April 17 2025 | Allison Gross, DVM
It’s a ruff world out there – injuries, big or small, can happen to our pets as well! We recommend keeping a Pet First Aid kit on hand when you are traveling or may not have quick access to veterinary care. First aid kits can be purchased online, but you can make your own as well!
Here’s what you should stock:
Bottled water for drinking or flushing wounds
Collapsible bowls
Kibble and/or treats to coax them to the car or a safer place
Small flashlight
Disposable gloves for you to keep from introducing additional foreign material
Tweezers for removing stingers, ticks, and other foreign materials
Antiseptic and wet wipes for everything from wiping their paws to disinfecting a wound
Benadryl for mild allergic reactions to stings, bites, or ingestions
Gauze, tape, elastic wrap, scissors
Cotton balls or swabs
Ready Rescue™ for toxin ingestion (do NOT induce vomiting unless consulting a veterinarian or poison control center first)
Antibiotic ointment to help prevent infection, relieve pain, and act as a barrier to bacteria and germs
Styptic powder for stopping minor bleeding
If you want to go all out, consider adding these items as well:
Clean towels to clean a wound, act as stretcher, or wrap an anxious pet in
Emergency blanket for cold environments or a pet that is in shock
Saline solution for flushing wounds/eyes
Eye dropper or syringes for flushing wounds or administering oral medications
Canine-specific aspirin/ibuprofen (felines should only be given NSAIDs provided by a veterinarian)
Butterfly wound closure
Rectal thermometer as well as a water-based lubricant
Burn relief gel
Cold compress for decreasing swelling and inflammation