Part of being a responsible guardian to companion animals involves protecting them from injury and other dangers. However, for those of us fortunate to share our lives with animals we know that this can sometimes be easier said than done. In the blink of an eye an animal can ingest a toxic substance, suffer a cut or experience some other kind of serious injury. Hopefully this will never happen to your pet, but if it does you have to be ready. To help protect companion animals the Humane Society of Canada has produced a good first aid kit.  I didn’t know that much stuff could be packed into a relatively small (approximately 8½"x5½"x3") plastic box! I was pleasantly surprised when I received my animal first aid kit from the Humane Society of Canada. Inside the kit was the following:

tweezers
magnifying glass
rescue sheet
latex gloves (pair)
hydrogen peroxide (bottle)
antibacterial topical ointment (tube)
instant cold pack
adhesive tape (roll)
sterile gauze pads
sterile gauze (roll)
insect sting stop pads (8)
antiseptic towlettes (6)
antimicrobial handwipes (3)
elastic cling bandage
Q-tip cotton swabs (12)
antiseptic solution (bottle)
eyewash solution (bottle)
safety pins (medium size - 4)
tongue depressors (2)
penlight with batteries (2AA)
scissors
first aid booklet
25 cents (for a telephone call)

According to Michael O’Sullivan, executive director of the Humane Society of Canada, the kit was developed to assist companion animals and their human guardians in times of emergency. "When your animal is hurt, time is critical. That’s why we’ve developed a special HSC Animal First Aid Kit to try and help relieve their suffering," says O’Sullivan. Included with the kit is an informative 28 page first aid manual. The kit and first aid manual have been reviewed by veterinarians and animal care workers. According to O’Sullivan the contents of the kit have been field tested in diaster and war zones around the world.

Living with several canine, feline and equine family members, our cupboards are well stocked with first aid supplies. However, my wife Lynn and I are not as prepared when we take an animal companion or two to our parents’ cottages. This compact, well supplied animal first aid kit will help ensure that we are better able to tend to our four-legged family members’ needs should an emergency situation arise while we are on the way to, and at, our rural retreats.

While this kit contains many first aid items, you may want to customize it by adding a few of your own. For example, we’ve added a bottle of styptic powder(to help control external bleeding caused by broken nails) and an empty syringe - two items that we’ve needed on occasion which are not included in the kit.

The cost of the animal first aid kit is $29.99 (includes all taxes, postage and handling.) Money from the sale of the kits supports programs of the Humane Society of Canada. For more information or to order the animal first aid kit call (toll free) 1-800-641-KIND (5463) or visit their web site at: www.humanesociety.com