First Aid Kit for long distance walks with loaned dog

[wavingfuriously]

so far people have suggested vet wrap and conforming bandage ?...don't know what these items actually are !! and bandages of course..

anything else please people ? just want to be prepared..

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

Tick removal tool?

I think there's some sort of balm/cream you can get for dog pawpads if they get sore??

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

www.amazon.co.uk/Mushers-Secret-Protector-60-Grams/dp/B0002IJQDC?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

This.

Not sure how far you're going. Ive never done a long distance walk with my dog but we've had a week away where we've walked 10-15 miles each day. Only thing I took was a tick tool. But then I guess it would have been easier for us to have a day off if needed, or go get supplies.

[CMOTDibbler]

I have vet wrap (its stretchy bandage that sticks to itself), a padded bandage, non adherent dressing, animal wound wash and tick remover in my rucksack when we go for long walks. Most of this doubles up for human use anyway

[wavingfuriously]

oooh this is BRILL advice peeps please keep it coming ! we're going on substantial walks 9 to 14 miles long and in all sorts of uk areas..

[wavingfuriously]

• CMOT where did u buy that stuff ? i'm having difficulty in sourcing online GENUINE sites ? or did u buy it from the vets surgery ? thansk

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

Look for coban or cohesive bandage.

[sparechange]

You can buy Vet wrap online from any equestrian shop. It is very commonly used on horses. I imagine Amazon would have it as well. You don't necessarily need the genuine brand one. Any similar bandage would work - they key is that it only sticks to inself, and not fur
If you remove it carefully, it is reusable but it's probably worth getting a couple of rolls

[CMOTDibbler]

I bought it in a horse shop, or possibly our local feed merchants

[wavingfuriously]

thanks for that spare and cmot but where I live in greater london there aren't many horse suppliers around ! guess its going to have to be pets at home which i don't really like...wary of getting med supplies online...

[CMOTDibbler]

Robinsons are very good, and have everything. I like the Hypocare spray which they have - doesn't stong, suitable for humans as well

[wavingfuriously]

Just had a look at them Cmot products look v.reasonable but in the interim i went to petsathome cos want items before christmas, bought two sizes of the vet wrap and some antiseptic powder. now to get some bandages and large plasters. the would be (hope not !!) patient is a very active terrier medium size who runs & jumps all over the show ...its a wonder he hasn't done something to a paw /leg yet...
thanks

[wavingfuriously]

do you own or lease a horse ? do all first aid yourself ? what a responsibility...respect

[anxious123]

College farm in Mill Hill sell vet wrap :)

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Make sure you practice with vet wrap as it can self tighten and I have seen terrible problems with it constricting limbs.
Steer clear of wound powder it actually slows wound healing the wound gels such as intra site are far better.

[wavingfuriously]

thank you lonecat

[wavingfuriously]

lonecat - are you a vet or vet nurse ? in the 70's i used to help out at a local vets and after animals were spayed the vet used to bung a load of that powder stuff on .. i didn't like the use of it then and it had a really horrid smell. thanks for the tip re: vet wrap. I've had a look to find first aid for pets course but no luck so far..

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I am a vet.

[Veterinari]

Agree with Lonecat, it's important to know how to apply bandages if you think you might need to use them, otherwise you can create more problems.

Also what kind of dog are you taking? You're unlikely to need any first aid stuff unless running through barbed wire etc but if your dog is not used to exercise may become lane/muscle soreness etc just as a human would. Also if a short paws breed then you'll need to beware of respiratory issues. If it's a dog that pulls on the lead, get a harness to avoid neck soreness

Just as with a human you should increase activity gradually to avoid injury

[Lonecatwithkitten]

More time to pop back and talk about previous use of wound powder. Firstly in 1970s the way our pets and in paticular cats lived their lives was very different so having a solid antibacterial layer on a wound was far more important. Next wound science was no where as advanced and we were not aware of the toxic effect of iodine etc. on endothelial cells which heal wounds. Let alone that hydrophilic wound dressings such as intrasite can maintain a wound as fresh for up to 8 hours changing the method in which we treat it in the surgery. We now about golden hour and platinum 10minutes regarding injuries.
The veterinary medicine and surgery practiced in the 1970s bears no resemblance to today's.

[wavingfuriously]

wow lonecat that is interesting I also remember how the cats and dogs were basically shoved post-op into a cold outhouse at the vets with those red heating lamps!! I remember wondering, as a teenager, how they made it.. no pampering in those days..

do hope you and Vet read this because had nasty experience out with the loaned dog this week.. made the BIG mistake of stopping to feed dog in a park when other dogs were about.. an exuberant large puppy then fought my dog for food and bit through his fleece coat almost causing an injury..it was very nasty and could have been serious

so more convinced that ever that I need to carry a first aid kit !! if dog had made a puncture would what would be the materials that need to be applied until a vet can be found..? advice please,thansk

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Leave a puncture wound well alone and get the dog to the vets. Putting stuff in/on a puncture wound can cause way more trouble.

[wavingfuriously]

hi Lone ok got it..but surely i've got to stop the wound from bleeding?! we're in the of the countryside

[Veterinari]

It depends where the wound is - for exampl if a puncture over a joint you can end up flushing chemicals/antiseptic etc into the joint whic is a problem.

If you're confident that it's not deep, you can bathe with warm salty water (only a tsp of salt in a pint of cooled boiled water so it's v dilute) to clean away any discharge but in general puncture wounds do not bleed excessively as most of the trauma is internal