The month of April is the awareness month for many things – child abuse, sexual assault and abuse, autism spectrum disorders, and more. But at the FiXiT, the fact that April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month is definitely our priority. Many pet owners tend to overlook the importance of having a first aid kit when it comes to the family pet. But by having a kit with just 10 items, you can help ensure the safety and health of your beloved family member.
Sterile gauze (rolls and/or pads) – when your dog has an open wound, after treating it with antibiotic ointment, loosely wrap sterile gauze around the wound, binding it with tape or pads that self-adhere. Be careful not to wrap it the injury too tightly as that can create a bigger problem while also making your dog quite uncomfortable. Essentially, you want to make sure you have protected the wound from outside forces but once that is done, don’t wrap it any more tightly.
Tweezers – when a splinter, rock, or other small piece of something gets stuck in your dog, tweezers are an absolute necessity. By trying to dig at a foreign object with your hand, you can make the situation worse for your dog both physically and emotionally (and it’s a pretty miserable experience for you, too). Rather, use the tweezers to very gently to dislodge the foreign object and pull it out of your pet.
Cone – after you have provided emergency first aid to your pet, chances are excellent that your dog will want to lick or nibble on the injury and/or the materials used to treat the wound. This of course is dangerous and detrimental as your dog will unknowingly cause themselves a much higher risk of infection and pain. A cone or Elizabethan collar will restrict your pet’s movement and minimize any additional risk to the injury. Typically, it will only be necessary for your dog to wear the cone for a day or two until they get used to the injury and its treatment.
Emergency contact numbers – make sure you have emergency contact numbers in both your cell phone and in your physical pet first aid kit. You should have information for your regular vet, an emergency vet or clinic, pet poison control, and so on. You may not always have your cell phone handy so keeping a list in the kit is important.
Pet First Aid app – when all else fails, assuming you have a charged cell phone, make sure you have already downloaded and installed the Pet First Aid app. This app will have detailed instructions and videos to help guide you through handling any number of specific illnesses or injuries that may come up. You don’t want to risk the additional five or 10 minutes it may take to install the app during an emergency, so plan ahead and install it on every member of your family’s phone.
Although many dogs are cautious and careful, the fact is that being a dog means they’re going to get involved with or exposed to risks you might never consider until it happens. Be prepared to handle basic emergencies and keep your four legged family members safe.
photo credit: Tom Purves via photopin cc