Off to new adventures!
You should pack these things in the dog pharmacy on your next vacation
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The days are getting shorter, the temperatures are falling, the leaves are beginning to rustle in the trees – it’s autumn. Right now is the perfect time for a vacation with your four-legged friends. So that everything important ends up in the suitcase, we take a look at the first-aid kit for the dog.
In autumn, the temperatures drop well below 20 degrees, in the morning it is sometimes so cold that people and even some dogs grab a thicker jacket. Especially during the day, the temperatures in the golden season are exactly in the comfort zone for four-legged friends – between 14 and 18 degrees. Perfect conditions to experience a new adventure.
Whenever you travel, you should take a look at the entry requirements
In addition to a cozy place to sleep, bowls, sufficient food and the vaccination card, a first-aid kit for your four-legged friend should always end up in your luggage. If you travel abroad, you should also take a look at the entry requirements. For example, a rabies vaccination is mandatory in many countries, while certain breeds are not allowed to enter other countries.
“So that dogs don’t upset their stomachs with so much that is new and exciting in an unfamiliar environment, it is advisable to feed them the same dog food as at home,” advises Marie-Christine Parsche, brand manager at the pet food brand Edgar & Cooper. All other extras should also be taken with you on holiday.
A first-aid kit should be part of every holiday
In the meantime, there are also ready-made first-aid kits available from different brands. Here you should check whether they contain everything that is important for a trip.
This should be in your first-aid kit for the dog:
- Rounded tweezers for removing dirt and debris from wounds
- Scissors with rounded tips for cutting bandages
- tick tongs
- Digital clinical thermometer
- disposable gloves
- muzzle
- dressing material
- Medical tape for fixing bandages
- Disinfectant suitable for dogs for superficial wounds or abrasions, iodine solution also works
- Sterile physiological saline solution for rinsing the eyes and cleaning superficial wounds
- Medication against nausea and sedation (always consult your vet beforehand)
- Medication against diarrhea (e.g. charcoal tablets – also discuss this with the veterinarian)
- Wooden tongue depressor (to apply ointments)
- Healing ointment or Vaseline for cracked paws
- Dog shoes (for injuries to the paw), baby socks also work, by the way
- Disposable syringes for dispensing medication
- Small plastic bags or sample tubes (to take samples of potentially toxic substances if needed)
- Small flashlight
- For chronically ill animals, the following also applies: Sufficient stocks of medication and a veterinary certificate on the nature and treatment of the disease, also in English
- Information sheet: Telephone number of the veterinarian, the nearest animal practice or clinic at the holiday destination, if necessary the number of an animal rescue service
Any medication administration should be discussed with the veterinarian
Any medication that your pet is given either regularly or for an emergency should be discussed with your vet beforehand. Before administering, you should always speak to a veterinarian.
You should take extra blankets with you, especially in autumn, to warm the dog in an emergency. A dog bathrobe is also recommended and one or the other four-legged friend is happy about a sweater or a warm jacket on the long walks. And don’t forget to pack towels, the meadows in autumn are no longer just covered in dew, but can also have a few mud ruts – black legs are included.
Sources used: PM by Edgar & Cooper, vier-pfoten.de