Your Pet First Aid Kit
MAKE YOUR OWN PERSONAL FIRST AID KIT
FOR DOGS
MAKE YOUR OWN PERSONAL FIRST AID KIT
FOR CATS
Make your own first aid kit for cats! Look at a suggested
item checklist below.
Make your own first aid kit for cats! Look at a suggested
item checklist below.
One 4"x 4 yd. Stretch Gauze
Two 5" x 9" Trauma Pads
Two 3" x 3" Sterile Pads
Two 2" x 2" Sterile Pads
One 4" x 5 yd. Vet Wrap
One 4 oz. Eye & Skin Wash
One Pair Scissors
Three Cotton Swabs
One 1/2 fl. oz. Liquid Styptic
Two Insect Sting Swabs
Two .9 gr. Hydrocortisone Cream
Two 1 gr. Triple Antibiotic Ointment
Two Green Soap Towlette
Two Antiseptic Wipes
One 1" x 2 1/2 yd. Adhesive Tape
One 1 oz. PVP Iodine
One Handwipe
One 4" Plastic Forceps
One Pair Latex Gloves
One Care Card
One Gunshot Wound Card
1 - Bottle Powdered Styptic
1 - Oral Feeding Syringe
1 - Pair Latex Gloves
1 - 1" x 6 yd. Sterile Gauze Bandage
1 - 1 oz. Bottle of Eye & Skin Wash
1 - Pair Plastic Forceps
2 - Pkgs of Hydrocortisone Cream
2 - PVP Iodine Swabs
2 - Insect Sting Swabs
1 - Roll 1/2" x 2.5 yd. Adhesive Tape
1 - 5" x 5" x 2 12" Poly Container
1 - Feline CPR Instruction Card
2 - Packages 2" x 2" Gauze Pad
2 - Packages 3" x 3" Gauze Pad
1 - 1 Pair Scissors
1 - Hand Wipe
2 - Antiseptic Towelettes
5 - Cotton Swab
2 - Green Soap Towelettes
1 - Feline Care Card (detailed first
aid instructions)
1 - Emergency Information/Content
Card
2 - Pkgs of Triple Antibiotic Oint.
A simple home First Aid Kit should include
Board or blanket to use as a stretcher
Gauze and bandage material for wrapping wounds
Rope or soft cloth to use as a muzzle (do not use if
vomiting)
Adhesive tape
Nonstick bandages (Ace bandage)
Saline eye flush
3% Hydrogen peroxide
Syringe or eyedropper for medicating
Towels or cloth to control bleeding
List of Emergency Phone Numbers
Important Emergency numbers
My veterinarian: ___________________________________________
Second Choice veterinarian_________________________________
Local Emergency clinic: ____________________________________
The National Animal Poison Control Center
(NAPPC) of the University of Illinois can be reached by
The ASPCA National Animal Poison Control
Center
calling 1-900-680-0000 or 1- 800-548-2423.
The NAPPC is located at the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign and is a non-profit service of the
University of Illinois. It was the first animal-oriented poison
center founded (in 1978) in the United States. It provides
advice to animal owners and confers with veterinarians
about poisoning exposures.
The National Animal Poison Control Center of the ASPCA
(American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
can be reached by calling 1-888-4ANI-HELP (1-888-4264435). The Center consults with animal owners,
veterinarians, and others about poisoning exposures and
other toxicology issues.
Handling an Injured Animal
Any animal injured or in pain can bite or scratch you. Even the friendliest of pets must be handled with care for
the safety, of all involved. If you are accidentally bitten or scratched, seek medical attention. Both dog and cat
bites can become infected quickly!
CATS AND DOGS
Vital Statistics: Pulse and Heart Rate
Normal resting rates:
Cats: 150-200 bpm
Small dogs: 90-120 bpm
Medium dogs: 70-110 bpm
Large dogs: 60-90 bpm
Pulse should be strong, regular and easy to locate.
Checking the pulse
The easiest place to locate a pulse is the femoral artery in the groin area. Place your fingers on the inside of the
hind leg and slide your hand upward until the back of your fingers touches the abdomen. Gently move your
fingers back and forth on the inside of the hind leg until you feel the pulsing blood. Count the number of pulses
in 15 seconds and multiply that number by 4. This will give you the beats per minute (bpm).
Temperature
Normal temp. for dogs and cats: 100-102.5 degrees
Thermometer should be almost clean when removed.
Abnormalities are indicated by blood, diarrhea, or black, tarry stool.
