Are you wanting to get prepared for the worst when it comes to your dog? Or want to be ready when some minor injury happens? I have been wondering about creating a First Aid Kit for Bella. We have a complete medicine cabinet for ourselves, but nothing for her.
Also, Emily and I live in Kansas. Having a First Aid Kit setup for Bella can help us in case we have to run for cover because of a tornado. No matter your situation, a First Aid Kit for your dog can be beneficial in any disaster situation.
After doing some research, here is what I found out. This is your guide to creating your own first aid kit for your dog. If you are not a do it your selfer there are several dog first aid kits available for purchase. For a complete list of packages and prices, check out Amazon here, Dog First Aid Kits, what is in them, and prices vary from $12.00 to $100 plus.
What goes into a First Aid Kit for a dog?
This is your dog’s First Aid Kit, so you can make the kit work for your needs by putting as little or as much as you want into it. However, the purpose of this kit is to be small. Yet provide a significant impact on having the right things that could be used for multiple scenarios; falls, attacks, and cuts, to name a few.
Do you know how to help your dog?
If Bella were choking, I wouldn’t know how to help her. If her heart rate were out of control, I would not know what a regular heart rate is. I also wouldn’t know an average dog temperature.
Luckily, I found a FREE guide from Kurgo.com. This is a downloadable PDF that gives you free information on how to handle all of the following.
- Bug Bites
- Bleeding
- Shock
- Poison
- Burns
- Dehydration
- Heatstroke
- And much more!
I would recommend downloading this PDF and emailing it to yourself. This way, you always have a copy on your phone via your email. Or you can take it a step further and put it in your DIY Dog First Aid Kit by printing it out.
Click here to get the Pet First Aid Pocket Hand Book.
Items To Include In Your DIY Dog First Aid Kit
There are 14 things listed below you will want to include in your Dog First Aid Kit. What is not included in this list is the Pet First Aid Pocket Handbook I mentioned above, because this can be on your phone. But obtaining a guide book to pet first aid is the first thing you will need to do. And if you don’t want the version I found there are more thorough books and pocketbooks available for purchase. Here are some dog first aid handbooks for sale on Amazon, Dog First Aid Books.
| Vaccinations/ Medical Records |
| Emergency Contacts |
| Poison Control |
| Saline Solution |
| Antiseptic Wipes |
| Exam Gloves |
| Gauze |
| Elastic Bandage (Coban) |
| First Aid Tape |
| Tweezers |
| Scissors |
| Small Towel |
| Large Plastic Bag |
| Flash Light |
Vaccinations/ Medical Records
Having your dog’s medical records and vaccinations easily accessible is vital in emergency situations. In the event you are unable to see your regular veterinarian, you will have everything the emergency vet will need to help your dog. And these records will help allow the emergency vet to assess the medical history of your pet quickly.
Emergency Contacts
Yes, you should have these numbers saved on your phone. But it is nice to have these numbers in your dogs First Aid Kit in the event someone else is watching your dog, and they need these numbers.
What numbers should you include?
- Dog’s Veterinarian
- Also, include address
- Local Dog Emergency Room
- Also, include address
- Your Cell Phone Number
Poison Control
If your dog is like my Boston Terrier, Bella, she loves to eat and lick everything. There is a substantial chance in your life as a dog owner, you will have an incident where your pet eats or drinks something that can be poisonous.
Yes, there is a poison control hotline you can call for your pet. It is operated by ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). This poison control specifically helps pet owners and pet-related poison incidents. The phone number is listed below:
1-888-426-4435
I also recommend visiting their website found here, ASPCA Poison Control Website. This site has many helpful articles about items that can be poisonous to your dog like chocolate, household products, and plants.
Saline Solution
Saline solution is simply a sodium chloride and water solution that can be used to help clean wounds. I personally would use this solution over using tap water on cleaning Bella’s wounds. Saline solution is also to help flush out a dog’s eye if something irritating is in it, as well as helping with your dog’s dry eyes.
You can find many saline solutions on Amazon, ranging in prices from the single to double digits. Check out the saline solutions available on Amazon here, Saline Solutions.
Antiseptic Wipes
These wipes are used to help sterilize an area on your dog’s body. Using a wipe is also less messy than using a bottle full of liquid.
The prices of these wipes can vary greatly. To see a whole list of wipes available, as well as costs, check them out here on Amazon, Antiseptic Wipes.
Exam Gloves
Yes, I know. If my dog is injured, I’m not going to care about putting gloves on, I just want to save my dog. I get it. However, having exam gloves on will help you keep the wound clean by not spreading germs from your hands into your dog’s wounds.
