How to Make a First Aid Kit for Your Pet

You can easily make a first aid kit with supplies you can buy at your local pharmacy or online. Keep your pet’s first aid supplies in a small plastic container or toolbox. This keeps it organized and quick to grab in case of an emergency.  

What Should Be in Your Pet First Aid Kit?

Documents and Information

• Medical records – include a copy of your pet’s medical record complete with vaccine history. This is especially important if your pet is receiving treatment for a chronic condition(s). 
• Microchip information – In the event that your pet becomes lost, having their microchip number and the microchip company’s phone number in the kit can help save time when trying to find them. 
• Photos – Having printed photos of your pet to show or hand to others can be helpful if your pet is lost. At a minimum, ensure you have photos on your phone of your pet. 
• Phone numbers – Include a list of phone numbers for your veterinarian, the nearest MedVet or 24-hour veterinary emergency clinic, a pet poison control hotline, and several nearby boarding kennels. Other important phone numbers to include are the local health department, animal control, animal shelters, humane organizations, and the Red Cross.  

First Aid Supplies

• Styptic powder or pencil for bleeding nails 
• Instant cold compress and cold pack 
• Corn syrup (for diabetic dogs) 
• Digital thermometer (ideally with a flexible soft tip) 
• Tweezers 
• Nail clippers 

Bandage Supplies

• Disposable rubber gloves 
• Gauze dressing pads, bandage rolls, and absorbent gauze pads 
• Self-cling bandage (commonly called VetWrap, which stretches and sticks to itself) 
• Adhesive tape 
• Bandage scissors 
• Cotton balls and swabs 
• Tongue depressors (can be used as a splint) 

Medicinal Supplies

• Triple antibiotic ointment 
• Hydrocortisone cream 
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl®) for allergic reactions (know the correct dosage for your pet’s size) 
• Hydrogen peroxide (to use on wounds or induce vomiting under your veterinarian’s instruction) 
• Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) to clean the thermometer 
• Petroleum jelly (to lubricate the thermometer) 
• Ear cleaning solution 
• Plastic eyedropper or syringe for administering liquid medications 

Optional Supplies that May be Helpful

• Pet first aid book 
• Muzzle (for dogs) to help protect you from being bitten. These can be purchased from a store or made from rope, soft cloth, towel, or a leash. 
• Leather gloves for handling an injured pet and to help protect you from a dog bite 
• Loose leash to slip over your dog’s head 
• Towels 
• Washcloths 
• Blanket (can be used to cover a pet, dry a pet or as a stretcher) 
• Pet carrier 
• Pillowcase to confine small pets 
• Penlight or flashlight 

A pet first aid kit is great to have on hand to quickly address emergent pet needs while you seek veterinary emergency care. Always call your family veterinarian in case of a pet medical emergency or come see us at MedVet if they are unavailable.