What to Stock

• According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, a pet first-aid kit should several basic items: gauze, nonstick bandages, towels or clean strips of cloth to wrap wounds, using adhesive tape to secure them closed. Do not use adhesive bandages made for humans, such as Band-Aids or Curad bandages. Milk of magnesia and activated charcoal can absorb poisons your cat or dog has eaten. Hydrogen peroxide can make your pet vomit to eliminate a dangerous substance from its system. An eyedropper will allow you to rinse wounds or give medication. Keep a digital thermometer on hand, but make sure it has a higher temperature range. Cats and dogs have higher normal body temperatures than humans, and if they have a fever, the temperature could be too high to register on a normal thermometer.
  
  You can buy a muzzle, or use gauze, a rope or some sort of soft cloth to cover your cat's or dog's head. This can help keep your pet calm. Even the most loving family pet could try to bite if it is in scared or in pain.
  
  Keep a leash in the first-aid kit, and have the makings of a stretcher available in case your dog can't walk. You can rig a stretcher out of a board, a blanket or a floor mat.
  
  

Warning

• The most important thing to keep handy is a list of phone numbers, including your veterinarian, the nearest emergency animal hospital and the Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435). If your cat or dog is injured or eats something poisonous, always call one of these professionals for further instruction. You should never try to induce vomiting or use the milk of magnesia or charcoal without calling the poison control center first, according to the AVMA. In addition to household cleaners and other common poisons, cats and dogs can become severely ill after eating coffee grounds, onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, alcohol, salt, chocolate, yeast dough, candy and gum with xylitol in it, avocados, and macadamia nuts.
  
  Any first aid you perform should be a stopgap until you can get your pet to a veterinarian.
  
  "First aid for pets should never be used as a substitute for veterinary care," said the AVMA.
  
  

Broken Bones

• After putting a muzzle on your pet, lay the animal on a flat surface to transport him to your veterinarian's office. Make sure he can't move around. Tie a towel or other cloth around him to secure him to the stretcher, but be sure not to put pressure on the fracture or your pet's chest. If you are adept at setting a splint, you may do so, but if done incorrectly it can cause lasting damage. If you are not sure, wait for veterinary care.
  
  

Cuts

• If your cat or dog has a bite or other wound that is causing bleeding, muzzle your pet and hold gauze tightly over the wound until the blood starts to clot. Apply pressure for at least three minutes. It can take several minutes for clotting to start and easing pressure to check the wound often can slow the process. If it is a severe wound on the legs, tie a tourniquet on the limb between the injury and the body, in addition to applying direct pressure. Every 15 to 20 minutes, loosen the tourniquet slightly for about 20 seconds, and get your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
  
  

Heatstroke

• Animals are more susceptible to the heat than we are. Heatstroke is even more prevalent in dogs with snub noses, such as pugs or bulldogs, overweight animals, and pets with thick coats, according to the Red Cross. Heatstroke manifests as heavy panting, rapid heart rate and inability to get up from lying down. Check the pet's temperature. If it is above 105, treatment must come quickly. You should try to take your cat or dog to the veterinarian, but until then, get your pet out of the heat and sun, and put a cool, wet towel around his neck and head, taking care not to cover up his eyes, nose or mouth. Rewet the towel every few minutes. In addition, keep cool water running over the animal's stomach and between its back legs.