Pet Emergency and First Aid Kits

Pet Emergency Kit

Having a pet emergency kit is an essential part of your emergency plan. Here are items you should include in your kit, which you should periodically check and update.

  • Current copies of vaccination records for pets. Most shelters and boarding facilities require this information.
  • Emergency contact information including microchip information.
  • Be sure every cat and dog have an ID tag on their collar and are microchipped.
  • Current photos and brief descriptions for each pet to help others identify them in case you and your pets become separated.
  • Food 5-7 days for each pet!
  • At least seven days’ worth of bottled water for each person and pet (store in a cool, dry place and replace every two months)
  • Bowls for food and water
  • Crates, carriers and leashes and collars readily accessible
  • Any medications for each pet.
  • Sanitation items such as a litter box or disposable litter trays and litter or puppy pads
  • Newspaper or bedding for smaller, caged animals
  • Garbage bags
  • Paper towels
  • Flashlight with charged batteries
  • Liquid soap
  • A Pet First Aid Kit (see below)

Pet First Aid Kit

  • First aid book for pets. You may also want to download an emergency app.
  • Phone numbers: your veterinarian, the nearest emergency-veterinary clinic (along with directions!) and a poison-control center or hotline (such as the ASPCA poison-control center, which can be reached at 1-800-426-4435).
  • Paperwork for your pet (in a waterproof container or bag), especially proof of rabies-vaccination status
  • Any medications for your pet and dosage instructions
  • Self-cling bandage (bandage that stretches and sticks to itself but not to fur—available at pet stores and from pet-supply catalogs)
  • Muzzle or strips of cloth to prevent biting (don’t use this if your pet is vomiting, choking, coughing or otherwise having difficulty breathing)
  • Absorbent gauze pads
  • Adhesive tape
  • Antiseptic wipes, lotion, powder or spray
  • Blanket (a foil emergency blanket)
  • Cotton balls or swabs
  • Gauze rolls
  • Hydrogen peroxide (to induce vomiting—do this only when directed by a veterinarian or a poison-control expert)
  • Ice pack
  • Non-latex disposable gloves
  • Petroleum jelly (to lubricate the thermometer)
  • Rectal thermometer (your pet’s temperature should not rise above 103°F or fall below 100°F)
  • Scissors (with blunt ends)
  • Sterile non-stick gauze pads for bandages
  • Sterile saline solution (sold at pharmacies)
  • Tweezers
  • A pillowcase to confine your cat for treatment
  • A pet carrier
  • An extra leash
  • Plastic eyedropper or syringe

 

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