Pet First Aid Kit, Large - 50 Pieces

I wanted a pet first aid kit to keep in my dog's pack while backpacking so I purchased the small AKC kit. It's a bit pricey, but it has great reviews so I figured it would be a good investment. The first thing I noticed, is that the quality of the travel bag is very cheap. It is made of very thin plastic, like you would expect from a disposable poncho. Because of this, the seams don't hold very well and I don't expect the travel bag to last very long. I could tear the plastic with my hands. I know nothing about dog first aid, but I figured this kit would have dog-centric medical supplies. It does to an extent, but most of what you get can be found in a traditional first aid kit. Below are the item contents. Items that are specific for dogs are indicated in all caps.SMALL KIT (15 different items, 20 pieces total)*COLLAPSIBLE WATER BOWL - 1pc.*WATERPROOF INFORMATION CARD - 1pc.*SAFETY GUIDE FOR YOUR PET - 1pc.Antiseptic Povidone - Iodine Prep Pads - 2pc. (4pcs in large kit)Hand Sanitizer Prep Pads - 2pc. (4pcs in large kit)Sting Relief Prep Pads - 2pc. (4pcs in large kit)Alcohol Cleansing Prep Pads - 2pc (4pcs in large kit)Small Gauze Dressing Pad (2"x2") - 1pc. (2 pcs in large kit)Medium Gauze Dressing Pad (2"x3") - 1pc.Tweezers - 1pc.Alcohol Cleansing Prep Pads - 2pcThermal Foil Emergency Blanket (84 In x 52 In) 1pcGloves (Latex Free) - 2pc.Self-Adhesive Wrap (2 In x 5 Yrd) 1pcWhistle - 1pc.Travel Bag (4"x6"x11/2") - 1pc. (large kit comes with larger bag)LARGE KIT (25 different items, 51 pieces total) - this contains all of the above, and also adds:*PET WASTE BAGS - 4pc*EMERGENCY LEAD W/REFLECTIVE TAPE (47 In) 1pc*WATERPROOF ID TAG W/SPLIT RING 1pc*EMERGENCY ID COLLAR (30 in) - WRITABLE - 1pcScissors - 1pcCotton Swabs/Plastic Applicator - 8pcTweezers w/Magnifying Glass - 1pcHard Plastic Storage Case for Tweezers or Pills - 1pcPill/Specimen Container - 1pcLg. Gauze Dressing Pads (4 In x 4 In) 2pcInstant Cold Compress (4 In x 5 In) - 1pcSelf Adhesive Gauze Roll (3 In x 96 In) 1pcMedium Applicator 1pcREVIEW OF CONTENTSThe contents are most of the standard items from a traditional first aid kit, plus some emergency pet info and a water bowl. The water bowl is very cheap plastic but will do in a pinch. It can also be useful for holding debris removed from your pet or acting as an irrigation dish. The tweezers are cheap and fairly worthless, because their plastic frame makes it difficult to pull out very small items like stingers and small ticks.SMALL KIT VS LARGE KITThere really is minimal difference between the small and large kits, despite the much greater price. The tweezers include a magnifying glass, and you get a few more ointment pads than the small kit. All of the other additional items are pretty much worthless, with the exception of the scissors, and the applicator, which I think you should add to the small kit. A syringe is fairly important for pets for removing stingers, and for irrigating wounds. You could use a knife over scissors, but an injured pet is going to likely be moving around a lot while you are trying to administer first aid, and you don't want to cause additional injury by stabbing your pet while trying to cut off a piece of gauze or cut back hair to get to a wound. A large gauze dressing pad may also be useful if you have a larger pet. Those are the only benefits to the large kit and you can add that to the small kit for under $4. I don't need pet waste bags in my emergency kit, because I don't consider picking up after my dog an "emergency." Ditto with the ID collar and emergency lead. If you want, just add 6 feet of paracord to your small kit.ALTERNATIVESInstead of purchasing a pet first aid kit, I would recommend getting something for humans like this  Outdoor First Aid Kit, 205-Piece Kit  or just building your own by purchasing the above items separately. In addition to what is included in the kit, I would recommend adding the following items for dogs: Activated Charcoal  - for absorbing poisonsSyrup of Ipecac or 3% Hydrogen Peroxide - to induce vomitingBenadryl or Generic (child's dose) - for allergic reactions.Aspirin (child's dose) - pain reliever. Ticked Off Pets Tick Remover  - excellent for removing engorged ticks. Plastic Bottle  with rubbing alcohol, for preserving ticks in case you need to ID them later. QuikClot  - stops bleeding fast. Mesh Wire Splint Needle and Thread or Surgical SuturesRazor BladesLastly and most important, a good book on pet first aid. The best one I have found is  Dog First Aid: A Field Guide: Emergency Care for the Hunting, Working, and Outdoor Dog . This book is small enough to keep in your first aid kit and covers a large number of situations. Although not practical for travel, the most comprehensive book I have found is  Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook . You should read the field guide cover to cover BEFORE you need to use it. Existing knowledge will be the most important item in your first aid arsenal and takes up the least amount of space. Inducing vomiting in your dog could save your dog's life, or could prove to be fatal depending on what your dog has swallowed. Aspirin might alleviate your dog's pain, while ibuprofen could kill him. Prevention and skill will go much further than anything in your kit. If you are regularly checking your dog's paw pads for damage during a hike, you won't need to wrap them when you see them covered in blood from being worn off. You should know how to give your dog CPR (technique can vary depending on their size) and the proper amount of chest compressions before you need to use it in the field.SUMMARYAs you can see, there is very little difference between what you get in the AKC Pet First Aid kits versus a regular kit, and I don't find any reason someone should purchase a specific pet first aid kit like I did. A comprehensive standard first aid kit combined with just a few specialty items and a pet first aid book will be much cheaper and go much further than anything I have seen marketed toward pets.

