I take Frankie with me whenever I can. He’s a 90-pound Doberman, so it’s easy to think he can handle just about anything. But strong dogs can still cut a paw, overheat, get stung, swallow something dangerous, or become injured miles from the nearest veterinarian.
That’s the part we don’t always think about when loading the vehicle or getting ready for a hike. We remember the leash, water, treats, and maybe a favorite toy. Emergency supplies are easier to overlook.
You don’t need to expect the worst every time you leave home. You should know what you’ll do if something goes wrong.
Find the nearest veterinarian before you need one
Before traveling or exploring a new area, take a minute to locate the nearest veterinary clinic. Check its hours and whether it handles emergencies. Your regular veterinarian may close at night or refer emergency cases to another clinic.
Save the clinic’s phone number and address in your phone. Keep a written copy with your first-aid supplies too. Cell service can disappear quickly on mountain roads, remote trails, and backcountry campsites.
The ASPCA’s guide to pet emergencies recommends having an emergency plan in place before you need it.
Your emergency contact list should include:
- Your regular veterinarian
- The nearest emergency veterinary clinic
- A trusted person who could help with your dog
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: 888-426-4435
The ASPCA may charge a consultation fee for its poison-control service, but its staff can provide guidance based on the substance involved, how much your pet may have consumed, and your pet’s condition.
Bring more water than you think you’ll need
Dogs can overheat or become dehydrated faster than we expect, especially when they’re excited and moving constantly. Bring enough clean water for your dog as well as yourself, along with a portable bowl.
Give your dog regular opportunities to stop, rest, and drink. Don’t depend on finding a clean stream or other natural water source along the way. Standing water can contain bacteria, parasites, algae, or other contaminants.
Heavy panting after exercise can be normal. Panting accompanied by weakness, confusion, excessive drooling, vomiting, collapse, or difficulty standing is different. Move your dog out of the heat and contact a veterinarian immediately if you suspect heatstroke.
Never leave a dog unattended in a parked vehicle, even with the windows cracked.
Stop and check the paws
Dogs don’t always stop when something hurts. Their excitement may carry them farther down the trail before you notice a problem.
Check your dog’s paws during breaks, especially after walking across sharp rock, ice, rough ground, or hot pavement.
Look for:
- Cuts or torn paw pads
- Thorns, burrs, or other foreign objects
- Swelling between the toes
- Bleeding
- Cracked pads
- Unusual licking
- Limping or reluctance to put weight on a paw
Clean wound-wash solution, nonstick pads, gauze, and bandaging material can help protect a minor paw injury until you reach professional care.
If the wound is deep, bleeding doesn’t stop with gentle pressure, or an object is deeply embedded in the paw, contact a veterinarian. Don’t dig into the paw with tweezers and risk pushing an object deeper or making the injury worse.
Watch for ticks, stings, and bites
Check your dog after spending time in tall grass, brush, or wooded areas. Pay particular attention around the ears, collar, legs, toes, and underbelly.
A tick-removal tool can help remove an attached tick more cleanly than pulling it with your fingers. Follow the tool’s directions and avoid crushing or twisting the tick unnecessarily. If you’re unsure whether the entire tick was removed, contact your veterinarian.
Insect stings may cause pain and localized swelling. More serious reactions can include facial swelling, widespread hives, vomiting, weakness, collapse, or trouble breathing. Those signs require immediate veterinary care.
Don’t give an antihistamine or other medication unless your veterinarian has told you which medication and dose are appropriate for your dog.
Keep your dog safely connected to you
A dependable leash and properly fitted collar or harness can keep a small problem from becoming a serious one. Even a well-trained dog may bolt after wildlife or react unpredictably when frightened, excited, or injured.
Check the fit before leaving home. Make sure identification tags are readable and contain your current phone number. If your dog is microchipped, confirm that the registration information is current.
Dogs should also be secured while riding in a vehicle. A sudden stop can throw an unrestrained dog forward, and a loose dog can distract the driver.
Carry an extra leash with your travel gear. It can replace damaged equipment, help secure an injured dog, or give you another way to maintain control during an emergency.
Know when first aid isn’t enough
A pet first-aid kit can help you protect or stabilize an injured pet while arranging professional treatment. It does not turn any of us into veterinarians.
