Stocking your pet’s first-aid kit

As a parent you will ensure that your medicine cabinet is always stocked with basic supplies for simple health treatment in case your child is injured or feels sick. In the same manner, as a pet owner you should make sure that you keep basic first-aid supplies for your pet to help you deal with any emergencies. Some important items to have available include: • Your pet’s medical record: including the vaccination record and any medication. Your pet should be registered with a qualified veterinarian: keep this telephone number stored in the first-aid kit along with the telephone number for your local emergency or 24-hour veterinary clinic. Always know your pet’s weight for safe medication dosages.

 

• An extra supply of any special medication your pet is required to take, such as seizure medication.

• Worm tablets.

• Fast knockdown pyrethrum-based insecticides or pesticides in a spray bottle, plus a fine-toothed comb or brush for removing external parasites or maggot eggs.

• Muzzle: train your pet to become comfortable wearing his muzzle. Pain and fear can make even the gentlest animal dangerous; therefore the muzzle should be used as a precaution. In an emergency a rope, nylon stocking, neck-tie, small towel or soft cloth may be used as a muzzle for dogs; and a towel can be used to wrap and restrain smaller mammals and birds. Never muzzle an animal who is vomiting!

• Elizabethan-collar: to prevent biting or scratching of wounds or injured areas.

• Leash: to transport your pet if he is capable of walking unaided.

• Stretcher: to transport your pet if he is incapable of walking; to stabilise an injured pet and prevent further injury during transport. A door, blanket, waterproof floor mat or board can be used in an emergency.

• Crate: for keeping the animal confined/quiet or can be used for transport.

• Digital thermometer: to check your pet’s temperature. Do not insert the thermometer into your pet’s mouth; the temperature must be checked rectally.

• Multi-tool including pliers, nail clipper, tweezers, clamp and a hacksaw blade.

• Sterile gauze: for cleaning and/or wrapping wounds or muzzling an injured animal.

• Cotton wool, wet wipes and toilet paper: for cleaning.

• Non-stick elastic bandages, strips of clean cloth or towels, nylon stockings: to control bleeding (tourniquet) or protect wounds from external bacteria.

• Adhesive tape: for securing gauze wrapping or bandages. Do not use human adhesive bandages (eg Band-Aids) on pets.

• Eye-dropper and/or large syringe without needle: to administer oral medications or flush wounds.

• Rehydration salts. 

• Saline or artificial tears for tear replacement in the case of dry-eyes.

• Spray bottle with nozzle and/or plastic container for mixing solutions.

• Sterile latex gloves.

• Small torchlight and extra batteries: for shining into your pet’s eyes, ears, nostrils, or wounds.

• Stop watch: to time respiratory rate and pulse.

• Plastic or glass containers: to collect samples of urine, parasites or faeces if necessary.

• Clean towels or blanket: to wrap your pet in if you need to provide extra warmth.

• Clean (bottled) water: for drinking; flushing wounds; diluting medications etc.

• Soap and chlorhexidine-based shampoo.

• Razor blades and/or scissors.

• Newspapers.

• At least one tin of highly-palatable, odorous food such as sausages or sardines. 

• Antiseptics such as Povidone iodine, Savlon, Dettol to clean wounds. Must be diluted before use.

• Negasunt powder: to keep flies away from open wounds. Flies will lay eggs in the tissues and the eggs hatch into maggots

 

DO NOT ADMINISTER THE FOLLOWING UNLESS DIRECTED TO DO SO BY YOUR VETERINARIAN:

• Milk of Magnesia and activated charcoal: to absorb poison.

• Hydrogen peroxide three per cent and/or salt to induce vomiting. 

• Vitamin K1 tablets: to counteract coumarin-based rodent poisoning which causes internal bleeding. 

• Analgesics such as Tylenol, Panadol, Paracetamol to control pain. These cause liver damage to dogs in the wrong dosages and should not be used on cats at all.

• Anti-histamines such as Piriton, Allegra, Benadryl to counteract allergic responses to certain foods; insect bites and stings. 

• Anti-emetics such as Gravol, Noxalone to control vomiting. 

• Anti-diarrhoea medication such as Imodium and Pepto Bismol.

• Tranquilisers.

• Finally, a photo taken with your mobile telephone or digital camera and sent to your veterinarian may be useful.

 

This article is copyright to Best Pets Animal Behaviour Service and Tenderheart Veterinary Service. For further information, please contact Kristel-Marie Ramnath at 689-8113 or Dr Wade Seukeran at 645-3883