First Aid kit

Because of all the discussions about emergency situations we have had here lately, I've been putting together a doggie first aid box. We talked about having Ipecac syrup on hand, but after searching several stores and not finding it, I asked the pharmacist. It seems Ipecac has been taken off the market by the FDA. INteresting, since it was a standard item in our medecine cabinets for decades! I remember the hospital "welcome baby" basket had a small bottle of Ipecac in it. Of course this was 20 years ago, LOL

Do any of you know about an alternative to Ipecac? What can we use if our dog injests something that is dangerous, short of rushing to the emergency vet? It seems the FDA wants people to call the Poison Control board if a human is involved. As the injestor, not the injestee, that is.

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Permalink Reply by Renee Kovacs on February 10, 2010 at 6:23am

Excellent thread & great info! To answer one of the questions - yes, oral use of hydrogen peroxide is to cause vomiting (and boy will it!). Always be certain that vomiting is the best choice by calling a vet prior to dosing!

Another use for Hydrogen peroxide - mixed with baking soda and dish-soap, it is the BEST remedy for 'de-skunking':

In a plastic bucket, mix well the following ingredients:
1 quart of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
1/4 cup of baking soda
1 to 2 teaspoons liquid dish soap (this is added to break the surface tension caused by oil on the hair)

Let your nose guide you, and using a sponge or one of those microfiber rags - sop/wipe the dog (DO NOT get it in their eyes, use copious water rinse if you do), leave the solution on about 5 minutes or until the odor is gone. Some heavily oiled areas may require a "rinse and repeat" washing. Rinse the solution off with water - and pitch the rag.

This mixture works by actually causing a molecular change to the skunk's oil - it's amazing, and immediate. You can use your nose to detect a single missed area on the dog. I've used this 4 times, and the one area I find I just can deodorize is my dog's eyes - as is typical, they usually get sprayed in the face. Don't forget to dip the collar in the solution, too. The internet instructions always say to wash/scrub the mixture into the coat - but I find it works much BETTER to sort of 'wipe' with a sopping wet rag/sponge. The skunk spray hits the top of the coat, and scrubbing INTO the coat just seems to take the skunk oil further into the coat as well. Costco sells peroxide in bulk - after 4 times, I now keep LOTS on hand.

**NEVER, ever, store mixed solution in a closed bottle, sprayer,etc. Pressure will build up until the container bursts. This can cause severe injury.

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Another note - for an emergency muzzle, vet-wrap or cotton gauze roll works great. Center it over the top of the muzzle, take the ends down & under, cross & go back over the top and then down & under a 2nd time, then from below the muzzle - cross and take along the sides of the head and tie at the back of the neck. To remove, just pull from the back of the neck up and over the ears, over the top of the head and off - it will unravel off the nose.

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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on February 10, 2010 at 9:28pm

I had to use this mixture 3 times in one week as my weimeraner mix didn't learn how not to get sprayed...it works...better than anything I've used BUT by the time you get done you still small skunk and wet dog!

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Permalink Reply by Lynne Cerny on February 10, 2010 at 7:34am

As far as a tic remover, this is the best!! We have used it many times on humans also! You don't have to touch the tic and it gets the tic's head out also.
http://www.ticktwister.com/

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Permalink Reply by Geri & Sidney on February 10, 2010 at 9:23pm

I forgot to add, we also keep styptic powder handy. Once my lab mix got a cut on his ear and it bled like crazy! The powder would have helped stop the bleeding.