How to Make a Pet First Aid Kit (and Actually Use It)

Just like people, pets get bumps and scrapes, too. We turn to things like band-aids and ointments, but what about our pets? Having a pet first aid kit ready to go will help you feel prepared for the minor injuries and be able to quickly triage a more severe injury as you prepare to head to your nearest AAHA-accredited Emergency Vet.

While there are pet first aid kit products on the market, you can make your own kit for your pets right at home. When you have a kit prepared and maintained, you’ll feel more confident when the need to use one arises.

Why Every Pet Parent Needs a First Aid Kit

Emergencies are unpredictable. One moment you are playing fetch with your dog, and the next, they’ve cut their paw on edging, glass, or some other foreign object. Or maybe during playtime with your cat, they snag their nail, and it begins to bleed. These are the moments when having a first aid kit for your pets readily available will make you feel more confident about taking treatment steps.

Whenever your pet gets hurt, it’s best to check in with your veterinarian. Your vet can guide you on whether treatment is best done in your home or if a visit to be checked out by your veterinarian is in order. In both cases, having a first aid kit for pets will allow you to respond immediately and to help stabilize your pet while you plan the next steps.

Emergencies can happen at any moment. From natural disasters to car accidents to household hazards or simple playtime, it’s best to be prepared in all circumstances with a pet first aid kit ready to use.

How to Make a Pet First Aid Kit

Every pet first aid kit should have the basics to help with general treatments. Then, as the pet parent, you can decide what special items your pet first aid efforts may need. For instance, if you know your dog is allergic to bees, then you may have some special medication in yours.

What Every Kit Should Contain:

• Gauze for bandaging wounds.
• Vet wrap for keeping gauze in place.
• Medical tape to help keep the bandage in place.
• Pet-friendly ointments, or wipes.
• Thermometer for monitoring your pet’s temperature.
• Scissors for cutting bandages or trimming fur (ideally bandage scissors).
• Tweezers for slivers or removing other foreign objects.
• Pet-safe antihistamine to help with allergic reactions. Discuss the proper dosage for your pet with your vet and keep that dosing in your kit. Be sure to ask which products are safe; not all antihistamine products are safe for pets.
• Disposable gloves to keep your hands protected.
• Syringe or eyedropper for using any liquids like saline.
• Saline solution for cleaning scrapes and flushing eyes.
• Small flashlight for extra light to see small injuries like slivers.
• Blanket and/or towel for warmth or wrapping your pet for transport. A towel is very handy to wrap a cat who may not want you to catch them.
• Instant ice pack for any minor swelling.
• Emergency contact list so you don’t have to remember in the moment who to call.
• Copy of your pet’s medical records showing any medical concerns and vaccination records.

These supplies do not need to be kept in anything fancy. A tupperware container or a box will work perfectly for a DIY pet first aid kit. It’s more important to have everything in one place so that you know exactly where to go and feel prepared with anything you might need.

Depending on your lifestyle, it may make sense to have more than one pet first aid kit prepared. If you travel a lot with your pets, having one for the car and one for the home will be helpful. Or maybe you hike and need a portable kit when you are on the trail with your pets.

Additionally, if you create special pet first aid kits to serve special purposes, consider what special items may be needed. Items like:

• Medications. Especially if your pets take anything on a daily basis.
• Collapsible bowls for water and/or food.
• A couple of days of food.
• Paw butter for their paw pads.

Maintaining Your First Aid Kit

Once you have your kit’s supplies gathered and in a container, you are prepared for about the next six months, assuming you don’t need to use and replenish anything in that time. Set a reminder for yourself to check your kit approximately every six months. You want to do the following when you check your kit:

• Review expiration dates on all products.
• Restock any used items if you did not do that when you used them.
• Inspect each item to ensure there is no damage, like dried-out wipes.
• Replace any batteries in flashlights or other devices in your kit.
• Update your medical records.

Keeping your kit in an easily accessible and frequented area of your home will help remind you to maintain it and ensure it’s nearby and easy to grab when needed.

Basic First Aid for Pets

While having the necessary supplies is essential, knowing how to use a pet first aid kit is just as important. Basic first aid does not replace veterinary care. Always consult your AAHA-accredited veterinarian when it comes to your pet’s health. Your kit can help a minor issue from becoming a serious one and help you stabilize your pet when a larger emergency does occur.

