Pet First Aid Essentials: Building Your Emergency Kit

By Carol Bryant, Professional Pet Blogger

Just as people have first aid kits for unexpected mishaps, the same holds true for our beloved pets. Dogs, cats, reptiles, small animals, and birds should have a well-stocked emergency kit tailored to their species.

A few years back, I was out on a trail walking with my Cocker Spaniel, Dexter. It was a serene summer morning until he suddenly squealed in pain. Lifting his paw in the air, I saw a bee’s stinger lodged in his paw pad. Reaching for our canine first aid essentials kit, I administered one Benadryl at the appropriate dosage for his weight. I had previously asked my veterinarian about this, so I knew it was safe. Using tweezers from the kit, I carefully removed the stinger lodged in his paw pad. We carried on after putting a few kisses and ZYMOX Topical Cream with 0.5% hydrocortisone on the affected area. April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month, but a well-stocked pet first aid kit is a year-round must-have. Here’s what we recommend every pet parent should have in their pet’s emergency kit.

Essential Medical Supplies

Essential items are items that are conducive to your pet’s lifestyle. For example, an active sporting dog’s first aid kit would look different from a reptile’s emergency kit.

In general, here are some items to build the foundation of your pet’s emergency kit:

• Bandages, wraps, gauze
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Cleaning agent
• Wet wipes
• Cotton balls
• Pet thermometer
• Scissors and tweezers
• Magnifying glass (with built-in light)
• Leash and collar
• First aid guide for your species
• ZYMOX® topical spray or topical cream with 0.5% hydrocortisone
• Soft muzzle
• Travel bowl
• Disposable gloves

Keep a mini first aid kit in the vehicle you spend the most time in with your pet when traveling and have another for when you are out walking, on day trips, or traveling. You can buy most of the above items on Amazon or your local pharmacy and stock up.

PRO TIP: If you already have a pet first aid kit, check the expiration dates and toss any older products. Replace with fresh items.

Stabilizing Tools and Medications

In addition to your pet’s basic items, keep any ongoing and/or emergency medications in the kit and out of the sunlight. Most medications must be stored in a cool, dark place.

Medications vary by species but include things like:

• Antihistamines
• Antiemetic (call poison control or your veterinarian before inducing vomiting)
• Chlorhexidine wash (0.5%)
• Antiseptic spray
• Diarrhea or constipation medications

If your pet is injured and cannot be lifted or carried without assistance, you’ll need stabilizing tools and supplies. Stabilizing tools include a splint, bandages, and blanket so two people can lift the pet.

Emergency Contact Information and Resources

If something happens to you while walking your pet, having an emergency identification lot is handy. PetHub’s QR Pet Comprehensive Identification Mini ReadyKit comes with emergency cards, a QR wallet and keychain card and much more. When traveling, I carry my dog’s notebook of medical records is his DogMinder journal. Whenever something happens or should I need to remember something, I jot it down easily for future reference.

PRO TIP: When traveling, plug in the locations and phone numbers of the closest emergency veterinarian to the area you are staying. I’ve done this on every trip and had to use it a few times. It’s ideal to have so you don’t panic if emergency care is needed.

Premade Pet Emergency First Aid Kits

If you’d prefer a less hands-on solution, plenty of pet first aid kits are available online. Some are better than others, so read the contents closely.

I prefer to build my own and add exactly what items I want. However, here are a few first-aid kits for pets by species:

Birds: Ava’s Avian First Aid Kit (from Etsy)

Reptiles: Reptile First Aid Emergency Kit (from Reptanical Shop)

Pocket Pets and Small Animals: Pocket’s Pet Ouch Pouch (from Etsy)

Cats: Rayco Cat First Aid Kit (from Amazon)

Dogs: Kurgo Portable First Aid Kit for Dogs (from Amazon)

Don’t forget to visit the Amazon ZYMOX store to add items to your pet’s first aid kit. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

About the Author

Gayle King introduced Carol Bryant as a “dog lover of the highest order” when she and her Cocker Spaniel, Dexter, appeared on Oprah Radio. Carol is well-known in the pet industry, having appeared on television, radio shows, and podcasts, as well as in articles from CNN and Yahoo to Dogster and Today.com. She is the founder of the award-winning blog FidoseofReality.com and is the Immediate Past President of the Dog Writers Association of America.