Your dog can't nurse itself, so being a pet parent entails knowledge of what to do in an emergency health situation.

Being prepared for any emergency situation is an essential part of pet parenthood. A first aid kit can hold all the supplies needed to save your pet’s life in a health crisis. In a natural disaster, you can use the first aid supplies in the kit if veterinary attention is not available. Home treatment with a first aid kit is not a replacement for professional veterinary care, it is only intended to save your pet’s life and stabilize their condition.

Building Your Kit

Find a sturdy container that is water-tight and easily transportable to hold your supplies. Plastic is preferable, as metal tends to rust. Specialized first aid kit containers and ammo boxes are sold online; these can be appropriate containers. Make copies of important documents related to your pet, including adoption papers, veterinarian and shelter contact info, and the number of the pet poison hotline. A pet first aid booklet can be an important addition as well; they can be purchased at bookstores, veterinary clinics, pet supply stores, and online. Place these paper documents in a sealed Ziploc bag for safekeeping.

Tools in Your Kit

• Tweezers
• Tick tweezers
• Small magnifying glass
• Rectal digital thermometer
• Bandage scissors
• Plastic syringes (for giving medicine)
• Small flashlight
• Eyedropper

Medical Supplies to Include

• Medium and large sterilized gauze pads
• Cotton balls and swabs
• Elastic/ACE bandage wraps
• Splint materials (a paper towel tube or rolled up newspaper and cloth strips work well)
• Styptic pencil or powder
• Rubbing alcohol
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Topical antibiotic ointment
• Insect sting relief pads/pen
• Saline eye wash
• Instant cold pack
• Karo or glucose syrup (for diabetic animals)

Transporting Your Pet

Include an emergency blanket to protect your pet in case of hypothermia. A pillow case can help transport smaller dogs and cats during an emergency situation and keep the animal warm as well. A sturdy leash and muzzle can prove very useful to include in the kit; injured dogs can sometimes nip out of fear and pain.

You can customize your emergency first aid kit to meet your pet’s needs if they have a specific medical condition, like diabetes. If your pet has prescription medications, place samples in the kit as well, noting their expiration date. Check all medical supplies and sterilized bandages for an expiration date and note that on the outside of the case, replacing them as they go bad.

Putting together an emergency first aid kid for your pet can save their life if a critical health situation arises. Knowing what to do in an emergency situation is essential for the prepared pet parent, whether it’s a paw scrape or a torn ligament. Your pet will thank you, and so will your vet!

(*Estimated 90% of all pets will experience an emergency.  Source: petplace.com)

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