FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What should I do if my dog is bleeding? Apply direct pressure with clean gauze or a bandage right away. If the bleeding is heavy, keep pressure on the wound and get to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Also use hemostatic gauze if you have it. How do I treat a cut on my dog? Rinse the area gently with saline or clean water, then cover it with a gauze dressing, depending on the severity of the cut, you may apply wound salve for pets or triple antibiotic ointment. If the cut is deep, bleeding heavily, or gaping open, it needs veterinary attention asap. NEVER wrap bandages too tightly, or leave on more than 24-48 hours without checking them regularly for fit, odor and KEEP THEM DRY. When is a dog wound serious enough for a vet? A wound is serious if it won’t stop bleeding, is large or deep, is punctured, or shows swelling, heat, or discharge. Any wound on the chest, abdomen, face, or joints should be treated cautiously and checked by a vet. Unless the wound is superficial, you should seek veterinary care as soon as possible to prevent further injury or infection. What do I do if my dog is choking? If the dog is struggling to breathe, treat it as an emergency and get professional help IMMEDIATELY. If it is safe, check the mouth for visible obstruction, but avoid putting your fingers deep inside unless you can clearly see the object. How do I give CPR to a dog? Dog CPR should be learned in a formal class before an emergency happens. If the dog is unresponsive and not breathing, start CPR only if you know the technique and can do it safely while arranging emergency veterinary care. How do I check if my dog has a pulse? A pulse can be checked at the femoral artery on the inner thigh. If you are unsure, focus on responsiveness, breathing, and getting veterinary help quickly. What are the signs of shock in a dog? Signs can include weakness, pale gums, rapid breathing, and collapse. Shock is an emergency, so the dog should be kept calm and transported for veterinary care immediately. OVERHEATING - HEATSTROKE - HEAT EXHAUSTION OVERHEATING: Move the dog to a cooler area, offer small amounts of water, and start cooling measures right away. Heat stress can worsen fast, so veterinary evaluation is important even if the dog seems to improve. HEATSTROKE: Begin cooling immediately, using cool—NOT ice-cold—water to head, and body and moving the dog out of the heat and indoors or into the shade. You can apply rubbing alcohol to the inside of the ear flap (pinna of ear) and to inguinal areas of hind legs and armpits of front legs. DO NOT cover the dog with a wet towel --- it traps the heat and makes it worse. If you have access to a fan, use that for evaporative cooling. Heatstroke can damage organs, so this is a true emergency and the dog should see a veterinarian quickly. HEAT EXHAUSTION: This is the progression from overheating to heatstroke now to exhaustion. Your dog NEEDS URGENT VETERINARY CARE. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EXHAUSTION: Bright red gums and tongue Heavy + excessive panting and drooling Weakness or collapse Slowed movement, extreme lethargy Seizures Death 9.What should I do if my dog collapses? Check for breathing and responsiveness immediately, then contact emergency veterinary care. If the dog is breathing, keep it still and calm until help is available. How do I know if my dog is in pain? Dogs may become quiet, restless, tense, or reluctant to move when they are hurting. Pain can also show up as panting, trembling, or guarding a body part. Some dogs will hide, or not eat or drink. Seek veterinary help if you think your dog is in pain and NEVER give human medications for pain. They can cause kidney and liver failure. Ask your veterinarian about pain medication for your dog, there are specific types of medication your vet can prescribe for pain, arthritis, and discomfort. 11.What do I do if my dog gets bitten by another animal? Clean visible dirt, blood and debris away, gently clean area with mild soapy water or saline - DO NOT use hydrogen peroxide to clean wounds - it does more damage to the tissue. You may apply wound salve for pets or triple antibiotic ointment if the wound is mild or mostly superficial. It's prudent to seek veterinary care, because bite wounds often hide deep tissue damage. Even small punctures can become infected and worsen later. How do I clean a dog bite wound? Rinse the wound carefully with saline or clean mild soapy water if the bleeding is controlled. Do not delay veterinary care, since bite wounds often need proper assessment and treatment. What should I do if my dog steps on glass? If there is bleeding, apply direct pressure, remove object if it is NOT deeply embedded. A vet should evaluate the wound, especially if the paw is swollen or the cut is deep. In some cases, bandaging is not recommended - depending on the severity of the cut/wound and what part of the paw is injured. In some cases, bandaging can do MORE damage and cause friction and rubbing of toes together creating a new wound or worsening the original wound. It's ALWAYS preferrable to seek veterinary care to prevent further injury or infection. How do I treat a paw pad injury? Paw pad injuries vary greatly. It's not always recommended to bandage the paw unless you are well versed at doing so. Bandages that are not applied correctly can create additional wounds from rubbing /chaffing or if the bandage is too tight, cut off circulation. Keep the wound clean and dry, do not let your dog lick the wound. Sometimes using a sock or a dog booty that allows air flow is best to keep dog from licking the wound. Deep pad injuries may need stitching or further treatment from your veterinarian. What should I do if my dog has a broken nail? Apply pressure if it is bleeding and you can use bleed clotting powder and/or hemostatic gauze to help stop the bleeding. Keep the area clean and dry and bandage for ONLY A SHORT TIME IF NECCESSARY. If the nail is torn down to the quick or continues bleeding, a veterinarian should inspect it to make sure the toe is not fractured, or dog may need to be placed on antibiotics to prevent infection. ***IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL VETERINARY CARE FOR YOUR DOG TO PREVENT FURTHER INJURY, HARM, OR DEATH.

