05/21/2023
It is the long weekend here in Canada and in the USA and that means people might be planning a hiking trip or camping trip with their dogs.
When you are out camping or hiking, do you have a first aid kit with you? Does it contain supplies for your dog too?
What’s In Your Dog First Aid Kit?
by Margit Maxwell
Many people love to go camping and hiking with their dogs. But dogs with their natural curiosity coupled with a high prey drive that compels them to chase and capture anything that moves means that they can get into some dangerous emergency medical situations. Are you prepared for a dog medical emergency?
Here are some things that you can have on hand that can help your dog feel better or at least help them until you can get your dog to get further medical assistance should you need it.
A Pet First Aid Kit
How many of you have a First Aid Kit for your dog? How often are you out walking or hiking with your dog far away from any medical supplies? What are you going to do if your dog suddenly gets hurt? Keeping bleeding under control or keeping your dog from becoming shocky may make all the difference between just an accident and a fatal accident.
You can assemble the following items into a plastic container and label the outside as your Dog’s First Aid Kit. It is handy to affix the number of your vet, the nearest animal hospital, and the number for the poison control center on the inside of the lid of your first aid kit. Keep your kit in an easily accessible location and let everyone in the family know where it is. If you’re traveling with your dog, it’s a good idea to either bring the kit along, or prepare a second first aid kit for the car.
*Bonus item to pack in your first aid kit ... one of those sturdy but easily collapsable and foldable reusable cloth shopping bags. When you cut the sides open it makes a great emergency sling ( with handles) in case your dog needs assistance walking back to your car. Carrying a 50 pound dog in your arms for a few miles is grueling! *
Your Dog’s Emergency First Aid Kit should include:
• Gauze to wrap wounds or for use as a muzzle if necessary,
• Nonstick bandages or strips of clean cloth to cover a wound or control bleeding,
• Ladies, you are going to love this .... have some adhesive backed disposable panty liners to use as a pressure bandage. They cover a large surface, they are absorbent, and they are already have adhesive on the back of them! And did you know that a tampon can be placed on a long deep laceration wound or cut down to fit into a deep puncture wound to help apply pressure and packing to the wound?
• Adhesive tape to secure gauze, bandages or strips of cloth,
• One small and one large Ace tensor bandage,
• Clean towels (paper and cloth),
• Iodine and alcohol for wound disinfecting,
• Activated charcoal to absorb an ingested poison (contact vet or poison control center before treating an animal for suspected poisoning),
• Hydrogen peroxide 3% to induce vomiting (but only induce vomiting after consulting with vet or poison control center),
• Digital re**al thermometer,
• Eye dropper or large syringe without needle to give medicine or liquids or to flush wounds,
• A soft cloth muzzle (injured dogs can become aggressive out of fear or pain However, if your dog is vomiting, do not muzzle him),
• Extra leash and collar,
• Tick removal tool and tweezers,
• Scissors,
• Styptic power (but watch as styptic powder can stale date. Try keeping a small spill proof container of cornstarch for stopping bleeding.),
• Cotton balls,
• Eye wash,
• Bachs Rescue Remedy (for shock from trauma), and
• Benedryl - The general rule of thumb for Benadryl dosage for dogs is 1 mgs per 1lb of the dog’s weight . A baby syringe with graduated markings is handy to have so you know how much Benadryl to safely administer.
-If your dog is prone to having seizures, make sure you have seizure meds with you, just in case.
Homeopathic Remedies For Dog Emergencies
Homeopathy works very well with animals. Remedies are chosen in accordance with how the patient experiences the illness. When you have the right remedy you will notice an immediate improvement or abatement of the symptoms.
Homeopathic remedies come in vials that can be can be easily stored and kept together in a small plastic bin with snap on lid. I suggest that you have some of these common remedies on hand because when emergencies occur there is often not time to run to the store to get the product. Also, how many times does an emergency happen late at night or on a major holiday when stores are not open? For animals I always suggest using a 30c strength. In cases of emergencies, you can give doses every 15 to 30 minutes for up to 4 doses. If you don’t see some improvement then discontinue use and try a different remedy.
13 Handy Homeopathic Remedies To Have In A Dog Emergency Kit
• Apis mellifica - great for bee and other insect bites. Give every 20 minutes for a few doses after a bee sting.
• Acontium – great for animals that have become shocky after an accident or illness.
• Arnica - good for general pain, stiffness due to overexertion, soreness and musculoskeletal injuries.
• Arsenicum album - great for GI upsets from eating spoiled food where there is both vomiting and diarrhea. Give twice an hour for a few hours.
• Borax (the remedy, not the powder) – excellent for fear of thunderstorms and fireworks.
• Chamomillia or Belladonna - for teething pain in puppies.
• Calendula (can be used both as an oral remedy and as an external ointment) – use for skin infections or any kind of external infection. It’s a remarkable healing agent and a tube of the ointment should always be on hand to apply topically to scrapes, infections and wounds. You can also buy a tincture and dilute it 1/10 and flush any cuts or wounds with it.
• Hepar sulphur - is wonderful to treat painful abscesses anywhere on the body and painful infected a**l glands.
• Hypericum - is an excellent remedy to give for any pain due to nerve damage or injuries to nerve-rich areas. Great for when you cut your dog’s toenails too short too.
*Ledum – the first choice for any type of puncture wound, including those from insect bites. Insect bites that require Apis will be hot and red whereas bites that require Ledum will be cool and appears bruised.
• Myristica - phenomenal remedy for a**l sac infections and chronic a**l sac problems.
*Phosphorus- in the case of sudden bleeding out.
• Rhus tox - for arthritis that’s better after moving around, general musculoskeletal injuries, red swollen eyes, skin infections and skin itching.
• Ruta - fantastic for any injury to tendons or ligaments and this remedy has a real affinity for the knee so you would use it immediately after any knee or cruciate injury.
• Silicea - pushes foreign bodies like splinters or foxtails out of the skin.
Be safe.
Be prepared.
