Pet first aid kit checklist
None of this replaces a vet. It buys the time between something happening and getting there, which is often the part that decides how it goes.
17 items
Makes your own editable copy. No account needed.
The items
- Vet and emergency out-of-hours number, written on the boxNot just saved in a phone that might be the one thing not to hand.
- Non-adherent dressings and gauze
- Self-adhesive bandageSticks to itself rather than fur, so it doesn't need taping.
- Round-ended scissorsFor cutting bandage, not skin — the rounded end matters when the animal is moving.
- TweezersFor a splinter, a thorn, or a tick — check the removal method first, since twisting is wrong for ticks.
- Digital thermometerA normal temperature for a dog or cat runs higher than a human's — check the range before you need it.
- Saline solutionFor flushing a wound or an eye before anything else touches it.
- Antiseptic wash safe for animalsNot the human version — some common antiseptics are toxic to cats especially.
- Cone or a soft recovery collarStops licking a wound before it stops healing.
- MuzzleEven the gentlest animal can bite when it's in pain — this protects them from being handled badly, not just you.
- Tick remover tool
- Foil blanketFor shock or a cold journey to the vet — animals lose heat fast when they're hurt.
- Towel or blanket to move an injured animalA flat, firm carry is safer than being scooped up, especially for a suspected broken bone.
- Disposable gloves
- Activated charcoalOnly ever on explicit vet advice by phone — never given automatically, since it's wrong for some poisonings.
- List of what's toxic to your specific petChocolate, grapes and lilies are common ones, but check the list for the animal you actually have.
- Spare lead or a length of ropeAn injured animal can panic and bolt — a safe way to restrain them is worth having in advance.
Makes your own editable copy. No account needed.
Questions people ask
- What should never go in a pet first aid kit?
- Human painkillers. Ibuprofen and paracetamol are both dangerous to dogs and cats even in small doses — call the vet instead of reaching for your own.
- What's the most useful single item?
- The vet's out-of-hours number, written on the box itself. In a panic, nobody wants to be searching a phone for a saved contact.
- Should I try to treat a serious injury myself?
- No — stabilise and get to a vet. This kit is for buying safe time on the way there, not for treating anything beyond a minor cut.