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Pet first aid kit items to have on summer adventures

By Wesley Coburn

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 16: A man kayaks at pier 64 during the 3rd phase of the coronavirus reopening on July 16, 2020 in New York, New York. Phase 3 permits the reopening of nail and tanning salons, tattoo parlors, spas and massages, dog runs and numerous other outdoor activities. Phase 3 is the third of four-phased stages designated by the state. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 16: A man kayaks at pier 64 during the 3rd phase of the coronavirus reopening on July 16, 2020 in New York, New York. Phase 3 permits the reopening of nail and tanning salons, tattoo parlors, spas and massages, dog runs and numerous other outdoor activities. Phase 3 is the third of four-phased stages designated by the state. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images) /
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A pet first aid kit is a good idea to have if you plan on going on adventures with your dog this summer.

But what should go into a pet first aid kit, exactly?

Mostly, the same stuff that would go into a human first aid kit, but just in case, Best Friends Animal Society has some tips to know what to pack.

Todd Fleming takes full advantage of the plethora of outdoor sports that the Utah landscape offers, which includes rock climbing, mountain biking, camping, and snowshoeing.

But it was on a kayaking trip with Todd’s brother-in-law Ben that they discovered the importance of having a pet first aid kit as part of their adventure gear.

Do you know what to pack into a pet first aid kit?

Todd’s five-year-old Rottweiler mix Jasper was playing in the water when somehow his front paw was injured and started bleeding profusely.

Thankfully, Ben created a bandage to slow down the bleeding during their 45-minute drive to the nearest emergency vet clinic, and jasper is doing fine now.

However, as Best Friends veterinarian Dr. Michelle Lugones says, situations like this emphasize the importance of a pet first aid kit.

“It’s important to have a pet first aid kit and know some basic skills because your pet could need first aid at any time, including when you least expect it,” Dr. Lugones said in a press release.

“During COVID it’s especially important because sometimes it’s not as easy to get supplies at the local store as it was before the pandemic. Veterinary care is still available and emergency rooms are up and running, but it’s always wise to have some first aid supplies in case you aren’t close to an emergency room. That way you have the ability to say, cover an open wound before you transport your pet to an emergency clinic.”

Best Friends suggests that the following items be included:

  • Book on pet first aid
  • Emergency contact info for your veterinarian, an emergency vet hospital, and a poison control hotline
  • Prescription medications, if your pet needs them
  • Self-adherent bandages
  • Gauze roll
  • Sterile gauze pads, in several sizes if possible
  • Ace bandage wraps
  • Anti-bacterial cream (like Neosporin)
  • Emergency blanket
  • Tweezers
  • Blunt scissors
  • Doctor exam gloves
  • Blood clotting powder
  • 10 ml sterile saline syringes
  • Hydrogen peroxide (3 percent)
  • Cotton balls and/or cotton swabs
  • Headlamp and/or flashlight
  • Muzzle (animals in pain are more likely to bite out of instinct)
  • Sling for hauling medium or large dogs
  • Collapsible water bowl

If you do go road tripping, be sure to check out the Chewy Spotify playlist created just for that purpose to make the drive pleasanter.

Next. Hank the Cowdog podcast episode 3 review. dark

Happy adventuring with your family and pups this summer!

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