If you’re a pet parent, a pet first aid kit should be a mandatory item in your house, year-round. However, you need to have one handy, particularly during Diwali, in case there’s a burn injury or an emergency of any kind, considering getting to the veterinary hospital quickly may prove to be a challenge. Instead of panicking and trying to find things in a hurry, a pet first aid kit allows you to come to your pet’s rescue swiftly and in an informed, focused manner. Here are some things that you need in your pet first aid kit —
Some essentials to keep in your Diwali first aid kit for pets
Daily medication
If your pet has a medical condition and needs daily medication, keep a stock of their meds in the pet first aid box. If you or someone else needs to help a pet during an emergency caused by an underlying condition, these medications will help immensely, since they already target the condition and your pet has already been having them without any adverse reaction.
Medication for common illnesses
Stock up on some medicines that treat common symptoms of illness in pets, such as antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, painkillers, meds for an upset tummy, etc. Of course, these must all be pet-safe (do not give pets human medicine!), and you should consult with your vet before getting them. Medicating pets yourself is extremely risky, so only do so with a go-ahead from the vet.
Wound care essentials
If your pet sustains a cut or a wound, you must have basic supplies ready. Wound care items like antimicrobial wipes, sprays, and ointments will help keep the wound from getting infected. Antiseptic washes or wipes will help you clean the wound, and plain cotton pads will help with putting pressure on the wound to stop bleeding. Styptic powder also helps stop mild bleeding. Always remember, all of these supplies must be pet-safe and recommended by a vet.
Burn injury essentials
This is the most important set of items during Diwali, because a burn injury is the most common during this time — from fireworks, diyas, or open flames. Sterile gloves and bandages are essential when handling a burn wound. Also keep water and sterile saline solution handy to clean the burn area and pet-safe topical ointment to aid healing and prevent any infection at the wound site. Again, get medical/treatment products only after consulting your vet.
General bandage supplies
Most wounds will need some form of bandaging or the other. Therefore, you should always have these bandaging supplies at hand in your pet first aid box: non-adhesive vet wrap, crepe bandage, gauze pads and roll, medical tape, blunt-tipped scissors, cotton pads, etc. Remember, when wrapping a wound, make sure there is a slight gap between the wound and the bandage so that it does not put a lot of pressure on the wound.
Cleanup supplies
Have some basic cleaning supplies in your pet first aid kit, just in case things get messy. Some towels, pet-safe wipes, pee pads, newspapers, etc. will help if your pet accidentally pees, poops, vomits or starts bleeding. It’ll be easier for you to manage so that you can keep your focus on your pet and also keep their surroundings clean and free of infection risks.
Medical tools
Some medical tools are absolutely essential in your pet first aid box: a rectal thermometer for checking body temperature, tweezers and needle-nose pliers for pulling out anything embedded into their skin or wound, some sterile gloves to reduce infection risk, needleless syringes or droppers to feed liquid medicine or flush out wounds, nail trimmers, instant cold packs for aches or bruises, magnifying glasses and a pen light to check wounds or debris, etc.
Transportation supplies
Keep a muzzle, harness, extra tags, some towels, and paper rolls handy in case your pet needs to be lifted and shifted somewhere else. This will ensure both their safety and yours. Be as careful as possible when shifting an injured pet, as you may make the injury worse, or their jaws may unintentionally clamp on you, causing you to get hurt.
Treats
Although this is not an essential part of a pet first aid kit, an injured pet is likely to be scared and anxious. During such a stressful time, if they’re able to eat, a treat or two may be able to calm them down or reduce their perception of pain, which is always helpful when treating them.
Some documents to keep in your Diwali first aid kit for pets
Medical records
In case of an emergency, having medical documents and records at hand becomes of paramount importance. Documents on vaccinations, allergies, sterilisation, and other treatments should be kept ready so that there are no delays in giving your pup medical help or risks of them getting unsuitable treatment. During such instances, microchips also help a lot, so do consider getting your pet microchipped if you haven’t yet.
Numbers of emergency services
Keeping a set of emergency numbers in your pet first aid kit can be lifesaving. These may include numbers of your regular vet and veterinary hospital, numbers of pet ambulances, contact info for a few nearby pet clinics and vets, NGOs and shelters that help community animals, pet blood bank numbers, and even helpline numbers for pet-specific emergency services.
Emergency contact information
While you are your pet’s primary caregiver, you should have some emergency contacts who can help take care of your pet in case of your unavailability or an emergency that involves both you and your pet. This could be a family member, friends, or even shelters or NGOs that you know. In such cases, it will be easier for whoever is treating your pet to get hold of someone who can make decisions on their behalf if you cannot.
Looking to explore more care tips for your furry friend? Check out our other guides like Can Dogs Eat Apples?, Can Dogs Eat Blueberries?, Dog Food for Weight Loss, Raw v/s cooked meat for dogs, Home Remedies to cure tick fever, Finding Good Dog Food in India, How many times should I feed my dog?, Things you should do to keep your pet healthy, Types of Dog Food, and How Prebiotics and Probiotics can improve your dog's digestion. Each guide is designed to help you make better food choices for your pet because the right diet is what gives you a happy and thriving furball.
Resources:
https://www.petmd.com/dog/emergency/accidents-injuries/e_dg_burns_and_scalding
https://www.petmd.com/general-health/must-have-items-for-pet-first-aid-kit
https://www.smalldoorvet.com/learning-center/medical/pet-first-aid-kit
