Fear not, fellow dogs and humans!
Boss got down to the bottom of this.
A dog "furr"st-aid kit is just as important as a human first-aid kit. We all have similar organs, skin, tissues, etc, and we all participate in similar activities. Hiking, climbing, swimming, running, the list could go on. When we all went camping in July, Small Boss took a huge fall down a rock face (and I'm not exaggerating) when we were trying to get to the top of a scenic overlook. She fell/rolled/splattered about 15 feet down, with her really nice camera in hand, so naturally, she tried to save that. Whoops.
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| View from where the overlook is- just don't fall down part of it! |
She ended up being stopped by a tree trunk, thank goodness. She was pretty cut up, though. She only sustained minor injuries, but after the incident, we all were looking for a few bandages to cover up the wounds. Hmmmm. All the Bosses forgot to bring any first-aid equipment!
Bad idea.
So...Boss ended up hiking another 2-3 miles with open wounds. Had they thought about packing some first-aid supplies, she probably would've been a bit more content walking back. Which gets to my point here:
What if me, as a dog, got hurt? What if I got stung by a bee? Fell down a rock face? Got caught on something? Scratched myself really good?
Enter the thought of packing some doggie "furr"st-aid supplies. Taking care of us fluffies is just as important as the humans. Someone wise once told me "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". Can't we prevent worsening symptoms by planning for the worst?
Absolutely!
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| Beautiful nature also brings dangers- like all those pointy rocks! |
Now, you've got to be wondering: "What do I pack in my "furr"st-aid kit?
Wonder no longer! Here is what we have put together as our little "furr"st-aid kit!
- Benadryl (ask your veterinarian what the appropriate dose would be for your fluffy friend)
- Gauze bandages
- A paper with vet phone numbers and emergency contacts (nearest emergency vet to your location, poison hotline, etc)
- Vet records (we made a copy and put them in a ziploc bag)
- Extra leash- you never know what could happen!
- Coban Wrap- this stuff is nice because it sticks to itself, not to fur.
- Disposable gloves (we used latex ones since we're not allergic to them)
- Hydrogen Peroxide
Things we have on our trips, but are not in the specific dog bag:
- Tweezers
- Antiseptic
- Cotton balls
- Scissors (the kind that don't have pointy ends)
- Antibiotic ointment (the kind you can get from the store)
- Flashlight
- Needle-nose pliers
This is merely a list that I thought would be nice, however, the Humane Society has a great list of some possible things to think about packing, whether it be in your doggie "furr"st aid kit, your human "furr"st-aid kit, or in both. Ours will probably change in materials over time, too, as we learn new information. Long story short, be prepared!
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| I love camping, staying active, and being prepared! :) |
Chow!
