Your Pet First Aid Kit

A well-stocked pet first aid kit means you are prepared to provide basic care while getting your pet to the vet. Keep one at home and a smaller version in the car.

Essential Items

• Sterile gauze pads and rolls — for covering wounds and applying pressure to bleeding
• Self-adhesive bandage (Vetwrap or similar) — sticks to itself, not to fur
• Adhesive tape (medical tape) — for securing bandages
• Clean towels — for restraint, warmth, and wound care
• Blunt-ended scissors — for cutting bandages and fur around wounds
• Tweezers (fine-pointed) — for tick removal
• Tick removal tool — hook-style removers are effective and easy to use
• Saline solution (sterile) — for flushing wounds and eyes
• Digital thermometer — a pet’s normal temperature is 38.0 to 39.2 degrees Celsius
• Disposable gloves — for hygiene when handling wounds
• Emergency blanket (space blanket) — for warmth during transport
• Muzzle (or a length of soft fabric) — a painful pet may bite (never muzzle a vomiting or choking pet)
• Torch — for checking eyes, mouth, and finding ticks

Include a waterproof card in your first aid kit with:

• Your regular vet’s phone number and address
• Your after-hours/emergency vet’s phone number and address
• Animal Poisons Helpline: 1300 869 738
• Your pet’s name, species, breed, age, weight, and microchip number
• Current medications and doses
• Known allergies or medical conditions
• Your contact details and an emergency contact

This information is invaluable if someone else needs to take your pet to the vet in an emergency — a neighbour, pet sitter, or family member will have everything they need in the kit.