According to the ASPCA’s emergency-care guidance, warning signs that may require immediate veterinary attention include:
- Trouble breathing
- Pale gums
- Seizures
- Severe or uncontrolled bleeding
- Loss of consciousness
- Difficulty standing
- Apparent paralysis
- A weak or unusually rapid pulse
- A serious fall, collision, or other trauma
- Suspected poisoning
An injured dog may bite because of pain or fear, even if that dog is normally gentle. Approach slowly, keep your face away from the dog’s mouth, and protect yourself while preparing to move the animal.
If you suspect a neck or back injury, avoid unnecessary twisting and support the dog’s body during transport. Call the emergency clinic on the way, if possible, so the veterinary team knows you are coming.
Don’t reach into your own medicine cabinet
When a dog is hurting, giving them something from our medicine cabinet can feel like the compassionate thing to do. It can also be dangerous.
The FDA advises owners to contact a veterinarian before giving a dog or cat any pain medication. Ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen, aspirin, and medication prescribed for another animal may cause serious harm.
The FDA explains these risks in Get the Facts About Pain Relievers for Pets.
You should also speak with a veterinarian or animal poison-control specialist before trying to make a dog vomit. The correct response depends on what the dog swallowed, how much was consumed, when it happened, and the dog’s condition. Making a dog vomit can make some poisonings or injuries worse.
What’s inside the Rugged Companion Pet First Aid Kit?
The American Red Cross pet first-aid checklist recommends keeping supplies available for covering wounds, handling an injured animal, and preparing for transport.
The Rugged Companion Pet First Aid Kit gives you a practical starting point in a compact package. It contains 19 types of first-aid supplies and tools:
- Sterile nonstick pads in two sizes
- Elastic gauze bandage
- Self-adhesive elastic bandage
- Non-woven medical tape
- Examination gloves
- Small bandage scissors
- Metal tweezers
- Tick-removal tools
- Eye and wound-wash solution
- Povidone-iodine preparation pads
- Insect-sting relief pads
- First-aid pads
- Cotton swabs
- Wooden tongue depressors
- Emergency thermal blanket
- Emergency whistle
- Pet first-aid handbook
- Zippered carrying case with clip attachment
The zippered case measures approximately 8 by 5.75 inches. It is small enough to keep in a vehicle, backpack, travel bag, or camping setup without taking up much room.
The different wound-care supplies can help you clean and temporarily cover minor cuts or paw injuries. The tick-removal tools give you something designed for the job when you find an attached tick. The thermal blanket can help protect an injured animal from the ground and conserve body heat while you arrange transportation.
The emergency whistle can help attract attention if you and your dog are stranded or unable to reach help on your own. The included handbook gives you a reference to keep with the supplies.
What should you add to the kit?
No compact first-aid kit can contain everything required for every animal or emergency. We recommend adding several items of your own:
- A clean towel
- An instant cold pack
- An extra leash
- A collapsible water bowl
- Bottled water
- A small flashlight
- Waste bags
- A current photograph of your dog
- A copy of vaccination and medication information
- A written emergency contact list
Your contact list should include your regular veterinarian, the nearest emergency veterinary clinic, and ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435.
Ask your veterinarian whether your dog needs any additional supplies based on age, health, medications, travel plans, and normal activities. Do not add medication to the kit unless your veterinarian has approved it for your dog and provided clear dosing instructions.
Check your kit before every trip
A first-aid kit won’t help much if important items have already been used or the supplies have expired.
Before a longer trip:
- Open the case and make sure you know what is inside.
- Replace anything that has been used, opened, damaged, or expired.
- Confirm that your emergency contact information is current.
- Put the kit somewhere you can reach without unloading the entire vehicle.
- Tell anyone traveling with you where it is stored.
If you regularly switch between a vehicle, backpack, camper, or boat, consider keeping the kit with the gear you use most often. The best emergency kit is the one you actually have with you.
A little preparation can change a bad day
A first-aid kit cannot prevent an accident, diagnose an injury, or replace veterinary care. It gives you an organized set of supplies when your dog needs help and you’re away from home.
Frankie depends on me to make those decisions for him. Every dog depends on someone in the same way.
Before your next drive, hike, camping trip, or weekend away, make pet safety part of the gear you pack.
Be ready for the road ahead. Explore the Rugged Companion Pet First Aid Kit.
This article contains general pet-safety information. It is not veterinary advice and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment from a licensed veterinarian. Contact a veterinarian promptly if your pet is injured, ill, or may have swallowed something dangerous.