What should I put in my canine first aid kit? I used a quart-sized Freezer Ziploc bag and saved the heavier and more durable IFAK cases for my car. I prefer the simpleness and lightness of the freezer bag. I do reinforce the freezer bag with duct tape, providing the needed durability at the bottom where the tweezers and other sharp items will come to settle. The duct tape prevents the damaging of the bag. I carry these 19 core items with me on every trip. These items are dual purposed serving myself and trusty canine.
- EYEBROW TWEEZERS
- GAUZE SQUARES
- STYPTIC POWDER
- NEOSPORIN
- IMODIUM AD
- BENADRYL
- MOTRIN
- VET BANDAGES
- LEUKOTAPE
- BIC LIGHTER
- EAR PLUGS
- SOL EMERGENCY BLANKET
- ALCOHOL WIPES
- CHAPSTICK WITH UV PROTECTION
- SUN PROTECTION
- MUSHERS SECRET
- GERBER DIME MULTI-TOOL
- DIY MUZZLE
- NITRILE GLOVES
ADVENTURE PREPARATIONS
Before you head out on your next adventure, you should put a little foresight into what you pack. It’s good to have an all in one kit that’s your go to, but that can become cumbersome. Do you need peroxide to induce vomiting? Only you can answer that – Liberty isn’t known for eating random stuff etc. Other dogs I know are four-legged vacuums! You should never give your dog OTC meds unless you absolutely have to. The best thing to do is talk with your veterinarian and ask them for three days of the basics; anti-poop, anti-pain, and anti-puffy meds will get you by. The three days worth of medications should get you back to civilization and into a veterinarians office.
Try to build a 75% kit; this is a kit that will take care of 75% of the issues that you may encounter. This kit is a living piece of equipment, continually changing as your adventures evolve.
EYEBROW TWEEZERS
I have tried numerous tick tools and keys. I find that nothing works as well as a set of eyebrow tweezers. The longer flat end ensures maximum contact with the tick. Some of these innovative products can’t even grab the tick until it’s engorged. If I’m lucky enough, I’ve caught it before the ticks begin feasting.
GAUZE SQUARES
These squares are quite versatile. Squeeze some Neosporin on a square, and you have a makeshift Firestarter. This petroleum-based antibiotic will burn longer than plain paper and withstand light rain. When adding the styptic powder to a gauze square, you’ve made a basic hemostatic bandage to help control bleeding of surface scrapes and cuts.
STYPTIC POWDER
PHOTO: STYPTIC POWDER
You’ve probably heard of this for when you cut your dog’s nails too short, but this is a great tool to stop any localized bleeding. This comes in powder form, pencil form, or gel form. I prefer the powder myself. It weighs very little and goes a long way. When using the pencil, you have to put extra pressure on the wound which can cause unnecessary pain. Depending on the time of year, the gel may feel cold and cause added anxiety. All of them will sting when applied.
NEOSPORIN
Neosporin is a triple antibiotic containing Bacitracin, Neomycin, and Polymyxin B. They sell many different flavors of this time-tested ointment, so be sure to get the plain version. You don’t want the tubes that contain extra ingredients such as pain-relief medications that help soothe pain or ease healing. This ointment is for external use only.
IMODIUM AD (Loperamide)
Imodium is used as an anti-diarrhea medication. I keep this in my first aid kit just in case I get a terrible case of the runs. There is nothing worse than hiking with a stomach ache and an overwhelming fear of making a mess of your favorite hiking shorts. I’ve been told 1/2mg per 10 pupper pounds if you need to use it for your dog. I typically carry three doses worth.
BENADRYL (Diphenhydramine)
Benadryl is a widely used antihistamine. Everyone has seen those tiny pink pills! These are great for allergic reactions like bee stings or contact with poisonous itch plants! 1mg per pupper pound is the suggested dosage.
MOTRIN (Ibuprofen)
I will never give this to Liberty. The Motrin is strictly for me, and since I have bad days too, I may need some anti-inflammatory lovin’.
VET TAPE
This cohesive elastic bandage is perfect for your kit. It’s lightweight and sticks to itself requiring no external tape. This can be used for a multitude of applications when combined with other items in your kit.
LEUKOTAPE
Where has this been all of my life? I just learned of this tape a few years ago when I got into hiking. Ditch the moleskin because this tape is the real deal. It sticks to what you put it on and stays put. It won’t budge, not even for rain, sleet, sweat, or river crossings. It’s perfect for hot-spots on your found on your body. Apply some Luekotape before they turn into blisters! You can put it on dog backpacking straps to help relieve hot-spottage on your puppers.
