Creating A Dog First Aid Kit

Being prepared for little accidents is an important part of caring for your dog. Just as with ourselves, having a well-stocked first aid kit at the ready will help you deal with an emergency. We recommend keeping a Dog First Aid Kit handy. Make sure that everyone in the family knows where it is. This kit should be clearly labelled and easy to carry.

Items to consider keeping in or near your pack include:
- The phone number of your veterinary and the number of your local Emergency Afterhours hospital (If you are unsure if there is a Afterhours vet in your area just ask your vet). If your dog has an accident, you don't want to waste precious minutes looking for the phone number.
- Photocopies of your pets medical records and a copy of their microchip/ identification paperwork.
- If your dog needs to take medication we suggest to keep supply of their medication in the kit (Remember, medications need to be rotated out of your First Aid kit—otherwise they may go bad or become useless).
- Muzzle that fits your dog – an injured and frightened animal may bite
- Blunt-ended scissors
- Tweezers
- Bandages (2.5cm and 5cm wide) - you can ask your vet for these as products designed for dogs are more suitable than human products.
- Gauze rolls and pads
- Adhesive tape.
- Sterile eye wash and eye lubricant (available at your vet clinic)
- Saline water to wash out any wounds
- Sterile water-based lubricant (such as KY® Jelly) – helps hold fur away from wound
- An old towel or blanket

It can also be a good idea to have a supplementary kit to keep in your car. Although being prepared is a great idea, remember that if your dog has any illness or injury must you must consult your vet.