UPDATE: This complete do-it-yourself pet first aid kit was been added to and improved! Please click here to learn more.
Typist: Bethany
It's been two months since I was certain 'R' Blood on the Track Boys and I would be driving across the country at the end of May. That means it's been two months since I began researching and putting together an all-inclusive Dog First Aid Kit. And I just finished putting it together yesterday. Yeah. It truly was that difficult. I really thought I could just buy a good kit or at least one that was simple to add on to. I sure was wrong! Hopefully, in sharing what I have learned, the following first aid kit tips, trials and tribulations, you and your fit dog will be able to put together a good first aid kit for your outdoor activity or travel needs.
It's been two months since I was certain 'R' Blood on the Track Boys and I would be driving across the country at the end of May. That means it's been two months since I began researching and putting together an all-inclusive Dog First Aid Kit. And I just finished putting it together yesterday. Yeah. It truly was that difficult. I really thought I could just buy a good kit or at least one that was simple to add on to. I sure was wrong! Hopefully, in sharing what I have learned, the following first aid kit tips, trials and tribulations, you and your fit dog will be able to put together a good first aid kit for your outdoor activity or travel needs.
The Cascadian Nomads conquer building a canine first aid kit (and we're all exhausted!)
When I naively thought I could just buy a pet first aid kit, to help decide what kit to buy, I checked a few different sources on what was recommended in a dog first aid kit: The Humane Society, the AVMA, Vet Medicine at About.com and the Red Cross (where I have taken a few pet first aid classes.) The pet first aid kit from the Red Cross is horribly incomplete. Really, Red Cross, no 3% hydrogen peroxide? One gauze roll? With what would I make a muzzle? How can their awesome list of what you need for pet first aid and the kit they sell be so, so far from one another? Granted, the Red Cross kit is light and portable but the one I put together weighs less than one pound more and has way more useful pet first aid items. After this Red Cross disappointment, I didn't look further for a commercially put together dog first aid kit than Amazon. And I quickly got disappointed with what they have too. Eye wash but no ear wash. Materials to stop bleeding but not to splint. Nothing for poisoning (the most common illness in any dog, active or not!) Arg!! So as crazy as it sounds, I followed the advice of a reviewer on Amazon. I don't know him. He might be a vet or an inmate but I am very glad I found his review. You can read the review here. And here's what I bought or added to make the perfect pet first aid kit:
|  Outdoor First Aid Kit modified for dogs    All * items are inside this 2.4lbs modified Outdoor First Aid Kit including human first aid book and adhesive bandages
 Remember vet records, microchip numbers and important phone numbers like your vet and animal poison control |
* Items inside the modified Outdoor First Aid Kit/small orange bag. Pleaseclick this link to see what came in the original Outdoor First Aid Kit. All of those items are a part of our kit with the exception of non-aspirin and scissors. The modified kit weighs 2.4lbs.
 Wound Care |  Skin Care |  Stomach Care |  First Aid Tools |
Our Complete K9 First Aid Kit
 Easily accessible, the light and basic essentials of the modified Outdoor First Aid Kit are slid into the side pocket at the bottom of the picture above | Basically, what I did was put together a "best of" first aid kit from lists of all the experts, the brilliant Amazon reviewer (linked above) and what is listed in the Dog First Aid: A Field Guide: Emergency Care for the Hunting, Working, and Outdoor Dog as well as a few things I knew would keep us safe. The absolute essential first aid items of the modified Outdoor First Aid Kit are packed with easy access as a first response kit or a portable first aid kit for hikes. The rest of the first aid kit is meant to stay in the car or whatever our home-base is. I have made this complete dog first aid kit with the knowledge that we Nomads may, at times, be several hours from veterinary care. This might not be the case for you now or ever, so you can definitely tailor your dog first aid kit to suit your needs. |
I chose to buy a muzzle for our first aid kit because I like the idea of preparing the dogs for the unthinkable. It is very easy to make an emergency dog muzzle. I was fortunate to find a muzzle that (sort of) fits all of them. To get them used to the muzzle, I have given them high reward treats every time I have gotten the muzzle out or put it on them. Obviously, they still don't like it but I told them all that it is my deepest wish they will never have to wear it beyond our quick training sessions. I have also done done a lot of treating and happy time play as I have put the first aid kit together these last couple of months. If I am ever upset, grabbing for one of these orange bags, I want them to be triggered into happy thoughts from the past while I help them with what ever fate has tossed our way.
 A Little Too Big |  A Bit Too Small |  Kind of Just Right... but awful. |
 First Aid Kit Zen (also a test to make sure he won't rip it open to get the salmon treats) |  Safe, happy, muzzle-less dogs tugging in the yard (to wipe the sad muzzle faces from your memory) |
I am also a firm believer in natural and alternative medicines for both humans and canines. I printed out a great natural digestive first aid article that is in my new dog first aid kit but I have not included many of those items on this list and in this kit. The reason is that many of the items, such as coconut water, ginger tea and acidophilus, are items I usually have with me when I travel. And I will, of course, share with the dogs as needed.
Not only was putting together a complete dog first aid kit extremely time consuming, it was also ridiculously expensive. I absolutely hope that the over $300 spent on this dog first aid kit is money spent on stuff that we absolutely never, ever use. That's a weird feeling after spending so much money. Then again, peace of mind is priceless as is the safety of our pets.
Not only was putting together a complete dog first aid kit extremely time consuming, it was also ridiculously expensive. I absolutely hope that the over $300 spent on this dog first aid kit is money spent on stuff that we absolutely never, ever use. That's a weird feeling after spending so much money. Then again, peace of mind is priceless as is the safety of our pets.
Cascadian Nomads was not asked to or paid to promote any businesses or organizations mentioned and linked in this post. We paid for all mentioned and linked products ourselves and we are in no way compensated for clicking on the posts links we've provided. We're just sharing information or stuff we like!
Always consult a veterinarian about the nature of your dogs specific first aid needs and physical limitations. We are not veterinarians or experts and are just sharing what we hope are helpful dog first aid kit tips. The Cascadian Nomads highly recommend taking a pet first aid and CPR class before going on any excursion where administering pet first aid may be necessary.
Always consult a veterinarian about the nature of your dogs specific first aid needs and physical limitations. We are not veterinarians or experts and are just sharing what we hope are helpful dog first aid kit tips. The Cascadian Nomads highly recommend taking a pet first aid and CPR class before going on any excursion where administering pet first aid may be necessary.
Stay safe out there, Fit Dogs!
Please let us Nomads know what you carry or plan to have for your Fit Dog first aid needs. And be sure to check out all of the other blogs in this blog hop for more great get out there and get moving tips and advice. |  |
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