The Essential Pet First Aid Kit Checklist

The Essential Pet First Aid Kit Checklist
17 November 2022

The Essential Pet First Aid Kit Checklist

The Essential Pet First Aid Kit Checklist

If your dog suffers a cut paw pad when you’re out in the countryside, or your cat comes home the loser of a battle you might need to step in with emergency pet first aid. Being able to dress a wound and stop bleeding, or help your pet if they are choking could be the difference between life and death.

Don’t wait until it’s too late to get a pet first aid kit. You’ll want to know you have everything you need if your pet requires medical attention and a trip to the vet is far away. In this article, we’ll go over an animal first aid kit list.

Dog with pet first aid kit

What is an animal first aid kit?

An animal first aid kit contents should include veterinary essentials that can help treat common accidents or aid in unexpected emergencies. They are used by vets and pet owners.

Every pet owner should have a pet first aid kit ready for injuries and accidents that may be treatable from home, or when access to a professional isn’t immediately available.

Why do you need a first aid kit for your pet?

An animal first aid kit could act as a vital lifeline for your pet. If your pet gets an injury on a road trip or a long walk, you may find that immediate veterinarian care is out of reach. Sometimes, your pet may require medical assistance when your local surgery is closed and there will be a wait before a vet can see them.

A pet first aid kit can also be useful for treating smaller issues that do not require veterinary intervention. You could use tick tweezers to remove ticks after walking through tall grass, rinse debris from an eye with sterile solution, or disinfect and bandage a small graze.

Keeping a pocket-sized kit on hand enables you to provide on-the-go care wherever you are. No matter how minor or major the injury is.

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Dog and cat sat on the sofa

What should be in an animal first aid kit?

Wondering what to put in a pet first aid kit? An animal first aid box contents should be able to support critical care until your pet can be seen by a vet. You might need to stabilise bleeding, remove an object lodged in a wound, or clean their eyes. When you’re faced with an injured animal, remember the 3 rules of animal first aid and act accordingly:

1. Preserve life

2. Prevent suffering

3. Prevent the situation from deteriorating

There are also minor injuries that might not even require professional attention. For example, cleaning small cuts and grazes is often enough to ensure they close and heal on their own. Your animal first aid kit items should be able to cover a range of common accidents.

If your pet is injured the best thing to do is call your vet. Tell them you have an animal first aid kit and they will advise you on what you can do before your pet is seen.

Wound Cleaning

If you can, you should try to clean your pet’s wound before dressing it. Dressing it beforehand could result in pushing debris further into the wound and making the situation worse. You could also use a gauze swab to blot the area.

Use tweezers to remove any debris that is protruding from the wound, but do not insert tweezers into a wound, this could push foreign objects further in. Use sterile wipes to wipe over and around a wound, or squeeze sterile wash over a wound. Steroplast eyewash pods can be used for this (do not push the end of the pipette into the wound).

While cleaning a wound it’s important that you don’t cause cross-contamination from your own hands, or risk injuring yourself, so be sure to use disposable gloves.


Bandages and Dressings

Once a wound is cleaned you might need to dress and bandage it. If your pet needs to be seen by a vet, dressing a wound will keep it protected until they have medical attention. If a wound is particularly severe you may need to stop some bleeding. 

Apply a gauze swab to the wound area. Steroplast gauze swabs are woven to reduce the chance of fibres sticking to the wound, making it easier to change the dressing. Conforming bandage or elastic cohesive bandage can be used to hold a dressing in place. Elastic cohesive bandage sticks to itself but not to skin or fur, making it especially easy to apply and remove.


Life-Saving Equipment

If an animal is seriously injured, every second counts. Use a foil blanket to keep an animal warm if it is in shock or has suffered exposure. 

You can also give an animal CPR if they have stopped breathing, giving them a chance of survival. Use a resusciade to hygienically give an animal mouth to mouth resuscitation. 

Animal First Aid Kit Contents List

Make sure the contents of an animal first aid box includes these items in it at the bare minimum:

Bandages and dressings
Blunt-ended scissors
Wound wash
Tweezers
Vinyl gloves
Antiseptic wipes
A blanket

Visit our
Personal First Aid Online Guide

Find everything you need, from first aid kits, plasters & bandages to hot & cold therapy.

The Stero-paws Pet First Aid Kit

Our new Stero-paws Animal First Aid Kit contains products that have been carefully selected to assist in minor medical emergencies and to help with some major injuries until you have access to a vet. The simple, pocket-sized kit is designed to aid in the event of an injury at home or outdoors and contains premium quality items that are used by professionals when treating pets. 

The Steropaws kit contains all of the pet first aid kit essentials, plus some other useful tools and supplies that can help you in other emergency situations, including sterile eyewash, gauze swabs, a resusciade for CPR, gloves, a foil blanket, and a tick remover. 

