adria.richards, Flickr
Susan Nelson, an assistant professor of clinical sciences at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, agrees that "You never know when something is going to go wrong. But if you have everything together and in a certain place, you won't be worrying or wondering where it's at when something does happen."
We've broken the first aid supplies into several categories but you may also choose to buy a commercial pet first aid kit such as the one offered by the ASPCA which contains 126 items including a pet first aid guide. Whether using a commercial kit or creating one based on the suggestions here, you should personalize it based on your pet's needs, the number and type of animals you have and your own vet's recommendations.
The following items, however, are considered must-haves for your dog's or cat's first aid kit, according to Nelson and New Jersey-based veterinarian Jill Richardson.
Basic Medical Supplies
- Antibiotic ointment
- Gauze pads, gauze rolls, and medical tape
- Styptic powder to stop bleeding
- Hydrogen peroxide, 3% (to induce vomiting if a professional recommends)
- Saline solution (for flushing out eyes)
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Iodine (antiseptic)
Basic Equipment
- Muzzle (When a pet is in pain, it may bite.)
- Absorbent maxi pads (for absorbing any kind of liquid)
- Towels
- Tweezers (good for removing splinters and ticks)
- Scissors
- Rectal thermometer
- Book on pet first aid (such as the Red Cross first aid books for dogs and cats )
Other Things You May Not Have Considered
Make sure your pet sitter or pet hotel has a signed treatment authorization form so he/she can take the animal to a vet or hospital for treatment. Also have numbers for a vet, an emergency clinic, and ASPCA Animal Poison Control handy, says Richardson, who is also a co-owner of the dog-walking service My Dog Walks. Program the numbers into your cell phone, leave a copy with pet sitters, and stash another copy in your first-aid kit.
Also be sure to check out another article in Paw Nation's first aid series entitled Pet First Aid: 5 Things Every Dog and Cat Owner Should Know.
Most importantly in an emergency situation, remember, you are your pet's best ally. "Try to keep calm when an emergency happens," Richardson notes. "Take a deep breath and contact your vet right away for detailed instructions." Also remember that avoiding problems in the first place is the best strategy of all. "Make sure to be familiar with pet dangers," she says. "Preventing an emergency is much better than dealing with one."
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This is super helpful.
To take ticks off a human or animal just put some hand diswasher soap on a cotton ball and rub it in a circle on top of the tick. I never recall if it is clockwise or counterclockwise, but the tick will back out after 3 or 4 seconds. My pediatrician told me about this many years ago and it works well. Also, it doesn't leave any part of the tick behind. On kids the discomfort usually associated with a tick bite for a few days never seems to develop.
This is super helpful.
Don't use tweezers to remove a tick!
All you will accomplish is tearing the tick's body apart, leaving the "mouth parts" still embedded in your dog's skin. There is a wonderful little tool that is almost foolproof, it's called "Tick'd Off" and you can find it at lots of pet stores. I live in a natural wooded area with a lot of long grass and un-mowed areas, my dogs pick up ticks from time to time. This thing pulls them off in one try, gets the whole tick, and doesn't rip it's body in half.
Also, keep the dogs away from mushrooms. They can be VERY toxic, or make your dog violently ill at the very least. I learned this the hard way. If you use wood mulch in your yard, scan for mushrooms constantly! They literally sprout up overnight, so you have to be careful. I no longer use wood mulches in the "fenced area" that is set aside for the dogs to run around in. It was a pain anyway, it kept getting knotted up in their fur.
just put a few drops of mineral oil on to the tick both above it and under it/them. they will wiggle out so be aware you have to grab them, crush or cut them in half after you get it/them off of the dog. Always look under the tick, there is usually a smaller one underneath.
thanks for that helpful information
A completely safe and inexpensive way to get the ticks off of your pet is to place a drop of olive oil or vegetable oil on the pet's skin where the tick is attached. The tick will let go and you can pick it off without any danger to the pet. You can then dispose of the tick in whatever manner you wish.
Always keep a box of cornstarch on hand. It helps stop bleeding. We were told to use that for clipping our birds wings and feet if they have a bleeding problem. It works great. Heck, I've even used it for stopping a medium nosebleed. It works!!
This is just an added tip: My friend 's dog got very sick, cause unknown. She was not able to take him to a Vet. He was limp in her arms. I went over to the house and gave her some Enagic Kangen Alkaline Water and he was revived within 30 minutes and has been running around now for 3 years with no problems. The acidic water that it makes are also great for ticks and wounds. We love it. Anyone may call me if they need further details. Call Sharon 305-934-7207
I used a cotton ball soaked in salad oil put it on the spot of the tick and it will back out. hey have to have air.
this is good for anytype of infection there is cats in my area and of course I feed and take care of them after there owners moved away only thing cannt afford to take them to vet most of the time One came back beaten up really bad had a infected eye I thought the eye was gone if you would touch his face pus would come poring out his eye so I cleaned him up kept putting pepration H in his eye
took about a week and he started opening his eye if I would have taken him to a vet they would have probaly removed his eye it was so infected I have since used it on any type of wound that happens when cats get into fights he broke his leg bone sticking out put it on there bandaged his leg changed bandged every day and in about two weeks you would have never know it
Awh Gail, that is so nice and kind of you and the cat is very lucky to have you there. :)
salad oil/vasalin/shampoo/body wash, any thing that consticts the air flow will make the tick/ticks back out for air, then grab the "suckers" and sqwish em.
just in case your pet starts bleeding, you can use flour or corn starch on the wound to help the bleeding stop...it will coagulate the blood, and direct pressure like you would use on a person will help too
Flour will work as well as cornstarch for things like a claw/nail cut too short and it bleeds. Just stick the paw right in it.
Remember do not give these foods to dogs:
grapes or raisins, bread dough, chewing gum, nuts all choking hazards, nicotine is a poison as is chocolate, alcohol (as in booze), pain relievers will cause severe bleeding in your pet, tea or onions. I did have a vet tell me that a vomiting dog that seems just to have a tummy ache can be given about 1/4 for small dogs up to a full tsp of pepto bismal. I have given it to my yorkie a couple times and it always seems to calm his tummy. Just don't use it instead of a vets advice if they keep vomiting. It is really just for a one time thing like they got into something in the backyard like garbage and they upchucked it.
My Mini Schnauzer jumped up on the sofa one night and drank almost a WHOLE GLASS of red wine from the end table. It didn't affect her at all, but I have to keep drinks well out of reach from her, she seems to have developed a taste for the sauce! Her baby sister nearly died after eating a cigarette butt off the street when she was a puppy, I have to watch her like a HAWK. The little monster eats everything!
never feed your pet: alcohol, apple cores, avocado, bones, caffeine, cheese, choclate, dough, fat, garlic, grapes, ham, liver, moldy foods, mushrooms, onions, potato peels, raisins and tuna.
This is a very important article and i am surprised that more people didn't comment or read this yet. Like most people i am a big animal and i am devastated at when an animal dies or gets hurt, so get everyone you know to take these precautions to keep our important animals active,healthy and alive!!!
The coments are far better than the article, which is useless.