A suggested First Aid kit
Hello Folks,
After receiving a frantic call from a puppy owner across town (whose puppy had eaten a pot plant) I started to wonder how many of us are prepared for emergencies with our dogs.
What I mean by prepared is a well stocked first aid kit and a good reference book (which we have studied in advance).
Obviously in an emergency the first person to phone is your Vet (I trust you have built up a good relationship with him or her as they are a very valuable help in caring for our beloved pets).
Here is my recommendations which I am sure are not complete (there is always something we can add), however these are what I have in my house - together with a good book "Dog Owners Home Veterinary Handbook" to which I can make reference and in this way at least help myself and the animal if/until such time as I can get to a Vet.
This can also double up as a travel kit should you decide to take your dog on a road trip.
Waterproof First Aid Box:
Essential information - write on the container with a permanent marker:
The name and phone number of your Vet.
The Animal Hospital, Poison Control Hotline
Your name, address and contact numbers and the number of the next person to contact should you be incapacitated.
If this becomes your travel kit place photos and microchip numbers of each of your pets in the kit.
Contents:
Scissors
Tweezers
Sterile needles
Bulb syringe for flushing wounds
60ml syringe for force feeding
20ml syringe
Eyedropper
Tongue depressor (ice cream stick type)
Rubber gloves
Rectal thermometer (I like the digital type - take your pets temperature under normal conditions to get a baseline. Normal temperature for a dog is 38 - 39.2C)
Disposable safety razor (for cleaning around a wound)
Towels (at least 2)
Roll of paper towel
Blanket (to help keep an injured animal from going into shock)
Bandana, stretch bandage, stocking (many uses including muzzeling, securing a torn ear flap)
Strips of cloth
Little sock (to cover wounded pore)
Flashlight
Sterile gauze pads
Rolled gauze (for bandaging, stabilizing joints, making a muzzle)
Adhesive first aid tape (narrow and wide witdths)
Rolled cotton
Cotton balls
Bandages (including self-clinging and waterproof type - these are great have used them!)
Vet wraps, which stick to itself but not fur??? (dont know if available in this country but will check)
Anti-bacterial wipes or pads
Ear buds
Hot/cold pack
Ice pack
Hydrogen peroxide 3% (to induce vomiting and to use on infected wounds - NOT open wounds) Check the expiry date and only keep fresh solution in your kit.
Activated charcoal tablets (effective in absorbing many toxins)
Betadine solution (type of antiseptic iodine medicine for wounds to deter infection)
Antibiotic ointment (such an Bactroban)
K Y Jelly or Vaseline (for use on thermometer)
Sterile saline eye solution (to flush out eye contaminants and wounds - had reason to use some just the other day when a puppy had a eyelash in her eye)
Artificial tear get to lubricate eyes after flushing
Eye ointment with no cortisone
Epsom salts (mix 1 teaspoon with 2 cups warm water for drawing out infection and bathing itchy paws and skin)
Baking soda (good for soothing skin conditions)
Styptic powder (to stop bleeding of torn toenails)
Gentle sedative e.g. Rescue Remedy (I am told by the vet the drops work better than the tablets)
Can of soft pet food (can help reduce the effect of a poisoning).
Other suggested items:
Honey sticks (should your dog become hypoglycemic or experience a low glucose episode)
Being prepared can make the difference between life and death, reduce the chances of infection and further complications.
If someone is taking care of your pet while you're away:
* show them where you keep the first aid kit and vet records,
* your vet and emergency animal hospital info, how to contact you,
* and the name and phone number of a friend or relative in case you are unavailable.
In addition, let your vet know in advance who you have authorized to take your pet to the vet in your absence, and that you will pay for any emergency visit.
Maxine van den Berg
KUSA Accredited Beagle Breeder
Beagle Adoption Service
Animal Behaviourist (Ethology Academy)
177 Kommetjie Road
Fish Hoek
Cape Town, 7975
Tel: (+27) 021 785 3289
Cell: (+2782) 4190090
E-mail: maxine@webafrica.org.za
Visit our Website
After receiving a frantic call from a puppy owner across town (whose puppy had eaten a pot plant) I started to wonder how many of us are prepared for emergencies with our dogs.
