Since you never know when your cat or dog might be involved in an emergency, it pays to be prepared. Assemble a pet first aid kit now – this will not only help to reduce your anxiety if something does happen unexpectedly, but may enable you to stabilize his condition while you are waiting for treatment from your veterinarian.

Although there are many things that you could potentially include, here are 20 items that you might want to consider:

• Sterile saline (to clean skin wounds or to wash eyes)
• Sterile gauze pads (to place next to the skin on wounds or cuts that require dressing)
• Gauze bandage rolls (to hold gauze pads in place next to the skin)
• First-aid adhesive tape (to secure skin dressings in place)
• Self-adhesive bandage material (such as Vetrap ®)
• Cotton swabs and cotton wool (to clean wounds or apply medications)

• Styptic powder or cornstarch (to reduce blood flow from minor cuts)
• Tweezers (to remove splinters, ticks, and debris from wounds)
• Scissors (blunt-ended scissors are safest)
• Re-sealable plastic bags (to store leaky fluid bottles)
• Hydrogen peroxide (useful to induce vomiting if toxic substances are ingested – speak to a veterinarian first for advice on whether to induce vomiting, and for guidance on what dose to administer)

• Electrolyte solution (to prevent dehydration and replace electrolytes lost through vomiting and diarrhea)
• Mineral oil (can be used as a lubricant laxative when added to food – check with your veterinarian for advice on dose and frequency of use)
• Kaopectate® or Pepto-Bismol® (to treat diarrhea and intestinal upsets in dogs – avoid in cats due to their aspirin component – check with your veterinarian for advice on dose and frequency of use)
• Antibacterial ointment (to treat minor skin wounds)
• Hydrocortisone cream (to treat itchy or inflamed skin)

• Thermometer (digital thermometers are more accurate)
• Leather work gloves (to protect you from being bitten)
• Latex gloves (enables hygienic handling of your injured pet)
• Splint materials (a 12-inch wooden ruler can be secured alongside a damaged or broken limb using bandage material – this makes for a good makeshift splint in case of emergency)

Although your veterinarian may be able to provide you with pet-specific equivalents of products such as Kaopectate®, Pepto-Bismol®, or electrolyte solutions, those that you may have at home for yourself, or for children, can be used if necessary.  Wherever possible, however, before providing any urgent care to your pet, speak with a veterinarian by phone for guidance.

A simple, plastic toolbox makes a perfect container for your newly assembled first aid kit.  Label the outside of the box clearly so that anyone would recognize it as a first aid kit, and also add information such as your veterinarian’s contact details, and local or national poison control numbers (The ASPCA’s National Poison Control Center can be reached at 888-426-4435).  Most importantly, be sure to keep the box somewhere obvious so that it can be easily located by anyone in case of an emergency.