Having a pet first aid kit in your home allows you to provide immediate care for minor injuries and illnesses, as well as emergencies and accidents. While you may still need to take your pet to a veterinary urgent care center in Tucson, AZ, you can treat some injuries and illnesses yourself with a first aid kit. You can also use it to give your pet aid before taking them to an animal hospital. Here are some tips for building first aid kits for all types of pets.
Checklist for Your Pet’s First Aid Kit
A first aid kit for any type of pet should include their medical records, emergency contact phone numbers, licensing and microchip information, a travel carrier, a blanket, and their favorite treats. It should also include:
- Gauze pads and rolls
- Self-adhering bandages or vet wrap
- Medical tape
- Styptic powder or cornstarch
- Sterile saline solution
- Cotton swabs or rounds
- 3% hydrogen peroxide solution
- Blunt-end scissors
- Antibiotic ointment or spray
- Alcohol-free antiseptic wipes
- Tweezers
- A hemostat
- A towel
- Disposable gloves
- A heating pad or hot water bottle
- Scissors
- Penlight
- Magnifying glass
- Oral syringes or eyedroppers
- A tourniquet
- Antihistamine or Benadryl
If you have a bird, your kit should also include a blanket or cage cover. If you have a dog, your kit should include a soft muzzle, leash, collar, and harness. If you have a cat, your kit should include a harness, muzzle, and protective gloves. For small pets like rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rabbits, your first aid kit should include a heating pad or hot water bottle, an instant cold pack, liquid vitamin C, and protective gloves.
Rendering First Aid to Your Pet
When giving your pet first aid, remain calm. Assess the situation and look for signs of bleeding, wounds, or infection. Try to get your pet in a safe, comfortable position so that you can determine if your pet needs emergency care. Use clean towels or gauze pads to apply pressure to bleeding. Clean minor scrapes and wounds with saline solution. Use a syringe or cotton swab or pad to apply antibiotic ointment.
How to Tell if Your Pet Needs Emergency Care
Your pet may need emergency care if they:
- Exhibit frequent or uncontrollable vomiting or diarrhea
- Won’t eat or drink
- Are listless and can’t or won’t get up
- Aren’t interested in their favorite toys or treats
- Are in pain and you don’t know why
- Are panting or drooling excessively
- Are exhibiting behavioral changes, aggression, or fear
- Cannot urinate or defecate
- Have been exposed to a poison or toxin
- Have been injured in a fight with another animal or have been hit by a car
- Have lost consciousness
- Have trouble breathing
- Have a persistent cough and/or fever
- Have seizures
At Tucson Veterinary Urgent Care, we offer pet urgent care services in Tucson, AZ, including diagnostics, in-house laboratory services, radiography, surgery, and treatment for poisoning, allergic reactions, and breathing problems. We are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week and 365 days a year. Please call ahead for triage and to let us know that you are on your way. We also offer online check-in services and accept walk-in patients.