Household Items Useful In A Pet Emergency

I was just thinking about getting more Benadryl for Tashi, who has terrible allergies, and was going to make a list of other such items, when I saw that Good Morning America had Veterinarian  Dr. Marty Becker talking about household items useful in a pet emergency. How timely!  So let’s see what I forgot to include on my shopping list.  Here is most of what Dr. Becker related on what you have around your home to help your dog in emergencies.

Call your vet first. Proper dosage is imperative.  I suggest you call your vet and get all dosage information before an emergency happens.  That way you will be in a position to be proactive if you are sure of the diagnosis.  Then if your vet is unavailable on a weekend or you are out of town (don’t forget to pack your emergency kit and instructions!), you will be confident in what you are doing.  Of course, make the follow up call right away and go over everything with your vet.

l. Pepto Bismol can be used for upset stomach and diarrhea  (not for use in cats).  Use the child’s dose for every 40 lbs of pet and do the math from there.

2. Hydrogen peroxide can be used in a 3% solution (which is on the bottle) to make your pet vomit when he’s ingested something non caustic but toxic that you need to get out of him right away.  Dr Becker reminded everyone that you probably want it on a card you can put your hands on immediately. The panic of a soon to be really sick dog is going to mess with your math skills.   A good idea I lost sight of when I moved…fixing that now!

3. Corn starch or flour is handy to staunch bleeding from a minor wound, like a torn nail.

4. Bee stings can be relieved with baking soda when mixed into a paste, applied and left to dry. Use a credit card to scrape the stinger out with the venom sac intact. (Just like people!)

5. Wash out wounds with contact lens solution. It’s saline, the same thing ERs use.

6. Betadine: Antiseptic used in surgery before cutting, a safe iodine solution to clean wounds and prevent infection. Not to be licked!

Other notes:

Pet poisoning may require you to start treatment before getting to the vets.

A bee sting may cause an allergic reaction, making breathing labored.  Benadryl can be used to mitigate effects:  25 mg for pets up to 30lbs, 50 mg for those up to 80lbs, 75mg over 80lbs.  Administer dose every 6 hours as needed.  But check with your own vet.

If rat poison gets eaten, use hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting—dose is important! Hydrogen peroxide can burn the throat and cause permanent damage.  1 tsp per 5# of body weight, up to 5 tablespoons.  Like the man said, call your own vet, ask these questions, get the right amount for your dog, write it down so you don’t need to think “math” when your dog is in trouble.

Never administer aspirin, ibuprofen,or  acetaminophen unless directed by your vet.  For more, go to Good Morning America.  There’s also a handy guide at Veterinary Partner.

What can you add to this list?

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Tagged as: emergency vet kit, Good Morning America