Chances are you are not going to be able to wash your hands before you apply some type of first aid to your dog. By wearing these gloves, you are at least doing the next best thing by creating a barrier between possible contaminants on your hands and your dog’s body.
Check out the varying prices and options here on Amazon, Exam Gloves.
Gauze
This is a must when it comes to creating your dog’s First Aid Kit. Gauze is used to dress wounds. Unlike other materials, gauze will not stick to the wound or burn.
In the event your dog does become injured, you would place gauze over the wound. Next, you would secure the gauze with an elastic bandage, Coban, or first-aid tape. If you have nothing available to ensure the gauze in place, you could always use a shirt or other cloth item available.
You can find several different gauzes on Amazon with varying prices. Check out the gauze on Amazon here, Gauze.
Elastic Bandage
An elastic bandage is a stretchable material that you can use to apply pressure. If you are an athlete or you were an athlete in high school, chances are you have ran across this type of bandage. It is commonly used to help muscle sprains and bone fractures.
You can use this on your dog if they sprang their leg or use it to keep gauze in place and apply pressure.
Watch this video to learn how to wrap a dogs leg:
There are once again, many different types of elastic bandages to include sports bandages. Check out the complete list here on Amazon for varying types and prices, Elastic Bandages.
First Aid Tape
This type of tape is essential in your first aid kit. It is flexible and will stick better than adhesive tapes you find in stores, as well as being water-resistant. This tape is what you would use first to cover gauze.
Check out the number of first aid tapes available and pricing on Amazon. Rember the goal is to make this kit a complete resource, but also make it on a budget. The prices and amount of tape you can find on Amazon vary wildly. Here are your options, First Aid Tape.
Tweezers
Tweezers are a great tool to have in your First Aid Kit for several reasons. Here is the complete list:
- If your dog gets something in its paws.
- To remove ticks off your dog.
- Tweezers can remove splinters in your dog’s mouth or on their tongue.
- If your dog gets something in its nostrils, tweezers would be handy.
Tweezers are very inexpensive. I’m sure you already have some in your personal medicine cabinet. However, I recommend having a separate pair for your dog in its Dog First Aid Kit. Having a pair already in the First Aid Kit allows for easy access because everything you need for your dog is in one easy to find place.
Check out the varying prices and options here on Amazon, Tweezers.
Scissors
You will need a pair of scissors in your First Aid Kit for the apparent reason of cutting the first aid tape to length. However, here are some reasons you may need scissors in your First Aid Kit you haven’t thought of:
- If your dog is at the dog park lake and gets caught in the fishing line.
- Your dog could wrap cloth or rope around its kneck where scissors are a necessity.
- Removing carpet caught in your dog’s nails. (This really happened to me…it could have been because Bella’s nails were a bit too long, but I needed scissors to free her from the carpet monster)
Once again, you will need to find the most cost-effective pair to make this DIY Pet First Aid Kit economical. Here is the Amazon link to find a variety of pet scissors and prices, Scissors.
Small Towel
This small towel can be used to clean up whatever mess was made from the accident where you needed a First Aid Kit. Or this small blanket could be used to comfort your dog while you treat their injury. If you don’t want to spend money on a little blanket, you could instead use a shower towel that could efficiently serve as a comfort blanket and clean up rag.
Large Plastic Bag
You will want to have a large plastic bag to place the trash you will have after bandaging up your dog. Simply use a Ziploc gallon bag.
Flash Light
The last thing you are going to want in your dog’s First Aid Kit is a flashlight. A flashlight is helpful for many different reasons, besides the obvious need for light if it is dark.
- Looking into your dog’s nostrils.
- Trying to see in your dog’s mouth.
- Trying to find a splinter in your dog’s paws.
Where should you put your Dog’s First Aid Kit?
I recommend putting your Dog’s First Aid Kit under the bathroom sink with your personal first aid items. However, this choice is totally up to you. If you are someone who is always on the go, it may be a better idea to have your Dog’s First Aid Kit in the car.
Place the kit in an area where you and your dog spend the most time. Either in the car, your home, or another location you spend most of your time.
Should you put food in your Dog First Aid Kit?
I would not recommend putting food or water in the First Aid Kit. The items listed above can last a long time. However, if you put water and food in the kit, you’ll need to change these items out more frequently than the none perishable items I mentioned putting in the kit.
Final thoughts…
Having a Dog First Aid Kit helps you be more prepared. This preparedness will hopefully make you feel more confident as a dog owner. Because if something wrong happens, you at least have a plan on what you need to do. You have a Pet First Aid Pocket Hand Book, a First Aid Kit, and contact numbers of people who can help. I hope nothing bad ever happens to you or your dog, but you are now ready!