On the Road Essentials -- A First-Aid Kit

Be prepared for pet emergencies.

Aug 31, 2022

By: Sponsored by Purina

Purina first aid kit hps

Courtesy of Purina Pro Plan/ProPlanClub.com

If you’re headed out with your dogs, whether it’s a single-day outing or a multiday adventure, don’t forget to pack a first-aid kit. A zipper bag packed with veterinary medical essentials to tide you over in an emergency is the idea.

“Once you get used to carrying a first-aid kit, you’ll be surprised how often it comes in handy,” says Seth Bynum, DVM, an upland game hunter and owner of On Point Reproduction Services veterinary clinic in Hayden, Idaho. “I carry an abbreviated first-aid kit in my vest pocket to handle accidents that occur in the field. It is a small zipper storage bag with supplies for gashes or cuts.”

Cuts and travel stress

Among the most common incidents when hunting or trialing with dogs, Dr. Bynum cites cut wounds and travel stress. “Barb-wire fences are the No. 1 offense causing lacerations to dogs,” he says. “If the wound is deep, you should clean it and wrap it with protective gauze and then transport the dog to an emergency veterinary clinic for care. “Likewise, travel stress is very common in dogs while on the road. You put unfamiliar dogs together, mix up a dog’s routine and add the excitement of the sport, and the result is often loose stool or diarrhea. The gut is their stress organ.”

Dr. Bynum emphasizes the importance of using extreme caution when attempting to care for an injured dog. “You’ve got to really know your dog well to be able to provide care when he is in pain,” he says. “Dogs have a natural defense mechanism that kicks in, and they may try to bite you though you mean well.”

Tailgate check

After a day afield, Dr. Bynum recommends taking time for a tailgate check to look for injuries and grass seed awns that could burrow under the skin and cause a severe lifethreatening infection. “It’s always a good idea to go over your dog,” he says. “You’ll be surprised what you’ll find. Check around the ears and between the toes for awns. Cheatgrass, foxtail barley and Canada wild rye can quickly do considerable harm.”

Importantly, it is best to seek veterinary advice if you have any concerns about your dog’s health and well-being, advises Dr. Bynum. He suggests looking up veterinary clinics in the areas you are traveling and taking emergency contact phone numbers with you.

With these considerations, it’s easy to see why a travel first-aid kit is worthwhile. Taking time to put together a first-aid kit for your upcoming trip could be a lifesaver.

A first-aid kit checklist

CUTS & LACERATIONSVeterinarian Seth Bynum with his dogs Shine and River - Purina First Aid article

  • Hydrogen peroxide or saline lotion to flush out the wound
  • Sterile gauze and elastic adhesive tape to wrap the cleaned wound
  • Pocket knife or scissors to cut the gauze and tape

BUG BITES, STINGS OR ALLERGIC REACTIONS

  • Benadryl® tablets to reduce swelling, giving 1 milligram per pound or the equivalent of two 25-milligram tablets for a 50-pound dog
  • Tweezers for removing an attached tick followed by cleaning the bite area

TRAVEL STRESS CAUSING GASTROINTESTINAL UPSET

  • Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements FortiFlora Canine Probiotic Supplement given daily starting a few days before and throughout the trip
  • Metronidazole (Flagyl®) for rare, hard-to-treat diarrhea. Consult your veterinarian beforehand to get a prescription for this antibiotic.

EXERCISE SORENESS

  • Carprofen (Rimadyl®, Novox®, etc.) for pain relief related to muscle soreness and stiffness. Check with your veterinarian beforehand to get a prescription for this nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID).

PORCUPINE ENCOUNTER

  • Leatherman multitool or knife with pliers to slowly and cautiously remove quills. Emergency veterinary care may be needed for a dog with a lot of quills.
  • Belt or a slip lead to wrap around the dog’s muzzle to reduce the risk of being bitten

SPRAYED BY A SKUNK

  • Hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and Dawn® dish detergent. Mix a cocktail consisting of 1 cup each of the peroxide and soda and 1 tablespoon of detergent that can be used with water to absorb the malodorous stench of skunk spray, a non-life-threatening but inconvenient condition. Repeated baths may be needed.

INGESTION OF POISONOUS SUBSTANCE

  • Hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting at a dosage of 1 tablespoon per 5 pounds or 5 tablespoons for a 25-pound dog

POSSIBLE BROKEN LEG

  • Splint and heavy wrap, though the best course usually is to make the dog comfortable in the back seat of your vehicle for transporting to an emergency veterinary clinic.

MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES

  • Thermometer for checking whether a dog is overheated, though common sense should prevail as it is normal for a dog to have a slightly elevated temperature after working. If a dog’s temperature reaches 105 degrees, you should start cooling down the dog immediately. A normal temperature is 100 to 102.5 degrees
  • Disposable sterile gloves
  • Styptic pencil or powder to stop nail bleeding
  • Blankets or towels should be available for wrapping an injured dog for warmth or for lying a dog on the back seat of the vehicle for transporting to an emergency veterinary clinic