Dog First Aid Kit

A dog first aid kit should be readily available for emergency situations. It should be periodically checked to make sure all the items are in place and up to date. This page looks at essential items to include in a first aid kit for dogs.

Accidents can happen to our pets any time. It is therefore essential to always have a fully-stocked dog first aid kit readily available at home. If you do a lot of driving with your dog, it is advisable to keep one in your car as well. A well-stocked and organized first aid kit will be invaluable if your pet needs immediate care. It could even save your dog's life.

To put together a basic first aid kit for your dog, make a list of all the essential items that should be in the kit and, after gathering everything on the list, organize and put them in a container and store it in an easy-to-reach place. A small plastic toolbox makes a handy container to keep all the first aid kit items.

If you do not want to start everything from scratch, you can always get a basic first aid kit for pets from a pet store, and add more items to it as you find necessary.

It is no use to have a first aid kit for dogs if you do not know how to use the items inside or what to do in case of emergency. Visit different pages on our site to learn more about different emergency situations and acute ailments and how to deal with them, such as heat stroke, poisoning, bleeding, diarrhea, dehydration, etc.

Basic Essential Supplies for a Dog First Aid Kit

Make sure that your first aid kit for dogs has the following items:

Square gauze of various sizes (for wound dressing and to stop bleeding)
Bandages, Vetwrap (for wound dressing)
Non-stick pads (for wound dressing)
Adhesive tapes (for wound dressing)
Clean towels (to stop bleeding)
Cotton swabs and cotton balls (to remove debris from cuts, to apply antiseptic application)
Tweezers (to remove thorns, stings, or debris from wounds)
Scissors (to trim hair near wounds)
Flashlight (to help you see more clearly in ears, down the throat etc.)
Eyedroppers and oral syringes (to administer medication)
Rectal thermometer and petroleum jelly (to take temperature)
Saline solution (to wash out wounds or minor burns)
Disposable gloves
Muzzle (to prevent biting when treating the dog)

You also need several large clean towels that can be used as a stretcher to carry your dog, or used as blankets to keep your dog warm.

[Top of Page]

Medications for Dog First Aid Kit

In addition to first aid supplies, your dog first aid kit should also include various types of medications to deal with sudden onset of different ailments:

Antidiarrheal medicine such as Pet Pectate (to control diarrhea)
Hydrogen peroxide (to induce vomiting in certain cases of poisonings)
Activated charcoal powder (to absorb ingested poisons)
Rehydrating solution such as NaturVet Pet Electrolyte Oral Solution (to treat dehydration)
High sugar source such as Karo syrup (to treat hypoglycemia)
Antihistamine (such as Benadryl for allergic reactions)

Some natural products are effective in treating minor wounds and various acute ailments; we recommend the following to be added to your dog's first aid kit:

PetAlive Clenzor to Cleanse Pet Wounds: This is an herbal topical cleanser that contains witch hazel, lemon balm, calendula (marigold), and nettle - all are well known for their cleansing and soothing properties. Use this cleanser to clean out minor wounds, including cuts, bite and sting wounds.
PetAlive PawPaw to Protect and Heal Pet's Paws: This is a 100% natural topical preparation which contains a blend of natural, soothing and healing herbal ingredients (calendula, St. John's wort, plantain) in an olive oil base. Apply this preparation to minor paw wounds 2-3 times a day.
Pal Dog Soothing Balm for Dogs: This soothing balm contains calendula, lavender oil, and other soothing and healing natural ingredients. Good for treating minor cuts and cracks on your dog's paws.
PetAlive Wound Dr.: This natural herbal cream contains ingredients with natural antibacterial and antiseptic properties such as tea tree oil, rosemary, plantain, and others. Apply this cream topically to minor wounds, such as insect bites and stings, minor cuts, scrapes, etc.
Vetri-Science Fast Balance G.I.: This is a fast acting supplement that provides immediate care for dogs (and cats) with diarrhea and loose stools and other gastrointestinal dysfunction.

[Top of Page]

Information to Put in Your Dog First Aid Kit

Finally, on a piece of paper, write down the following information and put it inside the first aid kit:

A list of all items in the first aid kit, their uses, and their expiration dates, if any.
The telephone number of your veterinarian as well as the telephone number of a local veterinary emergency facility.