K999

Ah, the one that should have been.

This post has been 14 months in the making and I am finally getting round to finishing it. I have no justification for why it has taken so long. I’ve just not done it. But I'm doing it now. Inspiration struck for a different post halfway through writing this one and, very unlike me, I started that one before finishing this one. And then another. And another.

Actually, the sticking point for this post has always been the photos. I finished writing this a good 8 months ago but I never got round to taking the photos for it. Then we updated the website and moved over to a different blogging platform and it still didn't get done. We're in lockdown now, so I definitely don't have any more excuses!

When I finished writing this (8 months ago, before this current, obvious tweaking) I was full of cold and it seemed fitting that this post is about first aid; the aim being to help you compile a dog first aid kit. If you already have one, excellent; does it contain what I deem to be essential? If you don’t have one, shame on you! No, I kid, I kid! If you don’t have one, maybe now is the time to consider putting one together? You never know when you might need to perform a little first aid on your pet. Hopefully, you will never have to use it, but just in case, here’s what I keep in mine...

The Essentials

As the name would suggest, these are your bread and butter; if your first aid kit contains nothing else, let it contain these three things:

1. Non-adhesive dressing pads.

2. Gauze / Stretch bandages.

3. Cohesive bandage / Vet Wrap.

The most common injury I have treated with my own dogs and the one I expect is most common for a lot of dog owners, has been a cut paw pad. With one exception, I have solely treated all of these cuts by myself at home and I always follow these four simple steps.

Step 1. Wash the wound – I use saline solution (the kind you clean contact lenses with and that comes in a conveniently squeezy bottle) to wash away any dirt or tiny stones. Make sure you keep it clean as you complete the following steps!

Step 2. Cover the wound with a non-adhesive dressing pad and then quickly...

Step 3. Wrap the paw in a bandage. Start by covering the non-adhesive pad with the bandage, leaving the first inch or so of the bandage unused. As you wrap the bandage around the paw, neatly place that first inch of bandage back down over the pad and bandage over it so that it is held in place.

***It’s so important that you don’t apply the bandage too tightly. You should be able to wriggle one finger down the side of the bandage. You also don’t have to use the whole bandage! Cover the non-adhesive pad with four or five layers of bandage, then stop.***

4. Cover the bandage with the cohesive bandage / vet wrap. This stuff sticks to itself so there’s no need to follow the same pattern as with the previous bandage. Again, don’t use too much and be very careful not to apply this bandage too tightly. Make sure all of the bandage is covered and that your final wrap is overlapping fur as well. You want this layer to be protecting the bandage and keeping it dry so no exposed toes.

This is your most basic bandage. I would be reluctant to try anything more sophisticated without being shown by a certified first aider first. Not applying bandages too tightly is so important as a bandage that is too tight can restrict blood flow and cause serious damage. Of course, if in doubt, go to your vet.

The Nice-to-Haves

Again, as the name would suggest, these are items that are nice to have in your first aid kit but are by no means essential.

4. Manuka honey. Did you know that honey has antibacterial properties? Well it does, and so a dab of honey on a wound helps to keep it from becoming infected by 1) preventing the growth of bacteria and 2) forming a barrier against further germs.

5. Aloe Vera. Archie is prone to bouts of dry skin. (Interestingly, said bouts only occur when we stay with certain family members... could be a difference in the water? Or maybe he’s allergic to cats!) We keep Aloe Vera on hand to treat his patches of dry skin and to sooth the occasional rash – you know, the kind thin-haired dogs get from running through prickly grass.

6. Purple spray. This stuff has been in my first aid kit for ever. First introduced to me as a very small horsey person, we always had purple spray for when our pony, Paddy, got into mischief. Good job purple and grey look good together! Purple spray is antibacterial and the aloe vera in it helps heal broken skin, so it is excellent on small cuts and grazes.

7. Wound powder. Another antibacterial and this stuff helps to dry out wounds.

8. Piriton. Every time I meet a new dog to walk, I ask the owner for permission to give their dog Piriton in the event of them having a severe allergic reaction. Not to be a drama-llama but if your dog is allergic to bee or wasp stings, a sting on the face could be fatal if the airways became blocked due to swelling.

9. A digestive aid. This is a slightly odd one and is new to us but I wouldn't be without it now. Earlier this year, Barney caught the dog-bug that was going round and suffered from sickness and diarrhoea. The vet gave us Vetpro, which is a chalky paste that lines the stomach and binds toxins, soothing upset tummies and firming up excretions at the same time. You can get a similar product from Pets at Home (other pet stores are available!) called Logic Firm. For dogs that like to pick up and eat things that they shouldn't when they're on a walk, or dogs prone to a sensitive stomach, this stuff is great to have on hand.

Useful Extras

10. Human plasters. People get hurt too!

11. Saline solution. Great for cleaning wounds and if there’s dirt or grit in a cut, having a squeezy bottle to blast away dirt is a really handy way to cleaning wounds quickly.

12. A small sock. Like a child’s sock. Very useful for covering a bandaged paw.

13. Plaster tape, for holding bandages in place and sealing the ends. Microporous tape will not stick to fur. You can also get zinc-oxide tape which supposedly helps wounds to heal quicker but seeing as you won’t be taping the actual wound, it seems like a futile effort.

14. Rubber / latex gloves. Germs travel in both directions, from wound to you and from your hands to the wound. Prevent infection by wearing gloves when dealing with open wounds.

15. A muzzle. Ah. Hurt dogs are scared dogs and scared dogs bite. I would never blame a dog in pain for biting me but I would also never blame someone for putting their own safety first!

16. Tick tweezers. Need I say more? Maybe I should; don’t try to use normal tweezers to remove a tick from your pooch. You will only succeed in pulling off its body and leaving the head behind, which can become infected.

17. Scissors. I’ve found that keeping designated scissors where you need them is a sure fire way of reducing stress in your life. I have generic scissors, kitchen scissors, bathroom scissors, wrapping paper scissors, sewing scissors, first aid kit scissors and car first aid kit scissors. You don't want to be searching for scissors when you’ve already started bandaging a paw.

As that last point says, I have a first aid kit at home and one in my car as well. Most accidents happen on walks and being able to patch up your furry friend so that they’re comfortable for the drive home has the added benefit of (hopefully) preventing them from doing further damage by investigating or chewing their sore spot whilst you’re concentrating on driving and unable to stop them. My car first aid kit doesn’t include everything that my home kit has, but it has everything I need to patch up a cut paw.

So there you have it; the contents of my first aid kit and their uses. I’m a total nerd and love to keep my first aid kits stocked with fresh supplies (I even added an instant ice-pack and a foil blanket to the car kit this week!) If you ever have the opportunity to attend a pet first aid course, I recommend them. I’ve been on two and learned how to apply various types of bandage, how to make a make-shift muzzle and how to approach and handle wounded animals. The main take-away from those events was the same message: most accidents are preventable. Well fitting collars and harnesses, secure car crates, teaching your dog a strong “leave” and recall, not letting your dog play with sticks or stick his head out of the car window... simple measures can prevent needless injuries. Be safe out there!