What to include in a dog first aid kit

A dog first aid kit is one of those things you hope you never need, but it can be incredibly useful when you’re out walking.

Minor cuts, torn paw pads, ticks and other unexpected problems can happen even on familiar routes, and having a few basic supplies with you means you can deal with small issues or provide immediate care while you arrange veterinary help.

You don’t need to carry a miniature veterinary surgery in your backpack. A useful walking first aid kit can be fairly compact, and many of the items inside it are inexpensive.

The important thing is knowing its limits. First aid can help protect an injury or keep your dog comfortable, but it isn’t a replacement for veterinary treatment. If your dog is seriously injured, becomes suddenly unwell or you’re unsure what to do, contact a vet as soon as possible.

What to put in your dog first aid kit

For most walks and days out, a simple kit containing the following gives you a useful starting point.

For walks in hot weather, carrying enough water becomes particularly important. A first aid kit isn’t much use if the main problem could have been prevented with better preparation.

What shouldn’t you put in the kit?

One of the most important things to leave out is human medication.

Common medicines that are safe for people can be dangerous or even toxic to dogs. Don’t give painkillers, antihistamines or other medication unless a vet has specifically advised you to give that particular product and dose to your dog.

It’s also best to avoid filling your kit with creams, antiseptics and wound products simply because they’re already in the bathroom cabinet.

If you want to carry a particular veterinary wound cleaner or treatment, ask your vet whether it’s appropriate for your dog and how it should be used.

Keeping the kit simple makes it much less likely that you’ll reach for the wrong product in a stressful situation.

Know when first aid isn’t enough

A first aid kit is most useful for minor injuries and immediate care while you seek help.

Some situations need veterinary attention straight away.

Contact a vet urgently if your dog has:

• heavy or persistent bleeding
• a deep wound
• difficulty breathing
• collapsed or become unusually weak
• been hit by a vehicle
• suffered a serious fall
• swallowed or been exposed to something potentially poisonous
• a suspected broken bone
• a serious eye injury
• signs of heatstroke
• a wound containing a deeply embedded object
• severe pain or sudden difficulty walking

If you’re unsure how serious something is, call your vet. They can usually tell you whether your dog needs to be seen immediately and what you should do in the meantime.

Be careful when handling an injured dog too. Pain and fear can cause even a normally gentle dog to react unexpectedly.

Keep your kit ready to use

Putting a first aid kit together is only useful if everything inside is still usable when you need it.

Every few months, have a quick check through the contents.

Look for:

• damaged or opened sterile packaging
• expired products
• empty wound wash bottles
• used dressings or bandages that haven’t been replaced
• rusty or damaged scissors and tweezers
• missing tick tools
• outdated veterinary contact information

If the kit lives permanently inside a walking backpack, make sure it stays dry. A small waterproof pouch or zipped bag works well and makes it easy to transfer between different backpacks.

It’s also worth keeping a larger kit in the car and a smaller version in your walking bag. The walking kit only needs the essentials, while the car kit can hold extra dressings, a larger towel and additional supplies.

The BandiBoo takeaway

A good dog first aid kit doesn’t need to be complicated.

A few dressings, bandages, wound-cleaning supplies and basic tools can make a big difference when something goes wrong away from home.

More important than carrying lots of equipment is knowing when you can deal with something yourself and when your dog needs veterinary help.

Keep the kit simple, check it occasionally and take it with you on longer walks and trips. Hopefully you’ll rarely need to open it — but if you do, you’ll be glad it’s there.