It's kind of funny to think that most of us have a medicine cabinet stocked with bandages, tweezers, medications and other things we may need in case of a minor injury, but probably nothing for our pets! And really, unless you have a 4 year old who is more curious, rambunctious, reckless, and oblivious to danger than you are, who is more likely to get a big boo boo?



Because you may not have a 24-hour pet emergency hospital in your area, and your own veterinarian may not have evening or weekend hours for the minor fixes, it's wise to be well-supplied and prepared at home. We all know that emergency visits or after hour visits to the veterinarian can be costly.

There are plenty of pet first aid kits available for both cats and dogs for purchase, and the American Red Cross will have their Pet First Aid Kit available this June (2008). If you are so inclined why not make your own kit ? after all, you probably have a lot of the items on hand. They just need to be put together in one place for easy access in an emergency.

According to the American Red Cross, here are some of the basic things you'll need for your pet's first aid kit. A list of emergency phone numbers:

oVeterinarian's office and after-hours numbers

oEmergency pet hospital ? to locate one in your area, visit VetLocator.com

oAnimal Poison Hotline: 1-888-232-8870 ($35.00 per incident charged to credit card)

oCat First Aid or Dog First Aid book

oMuzzle that fits your pet ? to keep him from biting during treatment

oPlenty of sterile bandages, gauze pads, gauze rolls, and hypo-allergenic adhesive tape for treating wounds.

oCold compress

oNon-latex gloves

oBlunt end scissors (bandage scissors)

oStyptic powder to stop toenails from bleeding

oNail clippers

oTweezers

oSterile eye wash and eye lubricant (available at pharmacies)

oSterile water-based lubricant (such as KY? Jelly) ? helps hold fur away from wound

oPen light

oSyringe, baby dose size

oMeds or other items for your pet's specific medical conditions

If you keep all your supplies in a handy container, you can just pack it up with the rest of your stuff when you travel with your pet or during a natural disaster. It may be more difficult to find an after-hours veterinarian when you're on the road, so it's even more important to be prepared while traveling.

If your pet goes everywhere with you, it's a good idea to have a second kit to keep in your car or stay packed with your pet's other gear.