How To Make A First Aid Kit For My Pet
It is always best to prevent than to cure. The same thing happens with our pets, but sometimes it is inevitable that they get hurt or hurt. That’s why something as simple as a first aid kit can be a quick fix for minor health issues.
Why is a first aid kit important?
As we have already discussed, accidents happen, whether at home or away. During the day to day, our pets are exposed to different situations that can pose a risk to their health. Among them, we can highlight:
- Cuts, either at home or on the street. Depending on the severity, they can lead to bleeding.
- Burns.
- Bites, by accident or by confrontation with other animals.
- Choking, intestinal upset, or intoxication.
- Falls or trauma, caused, for example, by being run over.
For many of these situations, a first aid kit is a great ally. It should be borne in mind, however, that such a kit is not a substitute for veterinary practice. In addition, it is highly recommended that all the products in the medicine cabinet – especially pharmaceutical products – are approved for veterinary use.
The essentials in a medicine cabinet
To make a basic first-aid kit, we must have the following products:
- Latex gloves : in this way, we ensure an extra degree of hygiene.
- Gauze, tape and bandages: very useful when there are cuts, wounds and bleeding.
- Physiological serum : to clean both the eye area and the wounds.
- Scissors.
- Rectal thermometer.
- Ointments : can be useful in treating stings and allergic reactions. These types of products are usually obtained after consulting with our veterinarian.
With these elements we can deal with minor accidents that our pets may suffer, either to cure them completely or to control their situation temporarily while we go to a veterinary professional.
Additional Products
Our first aid kit can be completed with some more specific items, which usually depend on the type of pet we have. Some of them are:
- Special tweezers to remove ticks.
- Nail clippers.
- Ear cleaning products, very appropriate if we have a dog.
- Pad protector, in case our pet suffers some kind of irritation from them.
- Inducer of vomiting, which can be of great help in poisonings.
- Specific antiparasitic products : in addition to protecting our dog with collars or pipettes, having extra protection is always recommended, such as an extra collar or an antiparasitic spray .
Final tips for the first aid kit
Something important, as we have already said, is that you consult with your veterinarian to make sure that everything in the kit is suitable for your pet. To ensure quick access, place it in a place that is easy to remember, but safe.
Keeping your medicine cabinet tidy helps you find things faster. You can use a box or briefcase with compartments, and distribute the different products according to their use. A good idea is to have a second auxiliary first-aid kit, in case we are traveling with our pet.
Check that everything in the kit is within its validity period. This periodic review is vital in the case of medications, whether they are topical or oral. And, last but not least, always keep a sheet with the veterinary emergency phone numbers listed.
