You likely already have a first aid kit in your medicine cabinet filled with essentials like bandages, gauze, allergy medicine and painkillers. However, there are a few items every pet owner should have just in case.

• Bandages or gauze roll
• Eyewash
• Antiseptic wipes or spray
• Surgical sticky tape
• A box of cotton wool
• Tweezers
• Blunt ended scissors, preferably curved
• A thick towel
• Corn starch for clotting
• Veterinarian’s number

Although these are important items to have, keep in mind that it is not usually in your pet’s best interest to give them human medicine. These usually will do more harm than good.

Prevention is the best thing you can do. Always be on alert and make sure your home is safe for your pets. Should an emergency occur, keep calm and address the situation with a level head. If the situation seems serious or a problem keeps persisting, phone the vet, and they can guide you on how to properly proceed.