Summer first-aid kit: What shouldn’t be missing?

Weekend or holiday is here and you are thinking about  what to pack? You definitely shouldn’t forget your first-aid kit. And also the one for your dog! Properly equipped first-aid kit is a must. If you are struggling with deciding what should be inside, let’s have a look at it together.

At first, it is necessary to say that the content of the first-aid kit should be different for different season as well as for different terrains you take your dog with yourself to. Of course, you can buy a “complete” first-aid kit in a pet shop or e-shop with goods for pets. You can get one from two to several hundred crowns. But it is also good to check it and add something or take something you won’t need out.

What can a dog keeper find useful for the treatment of tiny injuries, cuts, poisoning, insect bites or stings? This definitely holds true: it is better to be prepared than surprised. Let’s start with universal equipment that is necessary. It’s the kit itself in the first place. It should be waterproof. Besides special cloth pockets, I also find plastic boxes useful. You can get more things inside and they are light.

Before you start getting things for the kit, put there a laminated card with the information about your dog. Not everyone takes their vaccination certificate or a dog’s card (you will receive it when you register in the National Network of Dog Keepers) with them as I do. You can also write numbers for dog emergency and your vet there. Trust me, you will be grateful for them when emergency comes.

These things should definitely be in the kit:

• Bandages (Besides a clean bandage, also sterile gauze can be useful. But in the case of emergency, any cloth and a bandage is enough. Pack several bandages. You may also use them to immobilize mouth.)

• Elastic bandage

• Plasters

• Dog shoes or at least a few socks

• A rehydration solution (Actually, it is a isotonic drink for dehydration and exhaustion. If you want to save space and you have packed a bowl of water, you can only pack powder and then mix it with water.)

• Disinfectant (A small ampule of Betadine is enough.)

• Traumacel (I recommend spray, not powder.)

• 3 % hydrogen peroxide (Not only good as a disinfectant for wounds but mainly when a dog is poisoned to induce vomiting!)

• A syringe, a plastic spoon, a cap (Mainly to administer diluted peroxide or other medicine your dog wouldn’t want to take. It may also be the isotonic solution.)

• Charcoal (Also used in the case of poisoning.)

• Special preparation against poisoning (Consult your vet what is the best for your dog. We found EnteroZOO useful and it can be also used preventively.)

• A pair of tweezers

We learn with experience. So I bought also Zyrtec for our first-aid kit which is (besides icing) the only help for insect stings. If you dog gets a sting around his mouth or directly to its tongue, immediately seek professional’s help. We also carry vitamin K after our experience with poisoning. It is not for first aid but it reduces the risk of potential consequences and helps recovery.

In the end, I would like to mention that a first-aid kit for dogs (at least the one you have at home not the one which is reduced to minimum for your trips) should include equipment for first aid delivery in general. And you should have medical aids that help you to stabilize the animal on your way to a vet, e.g. an immobilizing collar. It can even be inflatable. You can read in one of my older articles what a first-aid kit can contain.

And what is in your dog’s summer first-aid kit?