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.
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?
If you have decided to buy a purebred cat, you still have a lot of questions ahead of you. Which breed should you choose? A female cat or a tomcat? A kitten or an adult? Only if you consider everything carefully, you'll get the right companion for...
Lots of rabbit lovers choose this breed mainly by its appearance. The cuter, the better. But maybe they don’t know that a certain kind from the order of lagomorphs lives in nature, and hardly any domestic rabbit can match it in its cuteness. The same...
If you've noticed that your fluffy friend excessively licks and nibbles at his paws, you should not leave it like that. It might have several causes. Whether it's a psychological problem, allergy, yeast or other problem, the situation must be...
Did you know that our senses include the perception of the magnetic field? While we have almost lost this ability already, dogs still have it and use it every day. Do you know for what?
The British Shorthair cat is without a doubt the most popular cat breed not only in the Czech Republic, but also in the rest of Europe. This is caused not only by its appearance of a small Teddy bear, but also a mild, trouble-free nature.
In individual rodents, we’ll find breeds that are more popular with breeders than others. One of those is the American Teddy, typical with its peculiar hair structure that gives it the appearance of a teddy bear.
There is certainly no doubt that the Labrador belongs among the best known and most popular dog breeds. The reason is his extraordinary versatility, adaptability, intelligence and loyalty. Like the British Shorthair cat, the Labrador Retriever can be...
To spend a few days outside of civilisation - in the forest, on the ridges of the mountains - away from the hustle of the cities, in the wilderness and ideally with your dog. An imaginary return back to nature is the trend that did not avoid even the...
Hunting and exercise. If the dog loves both these activities, then coursing is the perfect activity for it. This cross-country race is based exactly on the desire of the dog to catch its prey.
No matter how thorough we are with the prevention, a situation might come up when a dog or a cat will get to a poisonous thing, whether it’s by our inattention or it's somebody else’s fault. That’s why it’s not off-topic to prepare yourself for the...
Under the name of dogtrekking, imagine an orientation walk with the dog. Official rules rank it among extreme dog endurance sports.
There may be more causes of dog fear. And the first step to eliminate it is to find out its origin and cause.
