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Emergency kit for dogs?!?

What are things every dog owner should keep around for pet emergencies?

What about basic first aid?!

I'm wondering in case if there's a tornado, fire, earthquake, etc. and a vet isn't an immediate option. AS much info as possible please, from our doggy section regulars, not people on here this morning that don't know what they are talking about!

Public Comments

1. There is a book put out by the Red Cross that goes through everything needed for a dog first aid kit, plus what do do in many situations for your dog. I bought mine at petsmart but I am sure you would be able to find one/order one at the bookstore.

2. I have one large and two small dogs. I keep:

Two gallons of water
5 pounds of dog food (two coffee cans full)
aspirin
benedryl
ace bandage
gauze
first aid tape
muzzle
hydrogen peroxide
big tweezers
clippers
scissors
extra collar
extra lead

I figure I can deal with just about anything for up to three days.

I hope I never have to test that theory.

3. Here is the list published by Dr. Andrew Jones a vet out of Canada who wrote "Veterinary Secrets Revealed"
You can buy a commercial Pet First Aid Kit If you want to make a First Aid Kit at home, include thefollowing items: 1. Rectal Thermometer: The new electronic kind works best. Electronic ones beep when they are finished registering a temperature, they are slightly smaller than the glass kind, and they do not break as easily. They can be covered with a thin sleeve to halt the spread of germs. They can also be used as oral thermometers. They do have a battery which will need replacing and they are more expensive then the glass ones. Normal canine temperature 101 to 102.5°F; (38-39.5°C); normal feline temperature 101 to 102°F (38-39°C).2. Lubricating jelly, to lubricate thermometer and wounds3. Gel packs that can be used for hot and cold compresses4. Adhesive tape to secure bandages- both non-stick tape and waterproof tape5. Blunt tipped scissors (a must for animal first-aid - used for cutting hair away from wounds)6. Bandage scissors7. Splints8. Alcohol swabs to sterilize instruments or small areas of skin9. Antibiotic ointment for wounds (not for eyes) (i.e. Polysporin, for non- puncture wounds)10. Contact lens solution for rinsing eyes, to clean wounds (water can be substituted)11. Cotton swabs (i.e. Q-tips)12. Chlorhexidine (brand name- Germi-Stat 2%) - a mild antibacterial soap for cleaning skin and wounds13. Sterile cotton or cotton balls14. Sterile Gauze Pads (the larger 4" size is better since it can easily be cut smaller if necessary)15. Rolls of gauze or cling gauze bandage (1-2")16. Hydrogen Peroxide - 10 ml every 15 minutes to induce vomiting in animals that have ingested a non-caustic poison17. Razor Blade can also be used to shave away hair and abrade the skin following a tick bite18. Stockingette to protect bandage on leg or foot19. Rubber bulb ear syringe - used for flushing eyes, ears, and wounds20. Forceps and/or tweezers21. Self-adhesive bandage (i.e. Vetrap)22. Numbers for the Animal Poison Hotline & Poison Control for Pets (800/548-2423 or 900/680-0000 both numbers charge a fee). The National Poison Control Hotlines for humans should also be included.23. Information card with your Veterinary Emergency Clinic Number24. Your pet's baseline Temperature, Pulse, Respirations and Weight25. A muzzle, or fabric to make one26. Bubble Wrap for making an emergency splint

4. Food, bottled water, bandages, antibiotic ointment, blankets, quick stop, leash, vet's telephone #, rabies vaccination certificate, bowls, life jacket, thermometer, peroxide, ID tag.

5. Towels (can help stop bleeding etc. and be used as a stretcher to move dogs that cant walk)
Bandages
Swabs
Betadine or dilute iodine (we use that a lot in Australia to help clean and prevent infection)
Some rope (use as a lead or can be used to make a muzzle incase the dog tries to bite)
And stuff you would find in a human kit like gloves, scissors, saline flush, thermo blakets and stuff like that??

6. A good pet first-aid book
Phone numbers:
Veterinarian
The nearest emergency veterinary clinic
A poison-control center or hotline
Paperwork:
Proof of rabies vaccination status
Copies of other important medical records
Rectal thermometer (your dog's temperature should not rise above 103°F or fall below 100°F)
Sterile gauze rolls and pads for bandages
Adhesive tape
Hydrogen peroxide
Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl)
Over-the-counter antibiotic ointment
Epsom salts
Tweezers
Petroleum jelly
Antiseptic lotion, powder or spray
A Nylon leash
A carrier for small dogs
Cotton balls or swabs
Splints and tongue depressors
Towels
A muzzle or strips of cotton to prevent biting
Penlight or flashlight
Scissors
Needle-nosed pliers
Ice pack
Plastic eyedropper or syringe
Sterile saline solution
Glucose paste or corn syrup
Styptic powder or pencil (sold at veterinary hospitals and pet supply stores)
Latex gloves
Ear-cleaning solution
Nail clippers


You never know what might happen so you should have all these things. :)


Also a bag of dog food and 5 gallons or so of water in your home in case your flooded in exc.

7. I will give you a list of everything I can remember that I have on hand for my dogs and emergency situations;

Hydrogen Peroxide, alcohol, gauze, vet wrap, Neosporin, Penicillin, baby asprin, sports tape, hemostats, kwik stop, syringes & needles, lactated ringers, 50% dextrose, pedialyte, gloves, and distilled water.

8. Peroxide, vet wrap, gauze, neosporin, quick stop, adhesive bandage tape, saline solution (like for contact lenses), scissors, ace bandage, thermometer, toenail clipper, bottled water

9. Besides what others said. You may want to set aside a few days worth of food and water for the dog. Write down any medical issues, contact numbers for you, your vet and maybe a few friends, the animals schedule and special needs.

Hydrogen Pr oxide is also good. You can use it to make them vomit if they eat something bad. But check with your vet about your animals weight and dosage.

10. We have a first aid kit as well as an emergency evacuation Kit. I'll give you the links that we used to build ours:

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1677&articleid=2886

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1677&articleid=2881

We keep the first aid kit in the car so that we have it when we go camping, hiking, etc.
Make sure you account for any kind of natural disasters that occur in your specific area. For example, in my area, the most likely reason I would be evacuated would be due to a fire so I make sure that the evac kit is stocked up with lots of water, towels, even face masks for us to keep ash out of our mouths. I was evacuated once in San Diego and realized how unprepared I was, so god forbid if there is a next time, we will be prepared!

EDIT:

Austinville, that is really thought provoking. I don't think this is something that has crossed many people's minds, including my own. i pray that i am never in that situation.

11. While I'm sure others know much more than I, there is one thing that needs to be added to the listings that I haven't seen.....

This would be a way to end your pet's life should situation dictate....

Before you 'thumbs down' please note that about a month ago we had a severe tornado strike locally. While damages were devastating to humans, I cannot begin to tell you the horror stories that I personally witnessed and have heard about since that day. Suffice it to say, I saw more than one pet owner who KNEW their pet was suffering from injuries and had no chance of recovery. And there they were, trying to be the best pet parent and end the pain for their four-legged family.........one local vet was out of town, the other couldn't get to every pet.

Unfortunately, these are scenes I won't soon forget. But a lesson was learned and I've included a way to end the life of my best buddy, sad as that is. And I know that if the roles were reversed, he would do the same for me......