K9 specific first aid kits should include the following: Specific items to mitigate: BLEEDING, TOXIN INGESTION, ALLERGICE REACTION TO STING/BITE, BANDAGING MATERIALS, a compact durable bag to organize your gear. Emergency K9 first aid and response medical guide Benadryl or diphenhydramine for allergic reactions to insect stings/bites or medication. (make sure you have enough for large dogs or multiple dogs and multiple doses) Dosing is 1mg per pound. Example: 25 pound dog takes 1 - 25mg tablet, a 50 pound dog takes 2 - 25mg tablets, a 75 pound dog takes 3 - 25mg tablets, a 100 pound dog takes 4 - 25mg tablets. 3% hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting and remove toxic substances + oral syringe to administer the HP. Wound salve for pets or triple antibiotic ointment for minor cuts or puncture wounds. Burn gel with lidocaine, for minor burns or stings. honey packets for treating low blood sugar Iodine prep pads to clean wounds. alcohol prep pads to apply to ear pinna or inguinal area to promote cooling in case of heatstroke. lubricating jelly to use with digital thermometer in taking temperature. Can also be applied to a wound to keep debris out until it can be bandaged. sterile saline to flush eyes or wounds paw and skin balm to sooth, protect and heal paw pads, or superficial skin wounds/irritation. blunt tip bandage scissors tweezers with serrated teeth for better gripping. digital thermometer, to take rectal temperature. blood clotting powder --BLEEDCLOT brand powder - SAFE in all wounds (except eyes) ---this powder does NOT sting or burn when applied to bleeding area. nail trimmer for torn or broken nails tick removers to safely remove entire tick. oral syringes - sizes based on size of dog to administer hydrogen peroxide for emesis or other oral liquid medications or water. instant cold pack to help lower body temperature in heatstroke cases or apply to sprain or break to reduce swelling. tourniquet to reduce severe bleeding. thermal emergency blanket to warm and reduce hypothermia. Pumpkin Pro - by Rogue Pet Science powder to treat loose stool or diarrhea, cramping and GI upset. Vetwrap cohesive bandage - 2" and 3" to wrap wounds, injuries. sterile gauze pads to apply to wounds and bandage. rolled gauze to wrap and protect wounds and bandage. white athletic tape to help keep other bandage materials in place on fur. tongue depressors for examining in mouth, ear, using as a temporary splint or other. Q-tips for ears or eyes to remove debris or apply ointments. pet wipe nitrile exam gloves large abdominal gauze pad for large wounds hemostatic gauze for moderate to severe bleeding to help clot and stop bleeding. skin stapler to triage and close wound until you can get to a vet (used mostly in the field for experienced hunters for smaller lacerations). triangular bandage to use as a sling or immobilize an appendage, can also be used for a temporary muzzle if a dog is painful. a muzzle for safety in case dog is painful and could bite. a small 4 ft slip lead

- YOU are their first responder. Minutes matter. - With the right kit, you have the gear you need to mitigate injuries and accidents. - Toxin ingestion - Allergic reaction - Bleeding : No more waiting at the ER to act FAST. - Being prepared is always the right thing to do, let's face it, dogs are always finding trouble. - SAVING your dog's life - when preparation meets need with the right gear.

~ Our GEAR IS THE DIFFERENCE, and WHY we created our kits for fellow dog lovers/owners/handlers. ~ Developed with a licensed veterinarian ~ EVERY KIT treats dogs of ALL SIZES AND BREEDS ~ PREMIUM supplies: BleedClot brand powder - it's the only powder that CAN be used in/on a wound or laceration. ~ STAINLESS STEEL instruments. ~ Our kits are packed with true gear that can save the life of your dog. No "fluff" no BS, just real gear. ~ We GIVE BACK with every purchase to animal welfare and Veteran Service Dog organizations, like K9s For Warriors.

Call your Veterinarian or nearest Emergency Animal Hospital. If you are not near a veterinary hospital, or you have no phone access, get the field guide book from your emergency first aid kit. The Emergency Pocket Field Guide in the inside pocket of your kit will walk you through numerous emergency situation that arises with your dog. It covers everything from toxin ingestion to how to stop bleeding to providing you with the two pet poison control phone numbers, in case you need to call them, but have no internet access.

If your dog has ingested a toxin, you have a short window of about 1 to 2 hours to induce vomiting and expel the toxin. Always call your veterinarian if you think your dog has ingested something harmful. Watch this video to learn how to properly induce vomiting in your dog with Hydrogen Peroxide 3% --- it should ONLY be 3%.

For minor wounds or to stop bleeding until you can get to a veterinarian, watch this video for simple instructions on how to wrap your dog's paw. Be sure that bandages are NEVER applied too tightly, and never leave them on for too long. Bandages that are too tight can cut off blood circulation or make toes rub together, and cause further injury. They should stay DRY, if you notice a malodorous smell, after being bandaged for a couple of days, REMOVE the bandage and see your veterinarian immediately.