Pet Sitters On-The-Go First Aid Kit

This month is Red Cross Pet First Aid Awareness month.  I plan to run a series of articles here to make sure that as a pet sitter you are prepared to care for your clients pets in an emergency situation.

If you are a pet owner or pet sitter you should have a first aid kit for the pets in your care so that you are prepared to respond in an emergency.  You can put together your own kit or you can purchase a kit – either way make sure you know what you have in the kit so that you won’t have to be searching through it to see what you have when time is critical.

Here is a list of recommended contents for your portable pet first aid kit.

Pet First Aid Kit Contents

Dressing & Bandages:

1. Adhesive Tape (1 inch roll)
2. Gauze Pads (3 or 4 inch square)
3. Gauze Rolls (2 inch for small pets, 3 inch for big dogs)
4. Triangular Bandages
5. Individually-Wrapped Sanitary Napkins

Instruments:

1. Digital Thermometer (check battery twice a year)
2. Scissors (blunt end)
3. Tweezers
4. Eye Dropper
5. Syringe (12cc with needle removed)

Ointments, Disinfectants & Medications:

1. Antihistamine (gel caps in blister pack, poke hole in cap and squirt into pets mouth)
2. Antibiotic (triple) – ex. Neosporin
3. Hydrogen Peroxide (3%)
4. Mercurochrome
5. Vinegar or Baking Soda (a mild alkali for neutralizing burns caused by acids)
6. Activated Charcoal (for absorbing poisons)
7. Petroleum Jelly (or other sterile lubricant for thermometer)
8. Kaopectate
9. Chemical Ice Pack

Miscellaneous Equipment & Supplies:

1. Small Flashlight
2. Needle Nose Pliers
3. Q-tips
4. Betadine Solution
5. Razor Blades
6. Extra Leach and Collar
7. Muzzle
8. Plastic Bags (for clean up or samples)
9. Permanent Marking Pen
10. Photo of You and Your Pet
11. Towel or Blanket (large enough to transport pet)
12. Gloves (Latex or Nitrile)

 After putting together all of your kit contents, place them in a portable container for easy access. Remember to replace all items after each use and update twice a year.

These items should fit in a fanny pack for walks or hikes with your dog.

If you do prefer to purchase a pre-made pet first aid kit I recommend the two kits available from Wag’N Enterprises.  I met company owner Ines at the PSI conference in February. She has some great pet supplies, first aid kits and emergency kits for pets at  Wag’N Pet First Aid and Emergency Store.

I’ll be covering the use of your pet first aid items in coming posts. If you would like to attend a Pet Tech Pet Saver first aid course – I will be holding my first class in DFW on May 2nd at the NE Tarrant County Chamber of Commerce offices in Halthom City. 

If you are in another city you can find a local Pet Tech instructor at the instructor listing at http://www.pettech.net.