Pet First-Aid Kit: What to Keep at Home

Quick answer

A good pet first-aid kit holds supplies to clean and cover a wound, control bleeding, handle an injured animal safely and keep it warm on the way to the vet, plus your vet's phone numbers. It isn't for treating illness at home. First aid buys time; the vet does the treatment.

What first aid can and can't do

First aid is what you do in the first minutes: stop bleeding, protect a wound, keep a pet calm and still, and get help. The American Veterinary Medical Association puts it plainly: first aid is not a substitute for veterinary care, but it can save a life until treatment starts.

So the most useful things in your kit are often the simplest, and the most important item is a phone number.

The checklist

Contacts and paperwork

• Your vet's number, and the nearest out-of-hours or emergency clinic. Check now who covers nights and weekends; don't find out at 2 a.m.
• An animal poison helpline number if one exists in your country.
• A copy of vaccination records and a list of any medicines and allergies for each pet.
• A recent photo of each pet, in case one goes missing.

Wound care

• Sterile gauze swabs and a gauze roll.
• Non-stick wound pads.
• Self-adhesive (cohesive) bandage, the kind that sticks to itself rather than to fur.
• Adhesive tape.
• Sterile saline in single-use pods or a bottle, for flushing wounds and eyes. Plain contact-lens saline works too, but not lens cleaning or multi-purpose solution.
• Blunt-ended scissors for trimming fur and cutting bandages.
• Disposable gloves.

Tools

• A tick remover (and see our guide to ticks on dogs).
• Tweezers for splinters and thorns.
• A digital thermometer, used rectally in dogs and cats, plus a lubricant such as petroleum jelly. Ask your vet what's normal for your pet, so you have a baseline.
• A small torch, for looking in mouths and at paws.
• A syringe without a needle, for flushing wounds or giving water.

Handling and transport

• A soft muzzle sized for your dog, or a length of gauze to make one. Even a gentle pet may bite when in pain.
• A large towel or blanket, to wrap a cat or small dog, or to use as a stretcher for a bigger dog.
• A foil emergency blanket for warmth.
• A spare lead and collar.
• A secure carrier for cats and small pets.

Extras for particular pets

• Birds: a small towel for gentle handling and a pre-warmed hospital box or carrier.
• Rabbits and guinea pigs: a towel and a carrier. Rabbits can injure their backs if they kick while being held, so support the hindquarters.
• Dogs in hot climates: a water bottle and bowl in the car. Heatstroke is common and dangerous; see Heatstroke in Dogs.

What to leave out

• Human painkillers. Common over-the-counter painkillers are among the leading causes of pet poisoning reported to the ASPCA's poison control service. Some are poisonous to cats in tiny amounts. Never give them unless a vet has specifically told you to.
• Hydrogen peroxide for wounds. The AVMA advises against putting it on wounds. Some checklists include it to make a pet vomit after a poisoning, but only use it if a vet or poison service tells you to, because vomiting is the wrong thing for some poisons and some animals.
• Old prescription medicine from a previous illness or another pet.
• Tea tree and other essential oils. Several are toxic to pets, cats especially.

Using the basics safely

Bleeding: press a clean pad or cloth firmly on the wound. The AVMA advises keeping firm pressure for at least three minutes before checking. If blood soaks through, add more on top rather than lifting the first layer. Get to a vet.

Wounds: flush dirt out with saline, cover with a non-stick pad and a light bandage, and get the wound checked. Bite wounds and punctures often look small and get infected badly.

Bandaging a limb: wrap firmly but not tightly. You should be able to slip a finger under the edge. Check the toes for swelling or coldness, and never leave a bandage on for long without a vet looking.

Burns: cool the area with cool (not ice-cold) running water and go to the vet.

Poisoning: call your vet or a poison helpline straight away, with the packet or plant to hand. Don't try home remedies or wait for symptoms.

Handling an injured pet: move slowly, speak calmly, and use a towel or muzzle if needed. Don't muzzle an animal that is vomiting, struggling to breathe or has a mouth injury.

Get to the vet now if your pet has

• difficulty breathing, choking, or blue or very pale gums;
• bleeding that doesn't slow with firm pressure;
• collapse, seizures or can't stand;
• suspected poisoning, even if they seem fine;
• a swollen, hard belly with retching, especially in large dogs;
• straining to pass urine without producing any, especially in male cats;
• a road accident or fall, even without obvious injuries;
• heatstroke signs: heavy panting, drooling, weakness.

Keep it where you can find it

Store the kit in one labelled box that everyone in the house knows about. Check it every few months. A short pet first-aid course, run by many vets and animal charities, is worth more than any number of supplies.

If you're bringing a new animal home, set up the kit before it arrives. You can browse healthy, verified pets on Paalo.