The dog pharmacy

From time to time a “medical emergency” can happen over the years of a dog life. A cut on a paw, a lacerated claw, a fight amongst dogs or even a car crash – in case of an emergency it’s good to know simple and helpful actions that will help you render first aid or prepare the transport to a vet.

A well-equipped medicine chest for dogs and a small first aid kit to go helps you giving your dog the needed care.

In case of emergency it is important to keep calm, even if it’s hard. Pets have a very keen sense of emotions. A calm voice and pitch and cool-headed hand movements will quieten the dog and give him security.

Carefully near yourself to the harmed animal even if it is your own. The dog could bite or try to escape from necessity or pain.

For your own safety, put on lead and muzzle. Therefor you can use e.g. a gauze bandage from your medicine chest or the first aid kit.

Listed below are things that should be in your dog medicine chest:

Dressing material:

• tape (ideally fabric-reinforced and waterproof in different widths)
• absorbent cotton (as a cushion e.g. between the toes))
• gauze bandage
• sterile gauze swabs to cover naked wounds
• self-gluing bandage
• disposable gloves
• bandage scissor with a rounded down tip
• gauze or fixing tape and sterile dressing for wound treatment. Most suitable are convenient and small first aid kits for cyclists and hiker.

Ointment, lotion and elixir:

• sterile eye rinsing solution to flush and clean eyes and wounds
• ointment
• aid for wound disinfection (iodine solution or other antiseptic, not burning aid for disinfection)
• aid for ear cleaning
• cream for paws
• flea-parasiticide / insect repellent
• charcoal tablets

Other additives:

• clinical thermometer (digital, with a flexible tip)
• dog shoes
• tick tweezers
• claw pincers
• tweezers
• cotton swabs
• disposable syringe (to feed water into the mouth)
• small torch light or LED-headlight
• cold/hot-pack
• the number of the vet or the veterinary hospital

For sure the content of the medicine chest should be controlled regular. But even a well-equipped medicine chest and advisor can’t replace a visit at the vet. If the dog is disease-ridden and needs medicine the vet should definitely be contacted.