Find out exactly what is in an animal first aid kit from Steroplast along with when each item can be used: 

Number on diagramContentsDescriptionWhen to use
1Sterile Eye and Wound Wash x 2Saline solution, in easy to use, squeezable pipettes.Used for cleaning wounds, cuts and grazes. It can also be used to safely clean your pets eyes.
2Sterile Gauze SwabsAbsorbent and sterile Steroswab offers cushioning and protection.Sterile Gauze Swabs can be used when managing minor wounds - for cleaning, drying, and dressing the wound. Apply directly to wounds before wrapping up with tape or a bandage.
3Cohesive Bandage (2.5cm)Latex-free, flexible light compression bandage that sticks to itself but not the animals fur and stays in place once it has been applied.Use over wound dressings for support and compression to keep dressings in place, and act as a protective layer.
4Alcohol-Free Wipes x 2Alcohol-free disposable disinfection wipes.Use to clean your pet's wound and minimise the risk of infection.
5Resusciade - Face Shield - 100 Foil PackedThe mouth-to-mouth resusciade allows hygienic contact when used in CPR.CPR can be used in situations when your pet's breathing has stopped due to electrocution, choking or drowning.
6Large Nitrile Gloves x 1Soft, elasticated nitrile gloves for wearer comfort, powder-free to reduce the risk of contamination.Prevent and protect your pet's wound from becoming contaminated when treating it, and protect yourself.
7Conforming Bandage (5cm x 4cm)High stretch, lightweight bandage that conforms closely to the contours of an animal's body.Ideal for securing dressings in place (even in awkward areas) and permitting air circulation
8Tick TwisterA reusable tool that is suitable for the removal of ticks in animals; it can also be disinfected and sterilised.This device is specially designed to use a twisting action that easily removes ticks while minimising the risk of transferring tick-borne infections.
9Small First Aid Scissors (blunt)Handy scissors that fit easily in the pocket-sized kit.For cutting and removing bandages, tapes, and gauze swabs safely.
10TweezersAn essential tool to have in a pet's first aid kit.Safely remove any sharp objects that may be lodged in your pet's skin.
11Foil Blanket x 1 (1.4m x 2m)The foil blanket is made from metalised polyester film.Can be used to combat shock or retain heat to keep yoour pet's core body temperature up.

Find out exactly what is in an animal first aid kit from Steroplast along with when each item can be used: 

ContentsSterile Eye and Wound Wash x 2
When to useUsed for cleaning wounds, cuts and grazes. It can also be used to safely clean your pets eyes.
ContentsSterile Gauze Swabs
When to useSterile Gauze Swabs can be used when managing minor wounds - for cleaning, drying, and dressing the wound. Apply directly to wounds before wrapping up with tape or a bandage.
ContentsCohesive Bandage (2.5cm)
When to useUse over wound dressings for support and compression to keep dressings in place, and act as a protective layer.
ContentsAlcohol-Free Wipes x 2
When to useUse to clean your pet's wound and minimise the risk of infection.
ContentsResusciade - Face Shield - 100 Foil Packed
 When to useCPR can be used in situations when your pet's breathing has stopped due to electrocution, choking or drowning.
ContentsLarge Nitrile Gloves
When to usePrevent and protect your pet's wound from becoming contaminated when treating it, and protect yourself.
ContentsConforming Bandage (5cm x 4cm)
When to useIdeal for securing dressings in place (even in awkward areas) and permitting air circulation.
ContentsTick Twister
When to useThis device is specially designed to use a twisting action that easily removes ticks while minimising the risk of transferring tick-borne infections.
ContentsSmall First Aid Scissors
When to useFor cutting and removing bandages, tapes, and gauze swabs safely.
ContentsTweezers
When to useSafely remove any sharp objects that may be lodged in your pet's skin.
ContentsFoil Blanket
When to useCan be used to combat shock or retain heat to keep yoour pet's core body temperature up.

From walking injuries to animal bites, puncture wounds, and other general accidents, our Stero-paws first aid kit has been designed to be practical, compact, and easy to use. We offer cat first aid kits, dog first aid kits, bird first aid kits, and ferret first aid kits, as well as kits for farm first aid and equine first aid.

You can also add to this pet first aid kit contents, or buy the individual contents on our Veterinary essentials page

Pet First Aid

In the time between your pet getting injured and seeing the vet, there are things you can do to make your pet more comfortable and increase the chances of a safe, full recovery. Our comprehensive guides on animal first aid are written to inform pet owners of how to treat pets for the most common accidents and emergencies. 

Where to Keep Your Pet First Aid Kit

Keep your pet first aid kit at home where everyone in the family can access it. Make sure everyone in the household knows where the pet first aid kit is kept. You never know who will be around if your pet needs help. If people are pet-sitting for you, let them know where the pet first aid kit is too.

Keep your pet first aid it in a cool dry place where it won’t be disturbed until it is needed. Remember that a pet first aid kit contains sharp objects like scissors so make sure it can’t be accessed by little ones.

If you are a dog owner, keeping a pet first aid kit in your car is a good idea. Dogs are more likely to injure themselves when outdoors rather than in the home. Keeping your pet first aid kit in the car means you can deliver first aid as soon as possible and don’t have to make a trip home if you’re going to the vet. 

The Stero-paws First Aid Kit is compact and doesn’t take up much space, it’s easy to keep in your bag or you can even attach it to your belt or coat if you’re out and about. 

What Should go into a Pet First Aid Kit? 

Watch this video, to find out the essentials for a pet first aid kit, to make sure you’re always stocked and prepared for an animal emergency.


Simplify Workplace First Aid
Interactive Online Guide & Downloadable Brochure

Simplify Workplace First Aid
Interactive Online Guide & Downloadable Brochure

Choose the format that works for you: check out our Workplace First Aid Interactive Online Guide or download our Workplace First Aid Brochure as an easy-to-save PDF. Both include a self-assessment, product details, pricing, and comprehensive training and support.

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