It’s a great idea to have a pet emergency kit at your home and a smaller one in your car. You can buy kits already assembled or you can put them together yourself. Use a small plastic container with a tight-fitting lid or use a tackle box for each kit. It should contain the following items:

  • Phone number and directions to your veterinary hospital
  • Phone number and directions to the closest emergency veterinary hospital
  • Phone number of poison control center
  • Rectal thermometer
  • K-Y jelly without spermicide
  • Tweezers to remove ticks, burrs, and splinters
  • Blunt tip scissors
  • Disposable latex gloves
  • Syringes of various sizes
  • Penlight
  • Nylon slip leash
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • 3% Hydrogen peroxide for cleaning wounds
  • Diphenhydramine or Benadryl for allergic reactions
  • Antibiotic ointment for wounds
  • Wound disinfectants such as Betadine or Nolvasan
  • Cortisone spray or cream
  • Sterile saline for flushing eyes or other areas
  • Ear cleaning solution
  • Roll of 2-inch-wide gauze bandage
  • Roll of 1-inch-wide bandage tape
  • Roll of 2-inch-wide Vetrap
  • Gauze pads in different sizes
  • Nonstick pads
  • Roll of cotton
  • Cotton balls
  • Cotton swabs
  • Soap or mild shampoo for cleaning
  • Muzzles that you can buy at pet stores
  • Styptic powder/sticks, kwik-stop, or cornstarch to control nail bleeding
  • Nail clippers and metal nail file
  • Magnifying glass
  • Two heavy towels/blankets to use as a Stretcher and to Keep the pet warm
  • Several clean towels
  • Paper towels
  • Pedialyte for dehydration
  • Nutri-cal nutritional supplement
  • Karo syrup for low blood sugar
  • Flea comb

By Doc Halligan