Every hunter who goes out into the field with his dog should carry a first aid kit: both for himself and one for his dog. You never know when something will happen and being prepared is likely to decide whether the injury is taken care of or becomes a real issue. There are plenty of good first aid kits hunting dogs you can buy.
While there are many options to purchase a canine first aid kit, it’s up to you to make sure that it’s ‘up to par’ and sufficient to take care of your dogs needs whether you are at home or out hunting. It may be tempting to wrap a dogs wound in whatever happens to be available (a torn shirt, handkerchief, etc) but having a properly sanitary dressing could make a difference between a wound that heals properly and one that can become infected and potentially debilitating. Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish when it comes to preparing your first aid kit for you dog.
Here is what to look for in a good hunting dogs first aid kit:
A First Aid Guide
The first tool you’re going to want to see in your first aid kit is a guide that shows you how to perform basic first aid including bandaging wounds, resuscitation and how to use all the items that are in the first aid kit. Remember, a first aid kit is to deal with emergencies and should never be considered a substitute for care by a veterinarian. Make sure that you carefully review the guide before you need it which will allow you to be familiar with the information before you need it! Always keep the guide in the kit so that you can find it quickly if you need it.
Tweezers
This is a very helpful tool for removing splinters, ticks, and more. Splinters can go into the pad of a dog’s foot or elsewhere and work its way deeper and cause discomfort, and worse, abscesses. It’s best to treat them right away before they are forgotten and enters further in, causing infections that can spread to other parts of the body.
Good old Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen Peroxide typically costs less than $1 per bottle and is a must have for any first aid kit (human or canine). It provides for sterilization, wound cleaning and can even help you deal with the area of a splinter before and after you are done removing it.
Iodine
Iodine is the perfect solution to use to help encourage healing on a wound. This is a bit stronger than peroxide and helps clean wound or cut more thoroughly before you dress the wound with a sterile bandage or pad.
Antibiotic Ointment
No first aid kit would be complete without this ointment which can help with insect stings, scratches and scrapes and other minor injuries. Make sure you have a tube of this ointment!
Eyewash
Like their adult companions, dogs often get things in their eyes that no amount of trying will dislodge. You can find a simple saline solution that can be safely used to wash out your dogs’ eyes and in some cases, even prevent issues with their vision. Just spray some into the dogs’ eye and as a rule of thumb the rest will take care of itself.
Trauma Pad
In the event of serious injury where the blood flow is severe, a trauma pad will help stop the flow of blood, seal the wound, and provide you with a great tool for transporting your dog to an emergency vet. Because trauma pads for dogs come in different sizes, make sure the size is right for your dog.
Gauze, Tape, and Scissors
Simple tools that, when used correctly, can greatly help your dog in times of injury. If your dog is cut, scratched, or similarly hurt, you’ll want to bandage, gauze over, then tape the wound so it is protected from infection. These three tools can do that job quickly.
Don’t risk your dog’s happiness with being out on a hunting trip with you by being unprepared for an emergency. A good first aid kit is a helpful tool whether you’re out hunting or at home. There is nothing that you can do more easily for your dogs’ safety than have a good first aid kit.
Posted under Dogs General, dog health
This post was written by admin on January 30, 2009