What I mean by prepared is a well stocked first aid kit and a good reference book (which we have studied in advance).
Obviously in an emergency the first person to phone is your Vet (I trust you have built up a good relationship with him or her as they are a very valuable help in caring for our beloved pets).
Here is my recommendations which I am sure are not complete (there is always something we can add), however these are what I have in my house - together with a good book "Dog Owners Home Veterinary Handbook" to which I can make reference and in this way at least help myself and the animal if/until such time as I can get to a Vet.
This can also double up as a travel kit should you decide to take your dog on a road trip.
Waterproof First Aid Box:
Essential information - write on the container with a permanent marker:
The name and phone number of your Vet.
The Animal Hospital, Poison Control Hotline
Your name, address and contact numbers and the number of the next person to contact should you be incapacitated.
If this becomes your travel kit place photos and microchip numbers of each of your pets in the kit.
Contents:
Scissors
Tweezers
Sterile needles
Bulb syringe for flushing wounds
60ml syringe for force feeding
20ml syringe
Eyedropper
Tongue depressor (ice cream stick type)
Rubber gloves
Rectal thermometer (I like the digital type - take your pets temperature under normal conditions to get a baseline. Normal temperature for a dog is 38 - 39.2C)
Disposable safety razor (for cleaning around a wound)
Towels (at least 2)
Roll of paper towel
Blanket (to help keep an injured animal from going into shock)
Bandana, stretch bandage, stocking (many uses including muzzeling, securing a torn ear flap)
Strips of cloth
Little sock (to cover wounded pore)
Flashlight
Sterile gauze pads
Rolled gauze (for bandaging, stabilizing joints, making a muzzle)
Adhesive first aid tape (narrow and wide witdths)
Rolled cotton
Cotton balls
Bandages (including self-clinging and waterproof type - these are great have used them!)
Vet wraps, which stick to itself but not fur??? (dont know if available in this country but will check)
Anti-bacterial wipes or pads
Ear buds
Hot/cold pack
Ice pack
Hydrogen peroxide 3% (to induce vomiting and to use on infected wounds - NOT open wounds) Check the expiry date and only keep fresh solution in your kit.
Activated charcoal tablets (effective in absorbing many toxins)
Betadine solution (type of antiseptic iodine medicine for wounds to deter infection)
Antibiotic ointment (such an Bactroban)
K Y Jelly or Vaseline (for use on thermometer)
Sterile saline eye solution (to flush out eye contaminants and wounds - had reason to use some just the other day when a puppy had a eyelash in her eye)
Artificial tear get to lubricate eyes after flushing
Eye ointment with no cortisone
Epsom salts (mix 1 teaspoon with 2 cups warm water for drawing out infection and bathing itchy paws and skin)
Baking soda (good for soothing skin conditions)
Styptic powder (to stop bleeding of torn toenails)
Gentle sedative e.g. Rescue Remedy (I am told by the vet the drops work better than the tablets)
Can of soft pet food (can help reduce the effect of a poisoning).
Other suggested items:
Honey sticks (should your dog become hypoglycemic or experience a low glucose episode)
Being prepared can make the difference between life and death, reduce the chances of infection and further complications.
If someone is taking care of your pet while you're away:
* show them where you keep the first aid kit and vet records,
* your vet and emergency animal hospital info, how to contact you,
* and the name and phone number of a friend or relative in case you are unavailable.
In addition, let your vet know in advance who you have authorized to take your pet to the vet in your absence, and that you will pay for any emergency visit.
Maxine van den Berg
KUSA Accredited Beagle Breeder
Beagle Adoption Service
Animal Behaviourist (Ethology Academy)
177 Kommetjie Road
Fish Hoek
Cape Town, 7975
Tel: (+27) 021 785 3289
Cell: (+2782) 4190090
E-mail: maxine@webafrica.org.za
Visit our Website