First Aid Kit

I need to compile a first aid kit for the doggies. I wanted to know what you guys put in your kits.

I'm planning on getting the following:

A Bag to carry items--small and large. Small will be for when we hike.

Gauze
Those wraps they put on you when you give blood--no idea what it's called.
Antibiotic ointment
Alcohol prep pads
Hydrogen peroxide
Baby aspirin
Benadryl
Peptobismal
Gas-x
Benadryl cream for bug bites
Tweezers
Scissors
Saline solution for eyes and wounds
Thermometer for the dogs only
q-tip and cotton balls for the small stuff
compresses
Snake kit (maybe if we hike, not sure if this is necessary for us)
Cornstarch for nails cut too close

And for myself an epi pen.

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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on May 25, 2009 at 1:28am

first aid

ruffwear kit

You should know how to muzzle your dog. A panicked dog in pain can deliver serious bites (my uncle was seriously bitten on his hand when his dachsund got into a leg-hold trap). There is a way to improvise a muzzle with rope or cord. If you don't practice this, I think you can forget about being able to do it in a real-life situation.

Porcupine? Anybody got a story to tell? My brother got most of the quills out of his lab's face and gums, but it took 2 strong adults, a pair of pliers, and much of the day, and he was sore the next day from restraining his dog. I have good surgical forceps in my first aid kit, but I wonder if pliers are required...

A main concern is paw injury. I got Pawz (the balloon-like booties). They seem to stay on, but there's lots of room inside so they may not hold a dressing in place. The adhesive gauze (vet wrap? ask your vet next time) is a good idea, but if you don't practice with it beforehand, forget about an effective response in a real emergency.

Chalk might be a better styptic than starch. Calcium is required for clotting. But it should clot anyway.
Someone suggested that antibiotic CREAM (as oppsed to Neosporin-type petrolatum-based OINTMENT) may be better for dogs; waterbased cream soaks into skin, whereas dogs lick the oil-based ointment off.

Acker, Randy, DVM. "Dog First Aid: A Field Guide to Emergency Care for the Outdoor Dog." Wilderness Adventure Press, 1999

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Permalink Reply by Corgibyassociation on May 26, 2009 at 10:44am

Thank you for your advice, I really appreciate it. Do you think the snake bite kit is necessary too? I live in Georgia though I've never seen any poisonous snakes (I've seen plenty but no rattlers but there is a possibility of cotton mouth and I just didn't realize it for what it was.)

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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on June 4, 2009 at 12:44pm

I'm guessing the only first aid for snakebite is: get the victim to medical care ASAP. It might be helpful to be able to identify the snake. What have you got in Georgie? Rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths? Ask your vet.