What Should A Canine First Aid Kit Contain?
First Aid Kits for Dogs
When it comes to accidents and emergencies, it’s good to be prepared. It is important to keep a first-aid kit handy for the canines in your life.
Importantly, a first aid kit helps to prevent severe damage as an emergency involving your pet can occur at any time.
Carefully putting together a well-provisioned first aid kit will make you more ready to deal with a medical emergency if one confronts you for your pet including your dog.
Alternatively, you can buy one online already with everything you need for your dog.
Such emergencies need immediate attention as your vet can a bit far from your home or vicinity.
Not all first aid supplies are the same. A canine first aid kit should be positioned and packed in a way that ensures the most convenient use.
Common Accidents in Dogs that need a First Aid Kit:
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Fractures
Dogs can suffer from broken bones and other injuries due to their adventurous nature.
Dog Paw Bandaged After Injury
The most common areas they are affected with broken bones in a dog’s body are the spine, pelvis, femur, and jaw.
As a dog owner one can know is your dog has a fracture if the area is swollen, bone sticking out through the skin (also called an open fracture, which can cause a high chance of infection), twisted or deformed leg, and the inability of the dog to stand on its feet, among others.
Moreover, broken bones are painful, which may provoke the dog to bite in self-defense, therefore, the use of a muzzle is highly recommended.
If it is an open fracture clean the wound with clean sterile water and gauze pads. Wrap a clean bandage to the affected area.
When the fracture is serious and needs special attention call your vet for further instructions.
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Ingestion of Poison
A number of household items can be poisonous to your dog. Every dog owner needs to know what to do when the dog gets poisoned.
First identify the toxin so as to know how best to handle it. Your dog can be poisoned through inhaling, ingesting or absorbed through the skin.
Some of the most common are: ammonia, antifreeze, bleach, alcohol, detergents, disinfectants, dry-cleaning solution, fertilizer, furniture polish, toxic houseplants, smoke, and human medications to name a few.
Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, twitching, nervousness, convulsions, and death if serious.
Consult your vet as soon as your dog gets poisoned or call the Pet Poison Control hotline for further instructions. Importantly your vet can advise you to rush your dog to hospital depending on the poison or over the phone advice. One can induce vomiting in consultation with the vet.
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Insect Bites
Dogs are curious pets and like to sniff and peruse everywhere. They can be stung by bees, ants’ spiders or wasps.
Bee Sting on a Dog can be Dangerous
Most of these bites are poisonous and will make your dog swell or itch on the affected area or even cause shock if the venom is a lot.
If your dog has been bitten this may lead to infection so first thing is to keep the area clean.
First aid can start at home but when severe prompt action and rushing the dog to the vet can save his life.
Identify the cause of the bite and remove the stinger if it is a bee to avoid further poisoning.
Apply a cool pack of ice on the swollen area for 10 minutes or a cool towel if the area affected is large.
After consulting your vet give oral antihistamine (like diphenhydramine) to minimize the reaction and decrease itching.
Not only can you use the betadine from your first aid kit to clean around the wound but also clean the area with plain tap water to flush out bacteria.
Disinfect the wound as well as remove any dirt particles or hair on the wound slowly.
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Cuts
When your dog runs over broken glass he might injure his paws. Some glass may cut him while some can remain inside the paw making him feel pain and unable to walk.
If there is bleeding put something on top of the wound and put pressure on it to allow the small vessels to clot and stop seeping blood.
For small wounds use a gauze square but if it is large just grab a clean towel.
When the wound is deep and blood is gashing out and you are not able to clamp, take him immediately to the vet to prevent bleeding out to his death.
Regardless, if this occurs, clean the affected area with a disinfectant and apply a bandage on the affected area especially if bleeding is a lot.
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Cardiac Arrest
First Aid is given to a dog having cardiac arrest by professionals
It can be difficult to tell if your dog has a heart condition because the signs can be similar to those of other dog diseases.
Symptoms of heart conditions include breathing difficulties that include shortness of breath, reduced ability to exercise, reduced appetite and/or noticeable weight gain or loss, tiredness, fainting and swelling in the abdomen.
Cardiac arrest can also occur if the dog is obese as he can have difficulties in breathing.
Close monitoring of an animal after cardiac arrest is vital.
In case of any cardiac arrest check the cause then consult your vet for proper advice.
Preparing for Emergencies
Preparing from emergencies and having the first aid kit and the right skills can save a life even for your pet.
Assemble everything you’ll need in a first-aid kit for a canine medical emergency or health issue.
Subsequently, you also need to learn how to use the different items contained in it. Knowledge of using the items it important as it can make the difference between life and death anytime.
Canine first aid kits include a variety of items that will help treat cuts, scrapes, and injuries including sprains, burns, and supplies for a variety of ailments that are common.
You can either buy a prepared first aid kit from the internet or you can prepare your own first aid kit using a list of common items that are in a canine first aid kit.
Additionally, with a first aid kit, you can protect your dog when they get injured as it may be hard to prevent them from getting hurt.
Importance of First Aid to your Dog
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Saves Life
Importantly, as a dog owner, it is advantageous if you are trained as you are more likely to take immediate action in an emergency situation.
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Provides Comfort to the Dog
Undoubtedly, if you are trained and are versed with the first aid manuals, it is easy to keep your dog calm in case of an emergency. Subsequently, this helps the dog relax while his injuries are being treated and stabilized until emergency personnel arrive.
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Promote Safe Living
Knowledge of first aid promotes the sense of safety and wellbeing amongst you and your dog. Indeed you are more focused to access the situation in a calm way and give your dog the best care.
Essentials of a Canine First Aid Kit should contain:
- Different sizes of plasters.
- Antibiotic ointment.
- Sterile gauze dressings from small, medium to large.
- Safety pins.
- Hydrogen peroxide.
- Cleaning wipes or water in case of cleaning or wiping the injured area.
- Vaccination records and medical reports.
- Emergency numbers including vets no.
- Clean towel/bandages (triangular, square shapes even the normal).
- Vaccination and medical records.
- Emergency numbers including vets’.
- Tweezers and scissors.
- Disposable sterile gloves.
- Sticky tape.
- Antiseptic cream/tablets.
- Spray or ointment to relieve insect bites and stings.
Final Thoughts
A well-stocked first-aid kit, kept within easy reach, will be advantageous to your canine friend in times of emergencies. When traveling with your dog ensure to pack it along.
From the minor ailment to the more serious injury a canine first aid kit can help reduce the risk of infection or the severity of the injury.