After taking a pet CPR course, I wanted to be sure I had a safety kit in case something ever went wrong. I did a lot of research and thought this one would be best for our needs. I am so happy with it. The only thing I think is missing is a pet thermometer. Other than that it has everything you need, and space to add extra things should you want to. Compact, terrific!

Like how well it is designed. A lot of thought went into putting this together. Makes it easy to travel and know you have any supplies you may need.

I haven't had to use it thankfully, but this is the kit that I keep in the car for emergencies. The items it comes with would be equally effective in minor injuries for humans as well, so all in all it provides great peace of mind. This is also compact enough to store in your glovebox and if you are going on long hikes, it comes with a little button attachment so you can attach it to your lead.

I got this as a "just in case anything happens" kit, my dog isn't an outside dog, she despises the outdoors and basically anything in the house that moves or smells weird. A big surprise when I discovered she had accidentally scratched herself with her nail, nothing severe but this kit came in handy a lot sooner then I had ever expected it too. Always prepare for the worst, even if the worst is a superficial scratch.

Every pet owner needs one - which is why I am including this in a fund raiser basket for my local shelter! I already have one. Nicely put together, not too big, will fit in your jacket pocket. Good item to have

I would really like to see a higher quality, clearer first-aid guide for pets. But the kit is well supplied with a variety of needed equipment and first aid supplies. Great size for placing in your vehicle or next to your family first aid kit.

This Pet First Aid kit, large, is the best of the 4 pet first aid kits I bought for comparison before buying for our dog group. I also bought the large Red Cross kit in the red bag, the small Red Cross fanny pack, and the Red Cross kit in the white hard case. This kit has the best carrying case, the most medical equipment inside, and the best variety of supplies. I added a wire splint, forceps, more gauze of all sizes, a normal size tube of triple antibiotic cream, a cloth tourniquet (as a backup muzzle), a penlight, a triangular bandage, a 5ml syringe, and a soft small muzzle.