Dog medical supplies are a must for any pet owner, but are doubly important for those who own hunting dogs, because hunting dogs are often far more vulnerable to injury than are house pets. You should never go out hunting with your dog if you don't have a hunting dog first aid kit. Performing appropriate first aid on your hunting dog can cut prevent infection and cut down on his recovery time. Find out what you should include in your hunting dog's first aid kit.
Why You Need to Carry a Hunting Dog First Aid Kit
Hunting dogs, unlike house pets, are exposed to a range of hazardous conditions when out in the field. Hunting dogs are, of course, bred for what they do, but that doesn't mean they're invincible to injury. A hunting dog medical supplies kit, when used properly, can help your dog recovery more quickly from injury and may even save his life.
Things to Include in a Hunting Dog First Aid Kit
Hunting dog medical supplies include many of the things found in an ordinary first aid kit. Here are some of the basic supplies to include in a hunting dog medical kit:
- Tweezers
- Muzzle
- A roll of sterile gauze
- Nail file and dog nail trimmers
- Scissors
- Needle-nosed pliers
- Cornstarch to help stop bleeding
- An oral syringe
- Clean towels, either cloth or paper
- Cotton balls and swabs
- A penlight
- A nylon slip leash
- A rectal thermometer and petroleum jelly or another lubricant
- Hot and cold packs
- First aid tape
- Non-stick pads or gauze squares
- Bandage rolls
- Wound disinfectant
- Sterile saline or eye wash solution
- Triple antibiotic ointment
- Aspirin
- Cortisone spray
- Ear wash solution
- Benadryl
- Hydrogen peroxide and activated charcoal, in case of poisoning
- Anti-diarrheal medication for dogs
- Dramamine, in case of motion sickness in transit
- A splint
- A cell phone
Make sure to include in emergency information among your hunting dog medical supplies. Have your regular vet's phone number, and directions to your regular clinic, among the supplies, as well as the phone number and location of an emergency veterinary clinic just in case your regular vet isn't available and your dog is seriously injured. Also include the phone number of a poison control center.
What to Do If Your Hunting Dog Is Injured
The most likely cause of injury to your hunting dog is fighting with other animals. Your hunting dog might fight with the animal your hunting, or with another animal. If your dog is attacked or wounded in some other way, clean the wound with water and bandage it by wrapping gauze around it. Remember that adhesive bandages and first aid tape don't stick to dog fur as well as they do to bare skin; you may have to wrap the tape around the entire appendage or torso to hold the bandage in place.
Provide other first aid treatment according to your dog's symptoms. Call your vet or emergency clinic on your cell phone for advice before administering any first aid treatment. If your dog is seriously injured, stop hunting and seek veterinary care right away. You should do this even if your dog shows no signs of discomfort; he may be in more pain than you realize, and postponing his treatment puts him at risk for infection and further injury.