1st Care Vets

So you’re a pet owner, do you have a first aid kit for your furry friend?

All pet owners should have a basic kit of supplies and necessary information on hand. Carefully building a well-provisioned first aid kit can get you ready to deal with a medical emergency should one come up for your dog, or cat. Have this kit in the house (and know where it is!) and fully stocked at all times. The majority of these items can be purchased at your local drug store.

Emergency Contact Information

You want to have the following phone numbers handy, ideally these are written or typed on a piece of paper inside or on the outside of your first aid kit. Know these numbers before you need them! The last thing you want to be doing during an emergency is trying to google a vet hospital.

• Your pets primary Veterinarian
• The nearest Emergency Vet Hospital (a 24 hr hospital is best)
• Animal Poison Control Center – (888) 426-4435
• Your local city Animal Control

Build your Kit

• Gauze
• Non stick bandages
• Adhesive tape (do not use human band-aids)
• Hydrogen peroxide 3% (to induce vomiting)
• Activated Charcoal (to absorb poison)
• Thermometer (temperature must be taken rectally)
• Eye dropper or a large syringe without the needle (to give oral treatments or to flush wounds)
• Muzzle
• Spare leash

Additional Items

• Pet medical records (these should be kept close to your first aid kit)
• Vaccination records
• Blanket (to wrap your pet in)

Things can get a little crazy during an emergency, but a calm head will be your best defense in these situations. Always contact a Vet or Poison control before applying any treatments like inducing vomiting or anything else. Your first aid kit is meant to assist you in caring for your pet in a timely manner, but it should not be used in lieu of seeking professional assistance from a Veterinarian. Being well prepared to deal with an emergency followed directly by care from a vet can save your pets life.