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9 Most Important Things To Keep In Your Pet's First Aid Kit

August 06, 2021

By pawTree Home Office

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9 Most Important Items to Keep in Your Dog’s First-Aid Kit

When accidents happen (and they unfortunately do), nothing is better than having a solution to the problem on hand.

As pet parents, we all know the fear of anything happening to our fur babies. With an excited pup or kitty, a simple playdate can result in a small cut or scrape, and letting them roll around in the mud could lead to a bug bite that could be treated at home. It could be at the lake, the park, or walking down the street, but the constant need to protect our pets from harm's way will always be present.

It’s always a great idea to keep a first-aid kit on hand, whether you’re on the go, traveling, calming your fur-baby at a stressful time — or dealing with a bump, scratch or bruise.

These are the top 10 items you should include in your pet’s first-aid kit, so you can be ready to help your furry family member in the best way possible, if an emergency should arise and before you’re able to seek proper medical care.

Top 9 Items to Include in a Pet First Aid Kit

It’s perfectly fine to have more than 9 items in your pet's emergency healthcare kit, but these are the most highly recommended by pet care experts.

1. Pet Health Records

Documentation of your pet's health history:

  • Known Allergies
  • Medications
  • Vaccinations
  • Age & Weight
  • Veterinarian Phone Numbers and Address

This information can be helpful in case you need to get your furry friend some extra help.

2. Antibiotic Ointment and/or Antiseptic Spray

Be sure to use only wound-care treatments that are safe for your dog or cat.

If your pet gets a small cut or scratch, antibiotic ointments will help to:

  • Prevent infection.
  • Relieve pain.
  • Act as a barrier from bacteria and germs.

Since even minor cuts and scrapes can lead to a lot of major health problems if they become infected, it is better to be prepared to treat them right away.

3. Water

It’s not only useful for rehydrating your pet, but also for:

  • Flushing wounds.
  • Soothing burns.
  • Washing off toxins.
  • Soaking a paw.
  • Cooling an overheated pet.

In a lot of these situations water is essential — so make sure to keep a gallon of water in your first-aid kit, along with a collapsible dish in case you are away from home.

4. Materials to clean and disinfect wounds

  • Gauze, and Clean Rags:
    • Help control bleeding.
    • Keep wounds clean until they can be treated by a veterinarian.
  • Non-Adhesive Vet Wrap:
    • Does not stick to animal fur and is easier to remove.
  • Duct Tape:
    • For holding temporary wraps or splints.

These things should be included, so you can help your pet before getting them to an experienced professional.

Materials to clean and disinfect wounds

5. Appropriately-Sized Towel or Blanket

Wrapping your pet snugly in a soft, clean towel or small blanket can help keep your pet:

  • Calm and contained during an emergency vet visit.
  • From struggling while receiving treatment.

6. Small Packs of Food

A zippered bag of food, along with a couple of collapsible pet bowls, is ideal to keep in your pet's first-aid kit — and handy to bring with you when traveling. This item will help your pet feel at home during an emergency.

7. Calming Chews and/or a Favorite Toy

It's important to try to keep your pet as calm and relaxed as possible during any unfortunate event. Calming chews, like Chillax from pawTree, or the Chillax to the Max CBD Bones for dogs, are a great way to:

  • Naturally relieve the anxiety of a pet health emergency.
  • Keep your furry friend focused on something else.
  • If your pet has a favorite toy, make sure you add it to your emergency first-aid kit, as well.

The key is to make them feel safe and comfortable, and things that remind them of home are likely to help with that.

8. Pet-safe Cleanser

Pet shampoo or even liquid dish soap are useful for removing toxic chemicals from your pet's skin and coat. Be sure to cleanse gently and use plenty of water to rinse away toxins and the cleanser.

9. Treats

We all know that nothing takes the edge off like a favorite treat, so keeping tasty treats in your emergency kit is essential. Delicious, healthy treats like pawTree pawTreats are great for:
Distracting your pet from the stressful situation.
Rewarding your brave little buddy for getting through an unpleasant experience.

Bottom line: Accidents are bound to happen sooner or later, but being prepared can lead to positive outcomes. Having this pet first-aid kit on hand will reduce your furry friend’s small hiccups, like scrapes and bruises, all while making you feel more at ease in what could be a stressful situation.