can you buy dog first aid kits?if not what items should i buy to make my own?

Yes, Cromessol, who often have stands at champ shows, sell them.  Their phone number is 01653 69753

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

Mine was put together by Wallace and Cameron of Glasgow which I brought at Windsor Show some years ago.

So saying, it would be easy to put something together to fit into a plastic lunch box. What exactly do you have in mind I wonder? A first aid box for in the home would be rather different to one to take with you. In fact most of the ingredients for a home first aid are possibly already in your human first aid kit! It is the one to take with you which is possibly the most important.

First off, although it sounds stupid, don't carry anything you don't know how to use! It will only add to the weight and make it more likely that you won't have bothered to carry it on the one occasion when the first aid kit could be the life saver. Because of what I do I possibly have more in my box than most people would need, but then, I don't have to carry it, just chuck it in the game cart and its there when needed.

So what do you need?

A 50mm conforming bandage. The stretch will make it easier to bandage a limb.

Some 10mm adhesive tape to fix bandages of dressings in place

Some wider adhesive tape, say 25mm. useful for bandaging a cut pad.

Some sterilised dressings.

Some sterilised wipes to clean wounds. And to clean hands before touching the wound

A 2inch wide bandage. Useful for making a muzzle, which may well be needed for restraining an injured dog.

Some pods of distilled water to wash out eyes

Some antiseptic for cleaning wounds.

A roll of 25mm Micropore. Best stuff I've found for holding a dressing to the end of a damaged tail (And I've had plenty of practise!)

Because of what I do my dogs are always at risk of scratches to the eyes so I keep some Broline eye drops in the box.

A pair of the rounded ends scissors. Apart from cutting dressings the round ends mean that you can trim coat from a wound without the risk of stabbing the dog.

A pair of tweezers will always find a place in my box. Invaluable for pulling thorns out.

If needed, a wax cotton jacket makes a good stretcher for carrying the dog.

Remember, this is for FIRST aid. Always get everything checked out by a vet as soon as possible.

With this little lot I can cover most things from a simple scratch, to a 12gauge shotgun wound, to a broken leg. Fingers crossed that I never need to but a friend had to cope with just that! Her Golden dropped a leg down a rabbit hole whilst running at speed!

Best wishes, John

Regards, John