Pet First-Aid Kit Essentials for Your Furbaby

As devoted pet parent, we have mountains of pet toys scattered throughout our home. Pet toys keep our furbabies entertained and active. Pets will be pets and occasionally they hurt themselves. As a pet owner, there’s nothing more frightening than an emergency situation where your pet is injured, sick, or stuck. Every second counts. If you are not prepared, you may waste valuable time searching for the tools and supplies you need to care for your furbaby.

A pet first-aid kit is not a replacement for a veterinarian in the event of a serious injury. For minor battle wounds, we do encourage all pet parents to assemble the below essentials into a pet first-aid kit.

Below are the essential to get your Pet’s First-Aid Kit started:

1. Bandages are found in every Pet First Aid Kit

Stock some gauze or clean bandages to help control bleeding in an emergency. Keep wounds clean and get treatment from a veterinarian urgently. For furry furbabies we recommend that you use non-adhesive wrap to avoid bandages sticking to your pets fur.

2. An Emergency Contact List is vital

In crisis situations it is common for people to panic and forget. Preparing an emergency contact list for your first-aid kit will assist you in the event that you forget important contact numbers. First contact must be your vet, insurance provider and other emergency hotlines such as animal poison control. A trusted friend, who can keep you calm, is also a great addition to your emergency contact list.

3. Medical Records help

In any emergency situations, medical records are vital to help a vet assess the situation completely. Current vaccinations, medications, previous illnesses or surgery help the vet identify new symptoms. Avoid guessing your pets medical history and keep everything easily accessible in your kit should the need arise.

4. Medications

Along with any regular medications or treatments that your pet is taking, keep these three medications in your kit. Styptic powder which is good for small cuts or grazes. This powder is used to quickly stop bleeding and promote clotting, and some include antibacterial properties. It’s most commonly used by groomers who accidentally trim pets nails too short. It’s good for torn nails in an emergency setting, but can also be used on small cuts and grazes. Diphenhydramine (antihistamine) for mild allergic reactions, and Sugar Tablets for pets with low blood sugar or diabetes.

5. Ointments

There’s a wide array of ointments existing but no you don’t necessarily need to put them all in your kit. We recommend triple antibiotic ointment (like Neosporin or Polysporin) as a must-have in any pet first aid kit. It’s best to use when attending minor cuts or scratches to prevent infection.

6. Pet Scissors

Normal scissors will do. If possible, purchase bandage pet scissor which have a “safe” edge that can help you cut bandages near your pet’s skin without the risk of cutting and injuring your pet further. If your pet becomes twisted in a leash, seat belt, or other, scissors are usually the fastest way to free them. You can also use pet scissors to trim their hair in between grooming or to remove objects caught in their fur.

7. A Pet Splint

Fractures or bone dislocations are common. If this does occur – a plastic or wooden splints to help the injury stay in place and steady will help manage your pets pain. Always remember that if your pet is in enormous pain they may panic and become aggressive, so always be careful.

8. Oral syringe

An oral syringe is handy even if your pet doesn’t usually need any oral medications. You can use this to flush your pet’s eye, clean a wound, or even give your pet fluids if they are severely dehydrated.

9. Sterile Saline Eye Wash

As a human you can probably relate to eye irritation. If something is irritating your pet’s eyes, you may need to flush their eyes with a saline solution. You can find saline solution at your local pharmacy. Do not confuse eye wash for multipurpose solution, as this contains ingredients that are not suitable for pet eyes.

10. Tweezers

Fight ticks with a mighty sword… I mean with your tweezers. Never extract a tick with your bare hands. Tweezers can also be used if your pet has had a fight with a cactus or other thorny plant.

11. Toenail trimmers

Pet toenail trimmers can be a useful tool to have on hand, even if your pet gets regular pet-icures. You never know when your pet will rip or break a toenail, and being able to remove the broken part of the nail can keep them from catching it on something else and injuring themselves further. It is often difficult to identify the pet nail from your pets toes. So before using pet toenail trimmers we recommend that you ask your vet or groomer for advice or better a lesson.

Congratulations! By being responsible and preparing an emergency safety kit for your favourite fur friend, you have leveled up to elite pet parent status. Knowledge is power. So now that we’re prepared for the worst, let’s hope for the best.

Your pet is a champion, so treat him like one. Shop www.pettrotters.com.au for all of your pet supply needs.