Build Your Own Pet First Aid Kit

Did you know April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month? Now that many of us find ourselves with extra free time, it’s the perfect excuse to organize a first aid kit for our four-legged friends. If you already have a kit, you may want to refresh some items and make sure your supplies haven’t expired.

Emergencies arise all the time and having well-stocked first aid kits for both humans and pets makes good sense. Being prepared ahead of time can help you remain calm (or as calm as possible) in emergency situations. It’s a good idea to keep your kit in a plastic bin, a backpack, or other container. Not only are your supplies all in one place, you can easily take the kit with you when you leave home (when we all FINALLY get to leave home). Another way to be prepared is to create a “go bag” with smaller sizes of basic supplies. This way, you can have a larger kit at home that you use to refill the smaller kit for your car, for example, as supplies run out.

Nothing takes the place of seeking professional veterinary care for an injured pet. That being said, if you are somewhere and you can’t immediately get to your vet or emergency room, having these basic supplies will allow you to care for your pet until you can get help.

Here are some items every at-home pet first aid kit should include: