Since you never know when an accident will happen, keeping a pet emergency kit at your home is a good idea.

You can put a first aid kit together yourself and buy the items separately, or buy one ready-made. If you make one yourself, use a small plastic tub with a tight fitting lid to store the following items:

Important Phone Numbers

  • Veterinary clinic phone number and directions to the clinic
  • Emergency clinic phone number and directions
  • Poison control center phone numbers

Equipment and Supplies

  • Muzzle, or roll of gauze for making a muzzle
  • Magnifying glass
  • Scissors
  • Tweezers
  • Nail clippers and metal nail file
  • Styptic powder or sticks, Kwik Stop, or cornstarch
  • Penlight
  • Nylon slip leash
  • Eyedropper or oral syringe
  • Cotton swabs
  • Cotton balls
  • Clean towels – cloth and paper
  • Rectal thermometer
  • A lubricant such as mineral oil or KY Jelly (without spermicide)
  • Disposable gloves
  • Syringes of various sizes
  • Needle-nose pliers or hemostats
  • Grease-cutting dish soap
  • Bitter Apple or other product to discourage licking
  • Pet carrier
  • Towel or blanket to use as a stretcher, another to keep your dog warm during transport (some pharmacies and camping outlets carry a thermal blanket)
  • Cold packs and heat packs (wrap in a towel before using)
  • Stethoscope

Bandaging Materials

  • Square gauze of various sizes – some sterile
  • Non-stick pads
  • First aid tape – both paper (easily comes off of skin) and adhesive types
  • Bandage rolls – gauze and Vet wrap
  • Band-Aids (for humans)
Nutritional Support
  • A rehydrating solution such as Gatorade or Pedialyte
  • A nutritional supplement such as Nutri-Cal, Vitacal, or Nutristat
  • High sugar source: Karo syrup
Medicines*
  • Wound disinfectants such as Betadine or Nolvasan
  • Triple antibiotic ointment for skin
  • Antibiotic ophthalmic ointment for eyes, e.g., Terramycin
  • Eyewash solution
  • Sterile saline
  • Antidiarrheal medicine such as Pet Pectate
  • Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for allergic reactions (obtain dose from your veterinarian)
  • Cortisone spray or cream, such as Itch Stop
  • Ear cleaning solution
  • Hydrogen peroxide (used to make a dog vomit – only use as directed by a veterinarian)
  • Activated charcoal to absorb ingested poisons (consult your veterinarian before using)