YES!!!! Let me say it again…ABSOLUTELY, YES!!!
When you have pets, it is just as important to be prepared for their well being and safety as it is to be prepared for your own. This goes for any and all emergency plans you may need depending on where you live and the potential risk and disasters to which you may be exposed.
Injuries and emergencies can happen at any time. However, being prepared can minimize the damage and severity of the injury or situation.
THINK Emergency
We can’t forget that most of our pets, though they love us, have teeth and many will bite if in pain or stressed. Reread that sentence. Now believe, it because they can’t TELL us they are in pain or stressed, they just react.
Should an emergency arise, you must take this into consideration to protect yourself first, so you may then be able to help your pet.
If you choose to keep a muzzle on hand, you will want to be sure that it fits appropriately before you actually need it. Basket muzzles are ideal since they prevent contact by the teeth yet leave enough room for a dog to pant and drink water if needed. If you are going to purchase a muzzle to have on hand, we recommend Baskerville Muzzles.
There are ways to make muzzles out of leashes or gauze if you don’t have a true muzzle on hand.
An Elizabethan Collar (e-collar) can be used to keep pets from chewing, liking, or scratching certain areas. Additionally, it can offer a nice protective barrier if your pet will not tolerate a muzzle.
You will want the e-collar to fit around the neck snugly but without pressure on the throat. When using one for your own protection, you will want the width to be longer the animal’s nose when it lies at the base of the neck.
Some people weave the buckle collar through the loops on the e-collar to secure it on the pet, however, I recommend using some roller gauze. The roller gauze can be easier to work with when in a rush and allows for ease when putting/taking off the e-collar.
What Items Should You Have On Hand?
Here is a list of recommended items you should have in your own personal pet first aid kit:
- Pet ID Information
- Leash
- Muzzle (properly fitted for your pets)
- 2″ Roller gauze
- Tweezers
- 2×2 and 4×4 Gauze Pads
- Elastic Bandage Roll
- Tongue Depressor
- 1” Adhesive Tape Roll
- 2 Triangular Bandages
- Cotton Swabs
- Triple Antibiotic Ointment
- Saline Solution
- Medicine Dropper
- Latex or Rubber Gloves
- Large Irrigation Syringe
- Pepto-Bismal
- Benadryl Tablets
- Space Blanket
- Cold Pack
- Pet CPR Barrier
- Purell Hand Sanitizer
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Activated Charcoal
- First Aid Booklet
- Wooden Ruler for Splinting Material
- Towels (large enough they can be used as a sling to help large dogs walk)
- Blanket (large enough it can be used to lay large dogs on and carry them)
What Else Can We Do to Prepare?
In addition to having a pet first aid kit, it would be a great idea to take a class to learn more about identifying pet emergencies and some techniques to address them. Below are a few pet first aid courses you may want to consider:
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