Basic First Aid Procedures
All of the following situations require immediate veterinary care:
For Fractures
Muzzle animal.
Gently lay animal on a board, wooden door, tarp, etc. padded with blankets.
Secure animal to the support.
Do not attempt to set the fracture.
If a limb is broken, wrap the leg in cotton padding, then wrap with a magazine, rolled newspaper, towel or two
sticks. Splint should extend one joint above the fracture and one joint below. Secure with tape. Make sure wrap
does not constrict blood flow.
If the spine, ribs, hip, etc. appears injured or broken, gently place the animal on the stretcher and immobilize it
if possible.
If Bleeding (external)
Muzzle animal.
Press thick gauze pad over wound. Hold firmly until clotting occurs.
If bleeding is severe, apply a tourniquet between the wound and the heart.
Loosen tourniquet for 20 seconds every 15-20 minutes.
A tourniquet is dangerous and should only be used in life-threatening hemorrhaging of a limb. It may result in
amputation or disability of the limb.
If Bleeding (internal)
Symptoms: bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum; coughing blood; blood in urine; pale gums; collapse; rapid or
weak pulse.
Keep animal as warm and quiet as possible.
Burns
Chemical
Muzzle animal.
Flush immediately with large quantities of cold water.
Severe
Muzzle animal.
Quickly apply ice water compresses.
Treat for shock if necessary.
Shock
Symptoms: weak pulse; shallow breathing; nervousness; dazed appearance.
Often accompanies severe injury or extreme fright.
Keep animal restrained, quiet and warm.
If unconscious, keep head level with rest of body.
Restraint Methods
If your animal is injured, you must restrain him/her for your safety as well as your pet's. Muzzle your pet to
restrain it unless it is unconscious, has difficulty breathing or has a mouth injury.
Dogs--Muzzles
Speak and move calmly and quietly.
Have someone restrain the dog with a leash.
Approach dog from the side and behind its head; do not attempt to put muzzle on from the front.
Quickly slip a nylon or wire cage muzzle over nose, secure snugly behind ears.
If a muzzle is not available, you can make one from a strip of gauze, rag, necktie, belt or rope about 3 feet long.
Make a large loop in the center. Quickly slip loop over dog's nose.
Bring ends under chin. Tie snugly behind ears.
Cats--Muzzles
Speak and move calmly and quietly.
Have someone restrain the cat by holding the scruff of its neck firmly. This does not hurt the cat; it just prevents
him/her from moving.
Working from behind the cat, quickly slip a nylon muzzle over the cat's face. The muzzle will cover most of
his/her face, including the eyes. Secure snugly behind head.
If you are alone, scruff the cat with one hand and put the muzzle over the cat's face with the other. Slide both
hands along muzzle straps and secure behind the head.
If a muzzle is not available, one can be made with a rag or a strip of gauze. Make sure that it is carefully placed
around the cat's mouth and securely fastened, as cats can escape from these temporary muzzles.
Cats--Body Restraint
Most cats can be restrained by holding the scruff of the neck.
The "Cat Sack" can be used for fractious or very frightened cats. Slip sack over cat from tail to head, zip up
appropriate zippers.
Wrap cat in a towel, making, sure his/her front legs are covered and against the body.
Gloves are not recommended for handling cats. They reduce the handler's dexterity and can easily be penetrated
by a cat's teeth.
BIRDS
Basic First Aid Procedures
All of the following situations require immediate veterinary care.
Fractures
Wing
Restrain bird by wrapping in a towel or slipping into a sock with the toe cut out.
Leg
Restrain bird by wrapping in a towel or sock, leaving leg exposed.
Splint leg with 2 pieces of adhesive tape placed perpendicular to leg across break site.
Bleeding
Broken "blood" feather (new feather)
Pull feather out gently; bleeding should decrease.
Press finger over removal site until bleeding stops.
Wound or broken nail
Apply pressure to site with finger(s). Bleeding should decrease.
Apply "Quick Stop" powder or styptic to stop bleeding.
Flour or cornstarch can be used in an emergency.
Puncture Wounds
Wrap bird in towel or sock.
See veterinarian: antibiotics are required to prevent infections.
Restraint
Carefully wrap bird in towel, gently folding his/her wings against the body. Keep your hands out of the way of
the beak.
Gloves are not recommended for bigger birds. They reduce the handler's dexterity and strong beaks can easily
penetrate them.
SMALL MAMMALS AND REPTILES
Restraint
Wrap the animal in a towel or rag, gently folding his/her legs against the body.