As you know, this week I’m on a road trip with my family to North Carolina. Before I set out on my big adventure, there was some things that had to be checked off my to-do list. Once of those items included creating a Pet First Aid Kit to have with me just incase there was a pet emergency. You can never be too prepared!

Before creating my kit I researched what I should include in it. I ended up coming up with my own concoction of items that I gathered from lists on the American Red Cross, the Animal Poison Control Center, and the American Veterinary Medical Association.

I admit, my own first aid kit has quite a few items in it, but isn’t that the point – to be OVER PREPARED? I probably would of made a really good boy scout!

Many of the items in my kit I already had on hand (the benefit of having a grandma who is a nurse), but I gathered them all up and put them into a handy kit that will travel with me in the car from now on.

DIY Pet First Aid Kit:

• Gauze Wrap*
• Telfa pad*
• Gauze squares*
• Strips of clean cloth (I used an old but clean t-shirt) for making a splint
• Popsicle sticks* (for stabilizing an injury with a splint)
• Bandage Tape*
• Bandage Scissors*
• Wound cleaning solution (I used a Nolvasan solution* I got from my vet when I got my puncture wound this summer)
• Hydrogen Peroxide *(3%) (to induce vomiting)
• Digital Pet Thermometer* (mine has a flexible tip and is not specifically designed for pets)
• Petroleum Jelly* for lubricating thermometer
• Syringe* without the needle
• Liquid dish soap*
• Rubber gloves*
• Can of Chicken*
• Electrolyte Beverage (I used Gatorade*)
• Tweezers*
• Tick comb* & regular comb
• Towel
• Portable bowl*
• Spare collar and ID tag
• Vet wrap*
• Cotton Swabs*
• Benadryl*
• Baby Aspirin*
• Antibiotic Ointment*
• Instant ice pack*
• Hand sanitizer*
• Pet tooth brush*
• List of emergency numbers

*contains affiliate links

Not pictured in my kit are also a few handy iPhone apps that Mom helped me download.

The Pet First Aid App is $3.99 in the apple store, and one of my very favorite purchases. Not only does it help you out in the case of an emergency (by telling you how to give CPR to your pet, how to control bleeding and so much more), but it also helps you store and organize records on your pet; like when they are due for shots, their license and registration id’s, and any medications or conditions.

The Pet MD Symptom Checker is also a useful app to have in your arsenal and is $0.99 in the app store. Easily plug in symptoms of your dog or cat and be directed to articles of possible diagnosis.

You should also make sure you store important phone numbers for your pet in your phone. I keep on hand my personal vet’s number, a local 24 hour emergency vet number, the Pet Poison Helpline number (1-800-213-6680), and a phone number for an emergency vet where-ever I will be traveling to.

I hope to never have to use the items in my pet first aid kit, but I sleep a little sounder at night knowing that I’m extra prepared in case I ever need it!

Anyone else have a pet first aid kit in their car? Any other suggestions of items I may have forgotten to include? Do tell!