BIC LIGHTER
I always keep a spare lighter in my first aid kit. Even better, I wrap my Leuko tape around it for storage. This way I don’t have to carry the weight of a whole role.
EAR PLUGS
I will bring 3 or 4 sets of foam earplugs. They don’t weigh much and can mean the difference between a great night’s sleep and a terrible night’s sleep. We all know that when we hike tired, we hike twice the miles. There are miles on the trail then there are tired miles on the trail – bring some plugs, it’s worth it!
SOL EMERGENCY BLANKET
Normal core temp is 98.6°F for a person and an average of 101.5°F in a dog. Hypothermia sets in at anything less than 95°F for a person or 100°F for a dog. An emergency blanket only weighs 3.3 ounces and reflects 90% of body, heat helping restore core temps. In a pinch, the blanket can be used as a ground sheet or makeshift shelter. The best part is that they are reusable, however, like a paper map, you will never be able to fold it back to its original size!
ALCOHOL WIPES
PHOTO: SINGLE USE ALCOHOL PAD
These single-use pads are great for cleaning a surface wound before bandaging. Be prepared for the 10-foot jump after the sting hits.
CHAPSTICK WITH UV PROTECTION
Hiking with sunburned or windburned lips is just plain miserable. It creeps up on you; then you find yourself licking your lips which makes things 100 times worse! Keeping a lip moisturizer in your kit for soft lips is a must; you never know when your dog will sneak a kiss!
SUN PROTECTION
Did you know there is a UV index even when it’s not summer? Did you know you can get a sunburn when it’s 70°F on the trails!? Who knew!? I fell victim to this once; now I’m never hiking without a small tube of sun protection in my kit. If you lose your chapstick, this can do the trick. Why do some suntan lotions smell so good and taste so bad?!
MUSHERS SECRET
Hot or cold, Mushers Secret is a must-have! The natural wax smells amazing and helps protect our dog’s wheels. I normally apply this at night before going to bed or right before putting on dog shoes. I’ve used this on myself a time or two as well.
GERBER DIME MULTI-TOOL
For under 20 dollars, weighing in at 2.2 ounces this multi-tool should find its way into your kit. It’s a butterfly style too with ten tools, including Needle nose spring-loaded pliers, Wire cutter, Fine edge blade, Retail package opener, Scissors, Medium flat driver, Crosshead driver, Bottle opener, Tweezers, and file. Did I mention it only weighs 2.2 ounces!? This is a lifesaver when removing fox tails, splinters, and quills from your nosy dog.
DIY MUZZLE
Having access to a muzzle could be very helpful if your dog sustains an injury. If your dog is in serious pain, they could lash out and bite even their most favorite human. Dogs have a very high pain tolerance, so when something is excruciating to them, they do what they can to protect themselves. I don’t like to carry the extra weight in my pack, but some do. If you need a muzzle in a pinch, you can loop your leash on your dog’s nose twice, then cross it behind your dogs head and tie it in a bow. This should only be done for short periods of time while you quickly apply bandages and never on a flat faced dog; you could cause breathing complications.
NITRILE GLOVES
A pair or two Nitrile gloves can be convenient! Keeping dirt out of wounds and keeping your hands clean is a must! I recommend a lighter color of gloves vice black so you can see the fluid colors. Recognizing blood on black gloves is hard to do.
Trail Tails
This DIY canine first aid kit has made my adventure seeking more comfortable. Additionally, I’ve helped dozens of people on the trail through the use of my first aid kit. My kit has a few extras that I’ve added over the years, and I’m willing to carry the weight. I take an ankle brace and knee brace with me, storing them in my dry bag. I also keep headache medication as well. I’ve had migraines for years, and they are debilitating. I carry a couple of days worth to get me back to civilization. It’s pure hell hiking with a throbbing headache! If I’m using my hammock, I add a continuous loop of Amsteel.
The things I use most when backpacking are the earplugs, Leukotape, and foot massage ball. I always store my first aid kit at the top of my pack. it’s the first thing I see and can grab when I open the top compartment.
Are you looking to add to your doggo hiking kit? Do you need a complete kit altogether? Check out these must have’s; 🐕RELATED ARTICLE – 12 DOG BACKPACKING ESSENTIAL – COMPLETE KIT!🐕
What items do you take in addition to what I’ve listed? What are your must have’s? If this article was helpful, please share it on your Facebook, people are always looking to adventure! Stay safe out there and hike your hikes!
