Assemble Your Own Kit With These Basics

Commercial first-aid kits for pets offer convenience with their containers and
individual packets of materials. But you can easily assemble your own. If you already have a kit for people, simply add vet wrap and gauze in sizes to accommodate dogs.
If you're buying individual items for a kit, these are the basics and their application:
• Gauze
• Sterile pads
• Vet wrap, a self-clinging elastic wrap
• Scissors
• Styptic pencil or powder to stop nails from bleeding if they were cut too close
• Tweezers or forceps
• Triple antibiotic ointment to inhibit bacterial growth and infection
• Antiseptic to help prevent infection in minor cuts
• Hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching caused by insect bites and allergies
• Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine
• Cold pack to reduce swelling
• Eye wash to rinse foreign objects or dust out of the eyes
• Hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting. If possible, check the Labe of the poison to see if induction is appropriate; sometimes it can worsen poisoning.
• Antiseptic wipes to clean your
hands or a cut on the dog
• Alcohol prep pads to clean scissors and tweezers before use. They should not be used directly on a wound.
• Muzzle
• Latex gloves
• Instruction booklet
• Phone numbers of emergency providers
Whether you buy or make your own kit, check it annually to make sure all products are intact. Antiseptic wipes can dry out. Extreme temperatures can ruin some products kept in the car. Also check products with expiration dates to make sure they're current.

FROM: CUMMINGS SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AT TUFTS UNIVERSITY