April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month

This month we’re reminding pet parents to keep supplies on hand to help their dog or cat if they experience an illness, injury or poisoning.

It’s easy to put together your own pet first aid kit. Hopefully you will never need to use it, but if something happens you’ll be prepared.

Pet first aid kit

You can assemble your own pet first aid kit with items from any pharmacy. Here are some basic items to include:

• Absorbent gauze pads
• Adhesive tape
• Alcohol wipes
• Artificial tear gel
• Cotton balls or cotton-tipped swabs
• Disposable gloves
• Extra towels and blankets
• Hydrogen peroxide (3%) for inducing vomiting (always contact your veterinarian or local poison control centre before inducing vomiting)
• Ice pack
• Muzzle for dogs who could bite while in pain or distress
• Saline solution for washing wounds
• Sterile eye wash
• OTC antibiotic ointment
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Tick remover
• Digital thermometer and water-based lubricant because a pet’s temperature must be taken rectally
• Your pet’s vaccination records and medications
• Phone number, clinic name, address of your veterinarian as well as local veterinary emergency clinics

A first aid kit is not a replacement for going to your vet, but can help immediately after an unexpected emergency and improve the outcome.

Another way to prepare for emergencies is to know the basics of CPR for pets. While the general idea is very similar to human CPR, there are a few differences. The Red Cross has  step-by-step instructions that can help you save your dog or cat’s life.