Dog First-Aid Kit - 10 Things It Needs to Contain

Dog owners know that the best thing you can do is be prepared. This is a piece of advice dog owners should take from boy scouts. You can be the most responsible dog owner in the world, and your dog can still get into some kind of trouble. Unfortunately, accidents happen, and despite your best effort, your dog can suffer cuts and bruises. You never know when a broken piece of glass can hurt your dog’s delicate paws.

That’s precisely why all dog owners should have a dog first-aid kit at home. The good news is that you can buy first-aid kits, but there aren’t many specially made for dogs. Many dog owners want to know what should a dog first-aid kit contain. Here are the essentials all dog first-aid kits absolutely need to contain.

1. Your dog’s documents

One of the first things you need to put in your dog’s first-aid kit is your dog vaccination proof, medical history, and a list of emergency contacts you might need. If something happens to your dog, you don’t want to rely only on your memory. Put copies of everything in your dog’s first-aid kit, and no matter where you are, the vet that will take care of your dog will know all the information they need.

2. Gauze

If an injury, especially cuts, happens, you will need gauzes. They can help you clean and protect the wound until you get your dog to your vet or the closest animal ER. There are various gauzes you can choose from, but we recommend the California Basics 24 Gauze Bandage Rolls.

3. Bandage

After you clean the wound, you will have to bandage it, which would be pretty hard without bandages. Make sure you get high-quality, non-stick bandages in your dog’s first aid kit. You should choose something that won’t stick to the dog’s coat. There are great options that come at a very affordable price. This might be a good option - 12 Pack Self Adherent Cohesive Wrap Bandages.

4. Hydrogen Peroxide

Before you completely seal off your dog’s wound, you will need to disinfect it. The best way to do that is by using hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide has powerful antiseptic properties that make it necessary in all dog first-aid kits. Plus, it has another crucial function - you can make your dog vomit with it. Eating toxic things is one of the most common reasons dogs visit ERs. If that happens to you and your dog, you can use hydrogen peroxide to safely induce vomiting. You can read more about it here - How to make your dog throw up?

5. Activated charcoal

If your dog ingested something toxic and you can’t make them vomit, you should have activated charcoal at hand. Make sure you include it in your dog’s first-aid kit. Activated charcoal is fantastic because it can absorb up to 95% of different toxins in a couple of hours. This medication can save your dog from chocolate, ibuprofen, marijuana, narcotics, strychnine, and many other toxins. In fact, you should keep it in your own medicine cabinet because humans can use it for different problems as well.

6. Scissors

Another essential part of every dog first-aid kit is scissors. You never know what you might need them for, but scissors are used for cutting gauzes and bandages in most cases. You cannot underestimate the importance of being well-prepared. It can literally mean the difference between life and death.

7. Syringe

Dogs usually don’t like taking pills, and you might have to be forced to quickly get some medication into your dog. The easiest way to do that is by giving your dog liquid medication by using a syringe. You can also use eyedroppers, but a syringe is better for measuring. We prefer the LabAider Plastic Syringe.

8. Tweezers

Another thing you will need in your dog’s first aid kit is a good pair of tweezers. Your dog’s paws are exposed, and things like glass shards, foxtails, or splinters can easily get lodged in there. Another thing tweezers are helpful for is ticks. All dog owners need to have tweezers at home for removing ticks. It would be wise to have a pair in your dog’s first aid kit, as well. We like the TickEase Dual Tipped Tweezers.

9. Soft Muzzle

Dogs can get scared, even frantic if they get seriously hurt. You or your vet won’t be able to help your dog if the dog is biting out of fear. You will need to pack a good soft muzzle to help you deal with this potential issue. If you muzzle your dog, providing the necessary care will be faster and easier, and as you can imagine, every second counts, especially if the dog is losing blood. Here is an excellent soft muzzle recommendation - HEELE Dog Muzzle.

10. Antibiotic Spray

Most dog owners use their dog’s first-aid kits for minor injuries, like minor cuts and bruises that don’t require serious veterinary attention. One of the things that can help you deal with that is an antibiotic spray. Simply spray it over your dog’s wound after you clean it, and the antibiotic spray will make sure no bacteria enters and infects the wound. A product like Vetrycin Plus will even act as a liquid bandage, so you can only include one product in the first-aid kit instead of two.