National Pet First Aid Awareness Month is an effort by the American Red Cross to bring attention to knowing pet first aid. Did you know you can attend a first aid course for your pet? You can learn CPR and other helpful life-saving skills about seizures, choking, splinting an injury, and much, much more.
One thing that you may not have considered before is creating a pet-specific first aid kit for your car or your backpack when out on nature walks or hiking trips.
Here are some important items that you should consider including in your pet’s first aid kit:
- A typed out paper with important numbers for your pet: your vet, an emergency vet, and poison control are good places to start
- Vaccination records and a picture of you and your pet with your contact information in a waterproof zip lock bag
- An extra nylon leash
- Self-cling bandages you can purchase from a pet store
- Muzzle or strips of cloth to prevent biting (should not be used if your dog is vomiting, coughing, or having breathing issues)
- Gauze pads
- Tape
- Antiseptic wipes for you and your pet
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Disposable gloves
- Small tube of Vaseline for thermometer lubrication
- Rectal Thermometer (remember that your pet’s temp should never rise above 103˚F or below 100˚F)
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Pillowcase (this can safely confine a cat if necessary)
- Ear Cleaning Solution
- Benadryl for allergic reactions or bug bites (make sure you ask your vet for specific dosages ahead of time)
