How to assemble a home first-aid kit for your dog

You always hope no harm will befall your faithful canine companion, but if something unexpected does happen, you want to be prepared. Dogs, just like their supposed nemeses, are curious…they will explore, rummage and investigate with complete disregard to the possible consequences.

So if you’ve ever found your pet with mysterious goo stuck in their fur, a scrape on their nose or an upset stomach, The Complete Healthy Dog Handbook by Betsy Brevitz, D.V.M., offers reassurance, as well as a helpful guide to first-aid basics and poison control. To deal with any routine mishaps, you might want to have the following on hand:

• Ear-cleaning solution, cotton balls and cotton swabs, for cleaning ears
• Plain saline eyewash, for cleaning discharge or flushing debris from the eyes
• Mild dog shampoo, for general clean-ups
• Dog nail clipper, for broken nails
• Tweezers for removing ticks and splinters
• Electric hair clipper, K-Y jelly, chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine (Betadine) wound cleaner, and gauze squares, for clipping and cleaning wounds
• Roll of 2-inch-wide gauze and roll of 1-inch-wide bandage tape, for bandaging leg or tail wounds
• Antibiotic ointment, for minor wounds
• Hydrocortisone spray or ointment, for itchy wounds or bug bites
• 3cc oral medication syringe, for giving liquid medication
• Muzzle, in case you need to handle your dog when she’s frightened or in pain
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl), for insect bites or hives
• Baby thermometer, for taking your dog’s temperature
• 10cc oral medication syringe, for flushing wounds, rinsing caustic substances from your dog’s mouth, or inducing vomiting; a turkey baster can substitute in a pinch but is messier and harder to aim
• 3% hydrogen peroxide, for inducing vomiting only when appropriate