When you create a custom pet first aid kit for your home, you will always have crucial supplies on hand for a pet emergency or injury. You can treat minor injuries yourself and use your kit to control bleeding and protect wounds if you need to transport your pet to an animal hospital in Katy, TX. Here is your checklist for making a first aid kit for any type of pet, from cats and dogs to birds and small animals.
Building an Emergency First Aid Kit for Your Pet
No matter what type of pet you have, your first aid kit should include their medical records, licensing and microchip information, a pet carrier, and a blanket. It should also include:
- Gauze pads and bandages
- Self-adhering bandages
- Adhesive medical tape
- 3% hydrogen peroxide, activated charcoal, or milk of magnesia
- Sterile saline solution or wound wash
- Alcohol or antiseptic wipes
- Antibiotic spray or ointment
- Benadryl
- Styptic powder or cornstarch
- Disposable gloves
- Penlight
- Tweezers
- Syringes or eyedroppers
- Blunt-end scissors
- Thermometer
If you have a dog or cat, your kit should also include a leash, harness, soft muzzle, water bowl, and their favorite treats. If you have a bird or small animal, put a hot water bottle or heating pad in your kit along with a crate or cage cover, liquid vitamin C, and a magnifying glass.
Tips for Giving Your Pet First Aid at Home
Check your pet’s airway and make sure there are no obstructions. Lie your pet on their side and try to immobilize them so that they won’t panic or become more injured. Control bleeding using clean cloth or sterile gauze. Treat minor scrapes, burns, and wounds with antiseptic spray and gauze or bandages. Check your pet’s eyes, nose, and mouth for signs of symptoms or injuries. Before transporting your pet to an emergency veterinary hospital, stabilize them on a flat, rigid structure like a board or pet carrier, or make a sling out of a blanket.
Does Your Pet Need to Go to an Emergency Veterinary Hospital?
While some injuries and conditions can be treated at home, others require emergency care. Take your pet to an emergency veterinary hospital if they:
- Are gasping for breath, choking, or showing signs of breathing problems
- Have a severe wound or injury, like a broken bone
- Have uncontrollable bleeding or a deep wound
- Are displaying neurological symptoms like loss of consciousness, seizures, confusion, trouble walking, or paralysis
- Won’t eat or drink
- Can’t urinate or defecate
- Have uncontrollable vomiting or diarrhea
- Have been exposed to a poison or toxin
- Were in a fight with another animal or were hit by a car
- Show signs of pain or discomfort
- Exhibit sudden and severe behavioral changes like fear, aggression, or lethargy
- Are not interested in food, drink, toys, treats, or their favorite activities
- Have swelling, redness, inflammation, or major skin irritation or injury
- Have an injury to their eyes, ears, or nose
- Can’t see or hear
- Have bloating or swelling in the abdomen
At All Pets Animal Hospital, we provide animal wellness solutions and veterinary care in Katy, TX. We are open Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call us now to schedule an appointment for routine veterinary care or to learn more about our pet wellness services. You can also book an appointment online.