10 Items You Need to Include When Creating an Essential First Aid Kit for Dogs
No one can dispute that emergencies can happen at any time. Whether you live alone or with a family, there is a high probability that you have a first aid kit in place. But what happens if you live with a canine friend?
Since you can’t use all first aid items in your kit to treat your dog, it’s of paramount importance to ensure that you have a first aid kit for your dog as well. Apart from coming in handy for emergencies at home, a complete first aid kit for your dog is equally important when traveling.
Basically, there are two main ways of getting your hands on a formidable first aid kit for your dog. First, you can either buy an already equipped first aid kit. While this may be costly, it’s worth every penny.
Secondly, you can assemble different essential items for your dog’s first aid kit. Although this might take a while to accomplish, it’s always cheaper in the long run. So, what are the essential items that you must include in your dog’s first aid kit? Well, read along to find out.
1. Hydrogen Peroxide
If you have a first aid kit in your house, you probably have seen hydrogen peroxide as one of the components. Although this is a general household item, Hydrogen Peroxide is equally an important element in your dog’s first aid kit.
Typically, hydrogen peroxide is used for cleaning wounds. What’s more, you can also use hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting if your dog has ingested something dangerous.
Even so, be sure to consult your vet before using hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting. Otherwise, it might cause more harm to your dog than helping to induce vomit.
2. Antibiotic Ointment
Just like hydrogen peroxide, triple antibiotic ointment works by keeping wounds free from any bacterial infection. However, since it’s medicinal, antibiotic ointment also helps cure wounds and lacerations.
One of the antibiotics you should consider having in your dog’s first aid kit is the cephalexin pills for dogs. Among other things, Cephalexin for dogs will help treat common bacterial infections like skin, bone, urinary tract infections, etc.
3. Muzzle
When your dog is injured, chances are that it will be irritated. A muzzle comes in handy in ensuring that your dog doesn’t bite you in defense. You should, therefore, ensure to have a muzzle in your dog’s first aid kit.
4. E-Collar
While a muzzle is essential in preventing your dog from biting you, E-collar is crucial in preventing your dog from doing more harm to its injuries. Since a wound might be irritating, your dog might find it best to lick the wound, thus making the wound more infected.
5. Thermometer
When buying a first aid kit for your dog, you can rest assured that a thermometer will be present. However, if you are assembling your dog’s first aid kit on your own, ensure to include a digital thermometer. The good news is that you can get a thermometer in a drugstore near you.
But why a thermometer? Well, just like humans, dogs have the maximum and minimum body temperature. Normally, a dog’s temperature will range from 100°F and 102°F. A dog’s thermometer will help you know whether your dog is sick or not.
6. Bandages
Regardless of the purpose of a first aid kit, bandages are a must-have item. Basically, bandages include gauze rolls, non-adhesive gauze, gauze pads, and flexible bandages.
While brand new first aid kits come wrapped in sterilized materials, this is not the case with homemade dog bandages. Always ensure to have your homemade bandages sterilized and wrapped by a vet before using them on your dog.
7. Saline Solution
Eye injuries are common in dogs. Equally common are eye infections. Saline solutions are crucial in not only removing any harmful substances in your dog’s eye but are also important in minimizing any irritation In case of an eye infection. However, you don’t have to necessarily get your hands on a saline solution. You can also use the normal eyewash found in drug stores.
8. Tweezers
Tweezers are tools that are crucial in removing sticks and splinters from your dog’s eyes. When using it, ensure to be utterly cautious not to damage your dog’s eyes.
9. Benadryl
Dogs are susceptible to different allergic reactions, including bee stings and insect bites. This is where Benadryl comes into play. Although it’s a human medication, it is quite helpful when your dog is faced with an allergic reaction.
10. Styptic Powder
Dog injuries come in many forms. For instance, when your dog suffers from a cut, the wound can bleed profusely. In such cases, you should ensure to have a styptic powder in your first aid kit.
Ideally, this is a medication that is specially designed to stop bleeding. It will come in handy when your dog suffers from a broken or torn nail.
Since you’re here …
… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading Side-Line Magazine than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can - and we refuse to add annoying advertising. So you can see why we need to ask for your help.
Side-Line’s independent journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we want to push the artists we like and who are equally fighting to survive.
If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps fund it, our future would be much more secure. For as little as 5 US$, you can support Side-Line Magazine – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.
The donations are safely powered by Paypal.
