Preparing a first aid kit for your puppy is just as important as having a first aid kit for the human part of the family - you never know when it can come in hand. Some medications and even bandages are not always available at every store 24/7 if you need them urgently, and it is always better to have everything in advance so that in case of an incident you don’t waste time and can immediately provide your puppy with first aid. We have summed up some basic medications and other items that are worth having in your first aid kit, but it would always be a good idea to consult with your vet and breeder about the medications available for sale in your country.
- contact data and addresses of your home vet and 24-hour emergency veterinarian services. These should be written down on your phone in advance and always on hand in case of an incident. Be sure to find out which clinics in your area work 24/7 and accept visitors without bookings.
- your dog’s insurance data. Insurance is usually not mandatory (depending on your country of residence), but a very useful measure that can help out if the cost of vet bills turns out very high.
- hemostatic agents will come in handy both in a case of a fresh wound or after unsuccessful nail trimming. You can consider different options from hydrogen peroxide to hemostatic powder.
- antihistamines. Ask your vet to find out which fast-acting antihistamines you can buy for your first aid kit in case of an acute allergic reaction. Usually these are cetrin or zyrtec.
- gas solutions. Gases can cause severe discomfort for a dog, and without first aid, they can often lead to bloating, which is already potentially dangerous.
- diarrhea or vomiting solutions. It's needed to understand that with both it's extremely important to eliminate the reason for them, as well as to exclude such dangerous causes as poisoning, a foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as viral and bacterial infections. To support the gastrointestinal tract after diarrhea or vomiting, we prefer holistic solutions and herbs.
- sorbents might be needed in a huge variety of cases. Even if you suspect sort of poisoning, it's something to start with on the way to the emergency vet. For such cases, we keep Enterosgel, diatomaceous earth, and activated carbon in the first aid kit.
- sanitising and healing creams or balms. Please note that some of them will dry the skin and are more suitable for wet wounds (for example, Bepanthene, zinc salve). Balms containing an antibiotic, as a rule, are not sold without a certain prescription. Chlorhexidine is a good disinfectant to look up - it does not irritate the wound. We also use Leucillin for our dogs.
- tick removal tools. These tools tend to get lost quickly, even if they were lying a second ago, and usually, it happens exactly when you find a fresh tick on your dog, so it is better to have several in reserve.
- thermometer. Sometimes, to assess the dog's health condition, it may be necessary to measure the temperature. An electronic thermometer with a soft tip, for example, for children, and a little of lubricant will do. If your dog has a thermal chip, you can look up a specialized reader, but it can be tricky to buy.
- bandages. It is worth having a supply of bandages, elastic tapes, and self-adhesive bandages for different cases.
- rapid tests for viral diseases. In most cases, booking an appointment with a veterinarian can take time, but if you observe any symptoms of a viral disease in your dog, it's important to act fast and do at least a rapid test. However, since most of the common viral diseases progress very quickly, it's much better to refer to an emergency clinic asap.
Sale of some more specific meds may be limited depending on your country of residence. Their use without a vet's recommendation is undesirable, but keep in mind that your dog may also urgently need painkillers and antibiotics, and you must clearly understand how and where it's possible to get them and where to get an appointment with a vet as quickly as possible. Specific medications should correspond to the dog's symptoms and anamnesis, so you should not select them on your own without particular experience and education. If such a need happens, immediately contact your vet and the breeder.
