Keeping a first aid kit in your home is as important for your pet as it is for the rest of your family. While first aid performed on your pet at home is not a substitute for professional veterinary care, minor scrapes, abrasions and insect stings can easily be treated at home.
Please keep the following Pet safety items in a convenient place in your home. (And remember to always keep them out of reach of children.)
- Sharp scissors with rounded safety tips
- Tweezers - to remove thorns, splinters and ticks
- Antihistamine spray for insect bites
- First aid ointment
- Steptic powder to stop minor bleeding (as from clipping a toenail too short)
- Cotton swabs - to cleanse your pet's ears or to apply ointment
- Gauze pads - to be used as a compress
- Medical tape - to use as bandage adhesive
- Non-stinging iodine solution which can be diluted with water - to cleanse wounds. (Always be sure to dilute it.)**
- An extra collar with id tags and leash
- An extra copy of your pet's medical records
- Photos of your pet (in case they get lost)
- The name and address of our office, as well as the address and phone number of the emergency clinic
**Avoid using peroxide or alcohol to clean wounds or ears. Peroxide foams and becomes unpleasantly warm and alcohol stings. Instead, clean wounds with warm water and antibacterial soap or diluted non-stinging iodine solution.
Are you prepared for an emergency? In our region, natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes are a real concern. Don't forget about your pet when you are making your emergency plans. If your pet requires daily medication or special food, make sure you have extra on hand.
