Dog First Aid Kit Supplies: Making Your Own
Emergency Veterinary Clinic
Visit MyVeterinarian.com, enter the zip code, and check the "emergency" box to get a listing of emergency providers in the area.
Animal Poison Control Center
888-4ANI-HELP (888-426-4435
Vaccination Records
Just in case you need to show anyone that your dog's shots are up to date.
Medications
PLEASE! Make sure that you give your dog their heartworm, flea, and tick medicine before you get there because Mosquitos are what give your dog heartworms (the treatment for heartworms is very hard on your dog) plus bring your dog's daily medicine with you and put it in a waterproof case.
Digital Thermometer
It's great to have one on hand because if your dog is not acting right check their temperature it will help you know if they have a fever and are also in danger of being overheated. I really like iProven Pet Thermometer (link below to check the price) because it only takes 20 seconds and is waterproof.
Adhesive Tape
These self-adhering bandages are stretchy and breathable.
Eyedroppers or syringes
Great to flush wounds or give oral medications to your dog.
Gauze
California Basics 24 Gauze Bandage Rolls
Soft Muzzle
No matter how loving and gentle your dog behaves normally; if they are scared or in pain, they may bite. Including a suitable-sized muzzle in your pet's emergency pack can help to keep you and other people safe that's trying to help provide aid to your dog. This will allow you to administer aid quickly to help your dog out, however, if they are having any breathing issues then it's best to leave the soft muzzle off.
Water Bottle
Any pet owner knows that accidents can happen, and it's always best to be prepared. A water bottle is a simple, but essential, item to include in a dog first aid kit. In the event that your pet is overheating, water can help to cool them down. Pour small amounts of water over their paws and ears and offer them water to drink in order to help them regulate their body temperature. Water is also useful for cleaning dirty wounds.
Before applying a bandage, pour water over the wound to help remove any large pieces of debris or dirt. This will help to keep the wound clean and prevent further infection. Including a water bottle in your dog's first aid kit will help you to be prepared for any emergency.
Wound Cleaner
Before placing a bandage on a wound, cleaning and sterilizing it with an alcohol swab can be helpful. There are antibiotic ointments and sprays and the one we really like and always have with us on hand is Vetericyn plus, and I will put a link for it at the bottom if you would like to check the price out.
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine that can help reduce facial swelling and hives caused by some allergic reactions, especially to bug bites and bee stings. Please make sure that there's No Xylitol in it because it's very toxic to dogs. Check with your vet before using.
Hydrogen Peroxide 3%
Good to have on hand if your dog gets sprayed by a skunk, Trust Me to have it, a small box of baking soda, and a small deal of blue dawn soap. Mix 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/3 cup of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid together. Wash your dog with it and let it sit for a few minutes, you're probably going to need to do this several times, but that's ok because you want to draw the odor and oils out of your dog's fur. Don't use the old myth we grew up with using tomato juice; doesn't work and this other way works, and I know this from personal experience.
Plus, it can be used to induce vomiting if your dog ate something they weren't supposed to that can cause harm to them. So, check with your vet so you know the amount to use for your size dog if that were to happen.
Scissors
You will need a pair of blunt tip scissors for tape or cutting off bandages to replace a new one.
Tick Spoon Or Tweezers
These are Must-haves items on hand, for if your dog gets a splinter, and if your dog has a tick on them, I highly recommend a tick spoon because easy to get out, and it has a container for you, and you can send it off to see what kind of tick it was.
LED Tactical Flashlight
It's good to have one that has multiple settings such as low, medium, high, strobe, and SOS plus one that's water-resistant.
Vet Wrap
Helps hold gauze pads and medication in place, and it helps to keep them from licking their wound.
Saline Eye Wash
Flush their eyes out.
Instant Ice Packs
Great to have if they hurt their limb for example, but also if they get overheated you need to put one in their groin area.
Disposable Latex Gloves
What I really like to do is get sizes small for me and large for my husband because it's so much easier to work with if they fit properly.
Toenail Clippers
Make sure and have a pair in case part of their toenail comes, and you also need to have some quick blood stopper, and it works like a charm.
Collar Or Harness
Always carry an extra one in case the one you're using breaks.
Leash
Bring an extra one in case yours breaks, but also if you need to wrap it around something to hold it in place.
Tourniquet
To stop blood
Dog Parent Safety Tips
A best practice is to buy a bag of blank dog tags, they're inexpensive to get, and write where you are camping and the site number with a sharpie so if your dog wanders off you can be reunited faster. Make sure that your information is up to date if your dog is microchipped. You also need to be prepared for an emergency so it's a good idea to get a dog first aid kit (you should also get a human one as well).
We really like ARCA pet cat and dog first aid kit because it's the most complete kit at an affordable price and it provides a pet first aid handbook.
Looking for additional camping essentials for your furry friend? Check out our other articles.
Karie
Karie
Karie