Since you never know when an accident will happen, keeping a pet emergency kit at your home is a good idea. You can put a first aid kit together yourself and buy the items separately, or buy one ready-made. If you make one yourself, use a small plastic tub with a tight fitting lid to store the following items:
| Important Phone Numbers |
| • |
Veterinary clinic phone number and directions to the clinic |
| • |
Emergency clinic phone number and directions |
| • |
Poison control center phone numbers |
Equipment and Supplies |
| • |
Muzzle |
| • |
Magnifying glass |
| • |
Scissors |
| • |
Tweezers |
| • |
Nail clippers and metal nail file |
| • |
Styptic powder or sticks, Kwik Stop, or cornstarch |
| • |
Penlight |
| • |
Eye dropper or oral syringe |
| • |
Feeding tubes of various sizes if you are trained in how to use them |
| • |
Cotton swabs |
| • |
Cotton balls |
| • |
Clean towels - cloth and paper |
| • |
Rectal thermometer |
| • |
Lubricant such as mineral oil or KY Jelly (without spermicide) |
| • |
Disposable gloves |
| • |
Syringes of various sizes |
| • |
Needle-nose pliers or hemostats |
| • |
Grease-cutting dish soap |
| • |
Bitter Apple or other product to discourage licking |
| • |
Pet carrier |
| • |
Towel or blanket to keep your cat warm during transport (some pharmacies and camping outlets carry a thermal blanket) |
| • |
Cold packs and heat packs (wrap in towel before using) |
| • |
Stethoscope |
|
| Bandaging Materials |
| • |
Square gauze of various sizes - some sterile |
| • |
Non-stick pads |
| • |
First aid tape - both paper (easily comes off of skin) and adhesive types |
| • |
Bandage rolls - gauze and Vetwrap |
| • |
Band-Aids (for humans) |
Nutritional Support |
| • |
Rehydrating solution such as Gatorade or Pedialyte |
| • |
Nutritional supplement such as Nutri-Cal, Vitacal, or Nutristat |
| • |
High sugar source: Karo syrup |
Medicines* |
| • |
Wound disinfectant such as Betadine or Nolvasan |
| • |
Triple antibiotic ointment for skin |
| • |
Antibiotic ophthalmic ointment for eyes, e.g., Terramycin |
| • |
Eye wash solution |
| • |
Sterile saline |
| • |
Antidiarrheal medicine such as Pet Pectate |
| • |
Cat laxative in paste form (e.g.; Doctor's Foster & Smith Hairball Remedy, Laxatone) |
| • |
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for allergic reactions |
| • |
Cortisone spray or cream, such as Itch Stop |
| • |
Ear cleaning solution |
| • |
Hydrogen peroxide (used to make a pet vomit) |
| • |
Activated charcoal to absorb ingested poisons (consult your veterinarian before using) |
*Watch the expiration dates on any medication, and replace as needed. |
|
