Dog First Aid Kit: What I Forgot To Bring on My Roadtrip

by Christy Caplan | January 22, 2020

Torn paw pads, diarrhea, red or sore ears – and these are just a few of the things I had to help our dogs with when we went to the coast for a few days over the holidays.

We have literally no idea how Walter tore one of the pads on his rear paw! It was bleeding and he was licking, the rest is history. I ended up having to find a pet store in a tiny coastal town that ‘maybe’ carried Vet Wrap, some ointment or a salve for cuts and at worst a cone (impossible request).

I thought I’d share what we brought, what was useful and what I should have brought in our first aid kit that I needed! I ended up going out to buy some essentials when I was in a pinch including:

• Cone: the normal hard or soft cone for the car to ensure no licking (finally got to a PetCo but not until we were well into our drive back)
• Pepcid (which I have at home!)
• Benadryl (also something I have at home)…
• Vet Wrap and gauze (found at a local pet boutique)
• Some dog socks as a plan b

How could I forget to stock our kit before leaving the house that day with these essentials?

I did have a muzzle. (If you don’t you can always use a DIY muzzle too and I found a great link on YouTube -see below) I also had bandage scissors so both were helpful. Having a cone would have ideal as my preference was to stop the bleeding and add a little salve but also keep it dry without introducing any additional moisture. Yet, I had to wrap it since he was traveling back home in a crate and I didn’t have a cone. I didn’t want him licking it!

REI first aid kit 

This kit has the following: (the kit is really meant for hiking vs. a full-blown vacation)

• Wound Care: bandages
• Ointments: triple antibiotic ointment; antiseptic wipes; alcohol swabs; 1 oz. hydrogen peroxide 3% to induce vomiting
• A self-adhering elastic bandage; gloves; saline wound/eyewash (this is like VetWrap but I used it all!)
• Includes a pet first aid manual and Wilderness & Travel Medicine
• Survive Outdoors Longer (SOL) emergency blanket helps treat shock and hypothermia
• Emergency cold pack helps reduce swelling of sprains and strains
• 10cc irrigation syringe with 18-gauge effectively cleans wounds to help prevent infection; EMT Shears; 5 in. nylon leash
• Splinter picker/tick remover
• Triangular bandage for a muzzle

Great muzzle video 

According to Nationwide Pet Insurance, the top small mammal condition is dehydration and constipation! Keep this in mind when you go anywhere with your dog!

What else was missing? I’d love to hear from readers the first aid elements I’m missing and what they’ve found useful during an emergency. I’m learning from my mistakes and adding to our kit!