21 Essential Items to Keep in Your Pet's First Aid Kit

Chance always favors the prepared

It’s April! This obviously means it is….

Pet First Aid Month!

Just kidding, I bet you didn’t know that. And to be honest, neither did I. I’m not sure who keeps coming up with these pseudo-holidays and monthly awareness initiatives, but I’m not going to pass up any opportunity to educate.

So, in honor of Pet First Aid Month, here’s a list of 21 essential items you should keep in your pet’s first aid kit.

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⛑️ First Aid Kit Essentials

1. Important phone numbers (your veterinarian, nearest emergency hospital, pet poison hotline)

2. A copy of your pet’s complete medical record, including all prescription medications (update this regularly)

3. Emergency doses of any current prescriptions AND any specific emergency medications your pet may need (like rectal sedatives if they have seizures)

4. Digital thermometer

   • The most accurate way to take your pet’s temperature is rectally, but if they’re resistant to this and you’re unable to get a reading on your own, you can try to get a reading axially: put the probe deep under their armpit and hold their arm against the body wall until you get a reading, then add 1 degree.

5. A muzzle to prevent your pet from biting you or others when they’re not scared or not feeling like themselves.

   • IMPORTANT: DO NOT muzzle your dog if they’re vomiting

6. Spare leash and collar (one you care less about)

7. Soft and clean towels for blotting/cleaning, padding, restraining, drying, or warming

8. Gauze roll for wrapping wounds

9. Nonstick bandages to control bleeding or protect wounds

10. Self-adhering, nonstick tape/wrap (vet wrap) - used for outer layer of bandages and/or for creating a compression bandage to reduce bleeding on your way to the vet

11. Adhesive tape for securing bandages

12. Scissors with blunt ends for safely cutting bandage materials

13. Disposable gloves to protect yourself

14. Tweezers to remove ticks or small foreign objects

15. Eye dropper or large syringe without needle to give oral treatments or flush wounds

16. Sterile lubricating gel to protect eyes and wounds, and to lubricate thermometer for rectal temperatures

17. Activated charcoal to absorb any ingested toxins (if instructed by your veterinarian or poison control)

18. 3% hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting if you live >45 mins-1 hour from the nearest emergency hospital

    • Peroxide is an old-school trick to induce vomiting in pets at home, but it is not done without risk, and we typically don’t recommend this anymore. This should really only be used when induction of vomiting is advised by a vet or poison control, AND you live too far from an emergency hospital to get treatment in time.

    • Do NOT give more than one dose unless otherwise instructed by your veterinarian.

    • Do NOT use hydrogen peroxide on wounds, as this actually delays the wound healing process.

19. Sterile saline solution for cleansing wounds or flushing eyes (contact solution works well in most cases)

20. Vetericyn wound spray

21. Ice pack (this can’t go in the kit itself, but always have an ice pack in the freezer to keep down swelling)

As you can see, many of the items you keep in your personal first aid kit can be useful for your pet, too. But they have a few additional essentials on their list.

Unless directed by a veterinarian, you should never give your pet human medications, especially not pain relievers / fever reducers like paracetamol (acetaminophen).

Stay safe,

Dr. Sami

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