for the car

Here is a list of the items I always carry in the car that is used for transporting the dogs. If we are ever any distance from home then it is likely that we have travelled there by car, and so our first aid kit is nearby.

• 10% Hibiscrub (disinfectant) solution in a spray bottle
• Two tubes of sterile saline
• Cotton wool roll
• Several rolls of vet wrap (different sizes)
• Elastoplast tape
• Variety of non-stick dressing pads
• Sanitary towel (these make excellent large wound dressing pads)
• Triangular bandage
• Hypercal or Calendula cream (a natural remedy good for small cuts and grazes)
• Piriton tablets (an over-the-counter antihistamine)
• Insect repellent
• Bach rescue remedy (for calming the nerves of humans and dogs in stressful situations)
• Ferrum sulph (homeopathic remedy that stops bleeding)
• Acconite (homeopathic remedy for shock)
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Nail clippers
• Tick hook
• Selection of dog boots
• Poo bags
• Packet of dog treats
• Spare slip lead
• Muzzle
• Disposable camera
• Waterless hand soap (antibacterial)
• Details of the name and number of my vet (taped inside the lid)

As well as all of the items listed above (which will be packed into a plastic box) I also always have at least 2 litres of fresh drinking water, and a range of blankets in the car.

First aid kit for the house

My first aid kit at home contains all of the items that I carry in the car as well as:

• Thermometer (plus a chart with details of normal temperature for dogs)
• Cold pack
• Immodium tablets (useful for stomach upsets)
• Slippery Elm tablets (good for upset stomachs)
• Rimadyl tablets (or other pain killer/anti inflammatory)
• Phenobarbitol tablets (or other sedative)
• Course of broad-spectrum antibiotics
• Jar of manuka honey (for the reason why see here)
• Electrolyte solution (for a dehydrated dog)
• Aloe Vera gel (very soothing for a variety of skin conditions)
• Antiseptic cream
• Super glue (can be used to repair minor cuts and nicks but you definitely need to know what you are doing)
• Bitter Apple spray or clove oil (stops dogs licking bandages/wounds)
• Ear cleaner
• Oral syringes
• Scalpel (good for removing stitches)
• Piece of candle (stops bleeding if you cut the quick while trimming nails)
• Spares of any regular medications that the dogs are taking (including details of the dog who needs it, and the dosage instructions)
• Book on emergency first aid for dogs
• Extensive range of homeopathic and Bach Flower remedies (too many to list here, but if you would like more details please feel free to e-mail me.)

First aid kit for taking on holiday

When going on holiday I would usually take my first aid kit from the house (in addition to the one that is always in the car) and add the following items:

• Name, address and telephone number of the nearest vet
• Map (e.g. from Multimap) of how to get to the nearest vet
• Written details of your own vet and any medication that your dog is currently taking (in a medical emergency you may be too worried to accurately explain this to a strange vet).
• Dog's medical history from current vet. This is a good idea if you have a dog with a serious or chronic illness. When we travelled with Jerry after he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, I carried a copy of his record with me everywhere. In the event of a real emergency (such as a broken leg), the last thing I wanted to be doing was waiting for a vet to confirm his diagnosis before dealing with any problem which might have arisen.
• And finally, although not really a first aid item, when travelling with your dogs on holiday don't forget to put new tags on their collars with updated contact details. I use large plastic key rings with removable paper strips, and list my mobile phone number alongside the details of the place we are staying at.

Back to Greyhound Care Page