Canine frist aid and urgent care kits

FYI, for benedryl - on the box it will list active ingedients per ml or tsp..... like a capsule is probably 25 mg in most forms of benadryl.  It will list this also for the liquid, usually in the list of active ingredients. I'm not familiar with liquid, so I won't guess at it.  From what I know, 2mg/lb is higher end dose - such as a bee sting like Buddy had, but for other reactions you can start at 0.5 mg/lb and work your way up to find an acceptable dose.  I think a tsp is about 5 mls..... but I'm not sure.  It might be a Tbsp that is 5 mls, now that I think of how much 5 mls is. Darn metic system!

I do not know all of the medications that are okay for dogs, but I heard that aspirin is not good for them, and I assume ibuprofin, etc isn't either.  They sell books - I think Callie mentioned having one (?) - that talk about dogs and what medications are good, bad or indifferent.  I'm thinking of getting one.  Since I just found out the other day with  loveukaykay's dog Bailey that onions are TOXIC but I wouldn't have thought that myself.  So it's good to have for those late night scares - especially since my dog LOVES to get into the garbage if I forget to take it out or something.

This would be helpful for everyone though, so it was a good one to post!
 
ETA: spelling

The dosage for Benadryl is 1 to 2 ml's per pound. Childrens Benadryl(the liquid) is 12.5mg per teaspoon. For a dog that weighs 10 pounds you'd give 10 ml's at the lowest and 20 ml's at the highest doses. 1 teaspoon is 5 ml's. 1 tablespoon is 15ml's. 1 ounce is 30 ml's.

By the weigh, Aspirin is safe for dogs. The common dosage for that is 5 to 15mg per pound up to 2 to 3 times a day.

Ibuprofin is not safe, it causes liver damage over a long perioud of time. You will not notice it at first but with blood test it has been show to cause damage. If for any reason your dog is in pain for longer then a few days you should see a vet and get it on the proper pain meds for dogs. Human meds are only temporary solutions till you can get the correct medication for your pet. However there are a few that are safe for both people and animal. Please be awar of what is toxic to dog, even appals can be toxic, the seeds contain cyinide in them, tomatoes, grapes and onions are best to advoide. Do not give anything to your dog that you are not sure about, contact a vet if your not shure. Some thing are best left to your vet to treat, like antifreez-rush your dog over the the vet to save it's life if you think it may have swollowed any!

As far as your first aide kit I would put some roll gauze, tap and triple antibiotic ointment in there. Also some tweesers and siccors. Iodine swabs are also nice but if you ever use them water them down a whole lot. I keep a safty kit in my car also with everything for myself and my dog, much of it can be used for both humans and dogs. Anything you put in your kit make shure you know how to use.

I keep a kit in the house (in a tackle box, so it can travel too) that includes:

hydrogen peroxide (for vomiting, not wound treatment)
saline solution (plain old saline, like for contacts)
povidone/iodine
gauze pads
vet wrap
scissors
tweezers
neosporin
benadryl tablets
baby aspirin
rimadyl (a couple spares)
immodium ad
cotton balls
rescue remedy
syringes
fingernail clippers (human)
dog toenail clippers & file
paw pad creme
athletic tape
an antiseptic made for dogs
gloves
anti-bacterial hand stuff (for ME)

There's probably more (brain fart) but these are my basics. I have other stuff at home to add to my arsenal, but these are the things that I keep in my kit.

Another thing to do is to write on a piece of paper your dogs weight and the dosages for any medication on there. That way you won't have to calculate it out or if someone else needs to give it meds, they'll know the proper amount.

canine first aid kit recommendations....

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/fstaidk.html

http://bullmastiffinfo.tripod.com/firstaid.html

http://www.doglogic.com/firstaid.htm#kit

i liked the second site best. it gives dosage recommendations for some of the medicine.

When Zoe had an allergic reaction to her vaccine and swelled up, we had to give her half a pill of benedryl at a time.  She is 10 lbs.

My first aid kit has most of the same stuff as Laura's.  My travel kit also includes:
Pumpkin (I personally am not comfortable dosing Immodium)
Cold packs (the kind that activate, not the kind you freeze)
Alcohol (good for a quick cool down when rubbed on belly)
Witch Hazel wipes
Styptic pads
Phone numbers for local vets.

I know we're not necessarily talking about travelling, but what the heck. 

As far as dosing peroxide to induce vomitting.  It's something every dog owner should know how to do - but it should not be done in haste.  Many toxic substances will actually cause more damage coming back up through the throat.  I induced for example, when Slick ate an entire leather glove.  I knew he would not be able to pass it and I needed to get it out before it absorbed all that stomach liquid and swelled.  Anyway, the dosage is 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, 1tsp per 10lbs of body weight.

Dangerous foods/substances can be found [linkhttp://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc&JServSessionIdr006=b1ivn3krn3.app23b]here.[/link]  Everyone should familiarize themselves with this site.  I read through it a few times a year because they are always updating it with new ideas for prevention and new dangers.  Xylitol for example, VERY dangerous and found in almost all sugar free chewing gum and other sugar free products.  I also like to refresh my knowledge of the seasonal specific dangers.