Governor Animal Clinic, Inc. Your San Diego Veterinary Clinic for Dog & Cat Care

Small Animal First Aid Kit

*Acquire a steel or fiberglass pet carrier or crate for each pet (Familiarize your pet with the carrier).

Get a durable, waterproof (or at least water-resistant) container that opens and closes easily yet securely. It should be large enough to hold the items mentioned below, and labeled with your contact information

Include; bandage material, such as gauze pads, cotton gauze, adhesive tape and masking tape. Keep a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and anti-bacterial ointment or cream in the kit.

Include diarrhea medication, but seek your veterinarian's approval before use.

Be sure to pack a pair of scissors, plus tweezers or forceps.

Add a few eyedroppers for dispensing liquid medication or for cleaning superficial wounds.

Store blankets in the kit to keep your pet warm in extreme conditions.

When traveling, call ahead to your destination to see if there are any particular dangers, such as snakes, poisonous plants or extreme heat, that you will need to consider when packing your first aid kit.

Include the phone numbers of your pet's regular veterinarian and of a nearby emergency veterinary hospital and animal shelter.

Tips: Muzzle an injured dog, since overly stressed dogs are more at risk of biting. For spinal injuries, secure your pet to a board with masking tape that will not hurt the fur or skin.

(Injury board; Inside most car trunks, there is a board that covers the spare tire. This can be very useful if you need to immobilize a dog, should you suspect spinal injury. This works especially well for smaller dogs).

Avoid placing the dog inside a crate or carrier, and call your veterinarian before heading to the hospital so the staff can prepare for your arrival.

Warnings: Never give your cat aspirin or acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol). They are extremely toxic to cats. Avoid giving ibuprofen to dogs, as it can cause kidney failure.

Evacuation Kit ;

2-week supply of food (dry & canned)

2-week supply of water in plastic gallon jugs

Antibiotic ointment

Batteries (flashlight, radio)

Butterfly skin closures

Benadryl tablets

Can opener (manual)

Cat/wildlife gloves

Copies of veterinary records and proof of ownership

Digital thermometer

Emergency contact list

Familiar items to make pets feel comfortable (favorite toys, treats, blankets)

Flashlight (a last minute grab could be the solar-powered lights you have in the front yard....not bright light, but it will be adequate for emergency use )

Gauze bandage roll

Gauze tape

Ice pack

Instructions for pets care;

Diet: Record the diet for each individual animal, including what not to feed in case of allergies.

Medications: List each animal separately, including dose and frequency for each medication. Provide veterinary and pharmacy contact information for refills.

Leash, collar, harness (for each animal, plus spares)

Litter, litter pan, litter scoop & cleaning supplies for crates and/or litter boxes

Maps of local area and alternate evacuation routes (in case of road closures)

Muzzles (dog or cat)

Newspaper (bedding, litter)

Nonspill food and water dishes

Oral syringe (for medications or flushing out wound)

Paper towels, baby wipes

Radio (solar and battery operated)

Saline solution for eye washing

Scissors

Spoon (canned food)

Stakes and tie-outs

Trash bags

Tweezers

Proof of ownership (Make copies of registration information, adoption papers, proof of purchase, and microchip information to store in the evacuation kit. List each one of your animals and their species, breed, age, sex, color, and distinguishing characteristics).

Pet photos (Keep current photographs of your animals in the evacuation kit for identification purposes. Consider preparing laminated "Lost Pet" signs with your animal's photo attached, your name, and your contact information to use in case your animal is lost).

You may want to include a photo of you with your pet, to help with proof of ownership.

A final task in being able to provide first aid is to know your dog's normal temperature, respiration per minute and heart rate. The Red Cross has a short video providing instructions to assess a dog's health during a non-emergency situation. As the video points out, your dog cannot tell you what is wrong so it is up to you to provide appropriate care for his or her needs.

Don't Wait Until It's Too Late

Countless times people have been told to leave their homes for a "short time," only to find that they cannot return for days or weeks. Even disasters like gas leaks and minor flooding can keep you from tending to your animals for extended periods of time. To prevent situations such as these take your animals with you.

It is best to be overly cautious during a disaster warning. Preparing ahead of time and acting quickly is the best way to keep you and your family, including your animals, out of danger.

Setup an appointment to talk to your veterinarian about planning for your animals during disasters.

Assemble an animal evacuation kit (some suggestions above, but this should be discussed between you and your veterinarian).

Familiarize yourself with each type of disaster that your area could be affected by, including a hazardous materials spill.

Develop an evacuation plan for all of your animals.

Keep written directions to your home near your telephone. This will help you tell emergency responders how to get to your home if you are in a state of panic and in need of rescue, or if a person unfamiliar with your area is the only person in your home during a disaster.

Identify alternate sources of food and water. Some local food and water sources may be disrupted or contaminated for extended periods of time following a disaster.

Keep all vehicles well maintained and full of gas.

Keep emergency cash on hand.

*Be sure your pet's vaccinations and medical records are written and up-to-date.

*Be sure your pet wears a properly fitted collar with a current license tag, rabies tag and identification tag containing your name, animal's name, address and phone number.

*Microchip your pet

*Have a leash on hand to maintain control of your pet.

*Survey your home and determine the best location, away from windows if possible, to place your pet during an emergency. (A good choice is a utility room, bathroom, kitchen or other tiled area which can be cleaned easily.)

*Decide where you might take your pet if it becomes necessary to leave your home during an emergency. Places you could contact are:

Boarding kennels

Veterinary hospitals with boarding facilities

Friends and relatives

Motels which allow pets