Here we are in the month of April, which also happens to be Pet First Aid Awareness Month.

Last year in this column I wrote about the need for every pet owner to have a pet first aid kit. With pet first aid awareness month upon us again, I want to ask all the wonderful pet owners reading this…do you have a pet first aid kit? If you do, that’s great!

Now, let me ask those of you who have a pet first aid kit…have you inspected the contents of your pet first aid kit lately? If not, now is the time to do so. Take a few minutes to locate your pet first aid kit. If it has been sitting in the back of your closet longer than you can remember, take a moment to dust the cobwebs off (we won’t tell on you!).

Now open your kit and inspect each item in your kit. Have any of the dates on the antiseptics or ointments expired? Is the individual packaging of every item still intact? Or is the packaging so old it has now become “one” with its contents, and any chance of separating the packaging from its contents is but a wishful yearning? Or has an item been in the kit for longer than you would admit to anyone and you aren’t quite sure what said item originally was (it’s OK, we promise not to reveal your identity!)? If you answered “yes” to any of these it is time to replace these items!

This is also a good time to check your kits contents to remind you exactly what actually is in your pet first aid kit. Maybe there are some items you need to add to your first aid kit? Since you last checked did your son “borrow” all of the bandaging supplies for his scout project? And, I know what you’re going to tell me… despite “juniors” promises to return all of the bandaging supplies to your pet first aid kit, quicker than you could say “abracadabra” those same supplies have vanished into thin air never to materialize again! It’s time to replace those items that have magically disappeared.

If you are reading this and feeling a bit guilty because you still have not put together a pet first aid kit, now is the time to act! You can put together your own pet first aid kit or buy a kit that is ready made. If you decide to purchase a readymade kit do check the contents to make sure you are not buying something that is just a bunch of bandages.

Optimally I recommend you have two pet first aid kits. One kit should be in your home. You should have another kit in your car for when you are traveling with Rover. I also recommend you have a smaller pet first aid kit in a waist pack…take it with you when you and Rover go hiking.

Some items to include in a pet first aid kit are bandages, tweezers, ointments, disinfectants, and a muzzle. Space does not allow me to list every item, however, if you would like me to email you a detailed list of suggested items for your pet first aid kit, please send an email to me and put “Pet First Aid Kit” in the subject line.

Get your pet first aid kit before you need one! You can never predict when you will need such a kit, so make it a priority to get a kit together today. By having a pet first aid kit you have taken steps to become a caring and conscientious pet owner.

–Jan Brown

Jan is the Owner of Jan’s Pet Sitting and is a Pet Tech Pet First Aid Instructor.