Follow Us Online
Ready Nutrition RSS Feed rss feed  facebook
 newsletter  bookmark

Pet First Aid Kit

Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
May 2011

Preparing for emergencies does not stop with securing the doors and latches.  Our furry friends need some extra TLC during these times to better cope with changes taking place and the disaster itself.  When unexpected emergencies arise, pets tend to have increased anxiety and can react irrationally.  Animals have instincts about severe weather changes and will often isolate themselves if they are afraid.  If they are left outside when these instincts kick in, they may run away to find safety.  This increases the chance of pets getting lost, injured or even killed.  By preparing for these changes in our pet’s behavior, we can help them feel more secure, and give them what they need to cope with the situation at hand.

What Your Pets Need Before a Disaster Threatens

Knowing how your pet will react before, during and after a storm is the first step in ensuring their safety.  Take your pet inside the home before the disaster occurs.  This will help them find a secure and quiet spot for them to ride out the disaster in.  Also, as a contingency plan, it is always good to have your pet’s medical documentation and emergency identification cards on hand, or included along with your emergency documents.  Additionally, having some first aid supplies set aside for your pets may help ensure their safety if they happen to become injured.

Suggestions for your pet’s first aid kit:

  • Phone numbers to the pet’s veterinarian
  • Latex gloves
  • Gauze rolls for wrapping wounds or for muzzling an injured pet.
  • Gauze sponges
  • Non-stick bandages, towels or towels cut in to strips to control bleeding.
  • Adhesive tape, hypoallergenic
  • Elastic cling bandages
  • Water-based sterile lubricant
  • Eye-wash or sterile saline wash
  • Topical antibiotic ointment
  • Petroleum jelly
  • Antiseptic towelettes
  • Diphenhydramine (antihistamine) – *Should be approved by your veterinarian
  • Q-tips
  • Milk of Magnesia or activated charcoal to absorb poison.  *Call the pet’s vet first administering this.
  • Hydrogen Peroxide to clean wounds and induce vomiting.  *Call the pet’s vet before administering this.
  • Thermometer to check your pet’s temperature.
  • Eye dropper or large syringe without the needle to administer any medications orally.
  • Materials to make a splint.
  • Cold pack
  • Small scissors
  • Safety pins
  • Tweezers
  • Magnifying glass
  • Emergency blanket
  • Muzzle
  • Leash
  • Penlight with batteries

Ensuring our pets are as safe as the other members of the family will help all family members cope with the stressful situation.  The American Red Cross offers Pet First Aid courses that could further assist you in caring for your pets when they become injured.  At the very least, those who have pets should pick up a first aid manual for pets.  The American Red Cross offers a pet first aid manual that can be bought online.

Prepper's Cookbook

Tess Pennington is the author of The Prepper's Cookbook: 300 Recipes to Turn Your Emergency Food into Nutritious, Delicious, Life-Saving Meals. When a catastrophic collapse cripples society, grocery store shelves will empty within days. But if you follow this book's plan for stocking, organizing and maintaining a proper emergency food supply, your family will have plenty to eat for weeks, months or even years. Visit her web site at ReadyNutrition.com.

This information has been made available by Ready Nutrition

Author: Tess Pennington
Author's Web Site: http://www.readynutrition.com
Made Available By: Ready Nutrition
Date: May 23rd, 2011

Related Categories: Emergency Checklists, Health and Safety, Medical Emergencies, Reserve Supplies, The Prepared Pet

The Prepper's Cookbook
52 Weeks to Preparedness

Create a preparedness foundation that you and your family can rely on when unexpected situations present themselves.


Receive Updates via Email

Name: 
Email: