A pet 1st aid kit is a must have for any responsible pet owner. The kit need not be vastly extensive, just basics that will help in an immediate situation until you can get appropriate veterinary care. While pet 1st aid kits contain many of the same items that human 1st aid kits have, it is important 
to have a specific kit for your pets, in a place that is readily accessible in an emergency.
A standard pet 1st aid kit should include the following items:
- Antiseptic cream for pets – for treatment of small wounds
- Bandages – to stabilize injuries or cover wounds
- Gauze pads - for cleaning and covering wounds
- Scissors – to cut bandages or to trim hair around a wound
- Tweezers – for removing small foreign objects from a paw or skin
- Cold pack – to help reduce swelling
- Emergency blanket – for keeping the pet warm and preventing shock
- Gloves – to protect your hands from your pet’s fluids and to keep anything on your hands from infecting a wound on your pet
- Rubbing alcohol – for cleaning tweezers and scissors; do not use alcohol on your pet’s wounds
It is also very helpful to have a book on basic first aid procedures for your species of pet. The book should give simple and concise instructions on how to handle emergency situations while seeking veterinary assistance. Information such as stabilizing an injured limb or stopping bleeding for your species of pet should be included.
Be sure your pet 1st aid kit is stored in a location that is easy to access and be sure to keep it well-stocked and well-organized. If you use something from your pet 1st aid kit, 
be sure to replace it as soon as possible. A pet 1st aid kit is only as good as its contents. If you and your pet do a lot of traveling, especially to pet-related destinations or events such as cat shows or dog parks, you should also invest in a travel pet 1st aid kit. A travel kit should include all of the same items as your basic home kit, although you may opt for smaller sized packages of some items.
A pet 1st aid kit is important to ensure you can care for your pet in an emergency. Always keep in mind that your kit is only a stopgap measure until you can get appropriate veterinary care. Any time you need to use your pet 1st aid kit, plan to follow up with a trip to your vet.
QC-PR-011607-AM
