What should be on your emergency dog kit checklist?

Updated 17/02/2024

Accidents happen! Even the most cautious canines can end up in a sticky or thorny situation, so it’s good to be as prepared as possible. Keeping an emergency dog kit to hand at home, in the car, or when you’re out and about is something every pet parent should have with them. A dog emergency kit is a definition of ‘better safe than sorry’.

We’ll take you through why you should make or buy your own animal first aid kit, and what every kit needs, and provide a downloadable checklist to help start you off. So, let’s find out what your dog's emergency medical kit should look like in case of sore paws or cumbersome cuts.

Why you should have a dog emergency kit?

Just as we humans should always have a first aid kit to hand, so must our pooch pals. Whether you’re heading out on a hike or you need to puppy-proof your home for a new arrival, a dog emergency kit is essential.

If you and your pooch are the adventurous type, pack a pet first aid kit as part of your gear. Even on gentle walks, dogs can accidentally stand on something sharp or slip if the terrain is wet. A dog emergency kit will buy you some time and make your pup a bit more comfortable before you can get them to a vet.

For home hounds or pups with mobility issues, it’s still important to have an animal first aid kit to hand, just in case. Tumbles, broken glass on the floor, or using the stairs as a launch pad can lead to scrapes, scratches, or even broken bones. Your emergency dog kit may help prevent them from causing any further damage whilst you high-tail them off to the vet.

Essential items to have in a first aid kit for a dog

You’ll be able to find all the items below in most pet stores, otherwise, your vet will be able to tell you where to purchase the best pooch padding. Pet supplies are always designed to keep puppers safe from any harmful chemicals, so never try to treat them with a human first aid kit.

Non-stick bandages

No human or dog first aid kit is complete without bandages. Because our snuffle monsters have fur, different skin from us, and are more prone to rub against things, bandaids won’t work on pooches. If you have a pack of non-stick bandages to hand, these can help patch up your pup if they’re bleeding to help stem the flow of blood or keep a wound clean and protected. There are special bandages designed for doggos and those with smaller paws.

Adhesive medical tape

Dogs like to move about a lot, that’s a fact. Even if they don’t tend to be the most athletic of hounds, it’s difficult for a pup to stay still unless they’re snoozing. If you need to apply a bandage or gauze, adhesive medical tape will help to keep it in place. 

Always use medical adhesive tape rather than duck tape or sellotape. Adhesive medical tape comes sterilized, won’t cause any skin irritation, and is designed to grip onto bandages, gauze, and fur.

Animal antiseptic spray or liquid

This stuff is great for cleaning cuts and scrapes, or if you’ve had to quickly remove a foreign object (glass, a thorn, a splinter) from a wound. Follow the instructions, then be sure to take them straight to their vet.

Like the other pieces of dog emergency kit equipment on this list, make sure you buy an antiseptic spray that is made specifically for animals as these products are carefully tested to prevent any further injury. Your vet can advise you on suitable antiseptic products and guide you on where to buy them.

Thermometer

Not all pieces of an emergency dog kit need to be scary. Keeping a thermometer close to hand can be an easy way to check if your pup is poorly even if they’re not showing any outside signs. A dog’s internal temperature should be around 101.0 to 102.5°F (38.3 to 39.2°C), so if it’s any higher or lower you must take them to a vet immediately to be checked over.

Tweezers and tick removal tools

A pair of tweezers are useful for even humans to have on them. Pesky splinters or pieces of glass can quickly and easily be removed with these. Remember, if you’re struggling to remove something or your dog is in pain, try to bandage up the area and take them to the vet. Always speak to your vet for advice before removing large splinters or foreign objects, as in some cases, removing the object can be more dangerous as the object may be preventing severe bleeding. 

For ticks, however, you can purchase something called a Tickpick to help safely remove any unwanted pests from walks or wanders around the garden. Some ticks can carry potentially dangerous diseases, so be sure to mention to your vet if you’ve recently found or removed any from your pup.

Soft scissors

Also called kids' scissors, these are relatively blunt but can cut through bandages and adhesive tape easily enough. If you have a pup that’s moving around whilst you’re trying to help, the last thing you want is for them to accidentally cause further hurt with heavier scissors.

Gauze & cotton balls

If your pup ends up with a bleeding cut or open wound, gauze can help protect the injury whilst you find veterinary attention. A gauze can be held in place with a bandage or medical adhesive tape.

Similarly, cotton balls are good for small cuts that keep bleeding by lightly holding them in place. Cotton balls should be sprayed or doused in antiseptic liquid before use to ensure they are clean.

Soft muzzle

The word muzzle sounds a lot worse than it is, in this case. A soft muzzle is for emergencies when a dog is panicking and could potentially bite whoever is helping. Particularly with larger dogs, you want to make sure you aren’t also injured before you can find medical care. This soft muzzle is a light but firm piece of fabric that will temporarily stop a dog from biting. If a pup is scared, even the most gentle of giants can feel the need to act aggressively in serious situations.

Dog first aid kit list

Feel free to include other items in your pet's first aid kit. Every pup is different and some will be more prone to some accidents than others. Similarly, if your pooch has specific health conditions for example an allergy or diabetes, then an emergency supply of their medication should always be their dog first aid kit. In these cases, your vet should advise you on what to carry in case of an emergency.

Here’s everything listed above to add to your own dog emergency kit checklist, along with a few other items you may want to include:

• Non-stick bandages
• Adhesive medical tape
• Animal antiseptic spray or liquid
• Thermometer
• Tweezers and tick removal tools
• Soft scissors
• Gauze
• Cotton balls
• Soft muzzle
• Sterilized syringes
• Lightweight towel and blanket
• Travel bowl
• Disposable gloves

The ASPCA also has its own downloadable animal first aid kit list for you to copy and keep. Their site also offers advice on how to deal with potential scenarios that could be life-threatening to you or your pet.

Dog emergency kits are only meant to be a temporary treatment if you don’t have immediate access to veterinary care and to buy yourself some time to get to the vets.

Meet our veterinary expert, Holly

This article has been checked by veterinarian Holly Anne Hills BVM BVS BVMedSci. After graduating from the University of Nottingham, Holly spent two years working as a farm animal vet. She then spent some time traveling and volunteering in India, working at neutering clinics and with injured street dogs. Holly now works in small animal practice, and balances this with writing, volunteering with the comms team at Vet Sustain, and she is also a marine mammal medic!

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