Library / First aid

Build a basic first-aid kit for animals

A small box with the right items lets you act calmly in an emergency — at home, in the car or on a rescue.

Most emergencies are handled by a vet — but what you do in the first minutes matters. Keep this kit at home and a smaller version in your car or bag.

The kit

  • Phone numbers: your vet, the nearest 24-hour emergency vet, and Gracivo
  • Thick towel or small blanket (to wrap, calm and carry)
  • Disposable gloves
  • Sterile gauze pads and a roll of gauze bandage
  • Self-adhesive (vet wrap) bandage — never wrap tightly
  • Saline solution to rinse wounds and eyes
  • Blunt-tip scissors and tweezers
  • A soft muzzle or a strip of fabric (for dogs, only if breathing normally)
  • A slip leash
  • Digital thermometer
  • Instant cold pack
  • A cardboard box or a foldable carrier
  • Kitten milk replacer and a small syringe (for rescuers)
Do not include human painkillersParacetamol (acetaminophen), ibuprofen and aspirin are dangerous for cats and dogs. Only give medicines a vet prescribes for that animal.

Check it every six months

Replace anything used or expired, and update phone numbers. Take a short first-aid course if you can — ask us about community workshops.

Need help with an animal right now? Send us the details and a photo — our team will guide you. Ask for help

This guide is general information and does not replace a veterinary examination.

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