just wondering from all the advice re certain products etc, if it is worth some sort of sticky for a dog first aid kit, to list useful items and general instructions??

I know I bought one from some online pet store and it's not really worth having, so I am going to get a sturdy box and try and stock it with various essentials, might actually get 2 boxes so one in the house and the other in the van....

so far I have got some arnica, some colodial silver (though tips on how to use would be welcome?)
I have bandages, some rescue remedy (not very technical I know) and some valerian stuff from dorwest but am not convinced re that.....
If I have any spare vet prescriptions I tend to save them, so have some ACP and rimadyl, though not sure if I would use them without seeking advice...

so what else do you consider absolute essentials??

Hi DEARLADY,
                  colloidal silver is geat, you can use it externally, or internally, there are loads of great websites with dosage and its uses, which  are endless. So gentle it can be used for anything. Just google it and you will find loads of info.
Also tree barks powder, often also called slippery elm. lts good for upset stomachs, arsenicum alb is also good for upset stomachs. l also keep garlic juice, four seasons natural wormer, and a natural eye cleaner though lve never used it so cant remeber what is called off hand.
l also keep wound lotion, a herbal lotion thats good for poison ivy type rashes and itches.
Garlic and fenugreek in case of anal gland problems. l get most things from Dorwest herbs  or Holistic pet supplies or Canine natural cures. But the most neccesary ld say are colloidal silver and tree barks.
l just buy anything l think l might ever need, just in case.
Hope this helps

Sorry, forgot to mention that personally, l only use natural or holistic things in my medicine box, lm not keen on chemicals so only use natural, so no chemical wormers or flee treatments etc for my dog.

To the OP,

NB ACP is a very strong, prescription only, sedative - it should not be given without veterinary supervision as the effects can be extreme and the drug is not reversible as is the case with an anaesthetic.

I've known of several well loved family pets die from this drug - and that was with a vet prescribing the drug and "correct" dosage specific to each animal.  Other problems can be that the drug induces extreme changes in behaviour.

IMO this drug should not be part of anyone's home kit - this med should be used only for the specific animal originally prescribed also only following a vet exam.  Any surplus should be returned to your vet for safe disposal.

In addition to the above, ACP is a known catalyst for risking the bringing on of epileptic seizures in some breeds and individual dogs with a low threshold for epilepsy.

regards, Teri

How about:

scissors
self-adhersive bandages
melanin (non-sticky) dressings
sterile water for flushing wounds
tweezers
intrasite gel
wound powder
sticky tape
one of those foil blankets for if a dog goes into shock and starts losing body heat
paw boot
muzzle

I would think..

In addition to Gunners list...

Electrolyte (hot hot hound...on a hot day. not good)..
Vet wrap bandage
Towel
Bottle of water
salt
kitchen roll
antiseptic wipes
squirty saline packs (like eye wash, for getting seeds out of eyes or dirt out of a cut).

please before anybody thinks I would use prescription drugs willy-nilly - that is not the case, it's just that I tend to keep leftovers in a cupboard, and they were initially prescribed to try and keep a pup calm who had a broken shoulder (I actually didn't use them after a while as it was apparent that by the time they took effect she'd already raced round the room several times, and she wasn't happy when they took effect) So I know what they can do!

Thanks for pointing out the other side-effects, which I wasn't aware of (funny how vets don't mention these when they prescribe some drugs)

:)