The Ultimate Guide to the Canine First Aid Kit

You’re leaving for this weekend’s dog show– you have the dogs, your ringside bag, suits, bait, grooming supplies, all loaded up and ready to go. What could you be missing? That’s right! The dog show first aid kit, which is essential for any exhibitor to have when traveling to a dog show, near or far.

Recently, I evaluated our first aid kit, removing items which weren’t necessary, and adding ones that we’d forgotten prior. It’s advisable to look through your kit every so often to be sure you have everything, and that your necessities aren’t expired or empty. However, a new exhibitor without years of experience may not know what to fill their kit with, and luckily, this can act as your comprehensive first aid guide!

The first thing to consider is basic wound care. It’s certainly not unheard of for dogs to get into a scuffle with one another while playing, among various other injury-causing instances. Long-time basset hound breeder-exhibitors, Norm and Mary Ann Wiginton, emphasize the importance of proper wound cleaning materials. Specifically, they find it most beneficial to carry chlorhexidine, betadine, and triple antibiotic ointments. Pure chlorhexidine and betadine shouldn’t be used due to their strength– instead, find a diluted product, or dilute it yourself at home with water. Betadine products are generally preferred over iodine itself, as it has proven to be less irritating and longer-lasting. Finally, triple antibiotic ointments can prove beneficial to treating minor wounds after cleaning. The best triple antibiotics contain bactitracin as a key ingredient. It’s important to note many triple antibiotics are generally not safe for ingestion, so it’s paramount to ensure the dog, and others which you may be carrying, aren’t able to lick the ointment off the affected area. Mild gastrointestinal reactions to triple antibiotic ointments include vomiting and diarrhea, and severe reactions result most often when the product contains toxic pain relievers.

Judy Ellis, professional handler, reports that one of the most important components of her canine first aid kit is probiotics. Veterinarians may provide owners with prescription medications to ease diarrhea, such as Metronidazole, however it can be difficult to obtain enough of a prescription product to carry on the road, as doctors tend to prescribe only enough for one round of treatment for one dog. Great over-the-counter options to include in a first aid kit include Purina’s Fortiflora, a food-topping powder, and Pro-Pectalin, which can be administered as a paste or oral tablet. These can prove effective for reducing diarrhea while on the road, until stronger medications can be acquired.

Of course, gastric dilatation volvulus (bloat) is always a concern which should be in mind for any exhibitor. Janice Hayes, handler of 2023 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Best in Show-winning Buddy Holly, states, “When I showed more deep chested sporting dogs, I had multiple bloat kits– one in each vehicle and one in the kennel!” Bloat kits specifically designed by veterinary professionals are able to be purchased readily online. Appropriately-sized syringes and liquid simethicone, if not already in the bloat kit, should be added. Liquid simethicone can be used to relieve excess gas in the stomach by allowing it to pass through the GI tract more readily, however it does not correct torsion of the stomach and does not supersede the need for veterinary attention if possible. These tools can easily save a dog’s life while on the way to a veterinarian’s office or in an after-hours emergency.

Another important component of any canine first aid kit is activated charcoal. Activated charcoal is most effective when administered within 1-2 hours of a dog in your care ingesting a poisonous material. For example, if a dog eats human Advil they came upon within the show vehicle, activated charcoal can be utilized, binding with toxins from the foreign material to prevent them entering the bloodstream.

Hydrogen peroxide may also be a good tool for your first aid kit, however it’s important to know when it should be used. Hydrogen peroxide is not necessarily safe for ingestion, however it may be utilized when trying to induce vomiting. This is typically going to be in instances where a dog has eaten something within the last 30 minutes which may be unsafe– this includes chocolate, candy, or avocadoes. In contrast, hydrogen peroxide should not be used to clean wounds, because it kills healthy cells, delaying wound healing. Chlorhexidine and betadine, as mentioned before, are superior options to clean wounds.

There’s a few over-the-counter human allergy medications which may prove beneficial to have on hand as well. These include diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and loratidine (Claritin). Benadryl can be dosed at 1 mg/1 lb of body weight 2-3 times daily, and Claritin can be dosed at 0.3 mg/1 lb of body weight total per day. These can be great during heavy allergy seasons, new environments, and just general itchiness, and they prevent our dogs from tearing up the coats we’ve all worked so hard on.

Finally, there’s a variety of general medical tools which I advise including in your kit. These include gauze, medical tape, rectal thermometer, saline, bandages, syringes, and needles of various sizes.

Overall, first aid kits are wonderful for minor wounds and health concerns while on the road, however it does not replace the need for veterinary care. In addition, veterinarians will be our friends when obtaining prescription products to both treat our dogs with once back from a show weekend, and to have on hand for the next trip. Norm and Mary Ann Wiginton advise, “Having a good working relationship with a veterinarian will always yield high benefits in being prepared for an emergency! Discuss with them to find out what they are comfortable with providing you access to, and for what.”

In conclusion, all exhibitors should carry a first aid kit anytime they travel with dogs, but it’s also important that they educate themselves on what each part of their first aid kit does, as well as how and when to utilize them. You may have all the tools necessary at your disposal, but they can be easily misutilized or incorrectly implemented in an emergency medical situation. In addition to this guide, a veterinarian can even be employed to assist exhibitors in curating the perfect kit for their specific dogs. A proper first aid can easily save the lives of the dogs in our care, and it is our duty to be adequately prepared for anything that may come our way during show travels.