If your pet gets into a household toxin or other possible situation where poison is the concern, please immediately call The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) at (888) 426-4435. They offer a 24-hour helpline where you will be assisted by veterinary toxicologists and other veterinary professionals experienced in pet poisonings. Do not try to treat your pet for a possible poisoning situation without consulting a veterinarian.

For basic first aid, here are some common situations where having a first aid kit for your pets will help you both:

Minor Wounds and Injuries

• Scrapes and cuts. Always consult your vet before trying to clean a wound that is more than a scratch. You may do more harm than good if you try to clean a deep wound.

  When dealing with a small scratch or cut, be sure you thoroughly wash your own hands before cleaning your pet’s injury. This will reduce the risk of bacteria getting into the wound. Always clean the scrape or cut gently using pet-friendly products , like saline. Do not use peroxide or alcohol. Once clean, bandage the wound and monitor it for any signs of infection.

• Paw pad injuries. Follow the same steps as you would with a scrape or cut, but with some extra wrapping on their paw. Your pet will need to avoid extra walking during the healing process. Paw pad injuries should always be evaluated by a veterinarian. Be sure to make an appointment to have it checked out, but in most cases, it will not need to be an emergency appointment. If there is excessive bleeding or larger signs of significant trauma, seek veterinary care immediately.
• Bug bites or stings. Use the instant ice pack in your kit to help with any minor swelling. You can also use a pet-safe antihistamine as directed by your veterinarian. If you notice signs of significant swelling, vomiting, difficulty breathing, or lethargy, get to an emergency veterinarian immediately.

Eye Injuries

Your pet’s eyes may get irritated or swollen for several reasons: allergies, foreign objects, or infection. It’s important your vet evaluates eye injuries, but you can help ease your pet’s discomfort while you wait for your appointment by flushing their eye with saline. Do not use any human eye drops on your pet’s eyes unless directed by your veterinarian.

Limping Injuries

From running around to jumping off counters to jumping on couches, our pets can injure their joints and/or muscles. If your pet starts limping, whether you witnessed the injury or not, first check for visible wounds or foreign objects, like a thorn. Once you’ve ruled out a wound, you move on to help manage the injury.

Using the instant ice pack, you can help manage the swelling. It helps to wrap the pack in a towel before applying it to the injury. Ice for only 10-15 minutes at a time every couple of hours. After the first round of ice, gently wrap the limb with vet wrap to help provide light support until you can get your pet into your veterinarian’s office. Call your vet right away. Your vet will let you know if the injury requires an emergency visit or not.

Stabilizing for Transport

In many cases, our pets’ injuries will require a veterinarian. Even in those cases, you can take steps with your pet first aid kit to ease the transport. When preparing your pet for an emergency trip to the vet due to an injury, remember to remain calm and be patient. Your first step is always to call your veterinarian or nearest AAHA-accredited emergency clinic.

• For bleeding injuries: Apply light pressure with gauze or a clean towel. Use a bandage to hold in place.
• For muscle injuries or possible fractures: Do not attempt to realign. Gently stabilize the area without putting pressure on the limb.
• For unresponsiveness: Keep your pet warm and move them quickly, but carefully. If trained, perform CPR or rescue breathing.

Learning pet-specific first aid techniques, like CPR or Heimlich maneuvers for dogs and cats, can be life-saving. Consider taking a certified pet first aid class through your veterinarian or local animal organization.

When moving your pet into the car, consider using a towel or blanket as a makeshift sling under your dog’s ribs/belly for support. For your cat or a small dog, gently wrap them in a towel and place them in a secure carrier to limit movement during transport.

Creating a pet first aid kit and keeping it handy is a powerful way to advocate for your pet’s health and safety from your home. From minor scrapes to emergency situations, it gives you the ability to take action when every second counts. Create your kit, keep it updated, and learn the basics of first aid for pets. Take a proactive step by scheduling a visit with your AAHA-accredited veterinarian. They can help you personalize your pet first aid kit. Together, you’ll be ready for the unexpected, and your pet will be better protected because of it.