These kits contain many of the PDSA recommended essentials, including vinyl gloves, a foil blanket and antiseptic wipes (iStock/The Independent )
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Whether you’re running repairs on cuts and grazes or bandaging a dog’s leg until a vet can be reached, first aid kits are an essential part of every dog owner’s arsenal, especially with the hope of travelling this summer.
From March until August 2020, the Kennel Club saw a 161 per cent increase on the previous year of people searching for pups on its “find a puppy” tool, and that can only mean one thing. Legions of pups, currently confined to their local parks, will set paw on new adventures, while old timers are looking forward to high days and holidays, strolls and staycations.
But, dogs being dogs, there will likely be a few scrapes along the way – that’s why stashing a first aid kit in the glove compartment of the car is so important.
The UK’s leading vet charity, the PDSA, lists on its website 13 essential items every dog first aid kit should include – everything from bandages and blunt-ended scissors to tick removers and vinyl gloves. Most of those are components of human first aid kits too, so carrying one of our recommendations will protect you as well as your pooch.
Of course, it’s all very well hauling a veritable vet’s case of medical equipment on your hols, but if you don’t know how to use it, you could cause more harm than good.
Pre-Covid, the PDSA offered first aid courses around the country – they’re currently on hold but you can order a free first aid guide on the charity’s website.
Amy Fletcher, a vet nurse working in both an emergency hospital and a local practice, set up the Dog First Aid Co Ltd last year, offering first aid courses to dog owners in the North East of England.
“I’ve seen animals come through the door of the hospital that would have enjoyed a much better outcome if their owners knew how to perform basic first aid – CPR in case of cardiac arrest, for example,” Amy says.
The Dog First Aid Co now also sells kits to owners nationwide, which are included in our round-up of the best below.
Our testers, and their dogs, have chosen the most practical first aid kits on the market – ones that, should the worst happen and a dog sustain a serious injury while out walking, will step into the breach until veterinary assistance can be accessed.
You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism acrossThe Independent.
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With 40 items for £18, Mountain Paws’ own-brand kit contains all bar one – cotton wool – of the PDSA’s recommended items, with a good selection of bandages and dressings as well as paw sleeves to protect wounds. There are even some emergency poo bags thrown in for good measure. The pouch, made from a tough, waterproof fabric with a sturdy strap to attach to belts for a long hike, weighs just 340 grams, making this a good choice for outward bound adventures.
Priced at only a fiver, this little kit contains tape, a cleansing wipe, two gauze swabs, a tube of sterile solution and two plastic tick twisters, which our testers find better at removing the little blighters than tweezers. Given plastic tick pickers cost around £3 on their own, this basic kit’s a bit of a bargain.
In a handy plastic carry case, perfect for slinging in the glove compartment when you head off on hols, Hi-Travel’s kit contains 24 pieces, along with basic instructions handily stuck on the case covering when and how to use them.
It contains most of the items on the PDSA’s recommended list, only falling down on tick tweezers, and also includes four fluorescent yellow plastic bags to dispose of biohazardous materials (though hopefully you and your dog won’t run into any situations that require them!) This is a comprehensive kit for keeping in the car and decanting relevant items into your backpack when you head out on walks.
The camo fabric on this portable little pouch will satisfy dogs and owners with Bear Grylls aspirations, containing a whopping 72 pieces, including a thermometer and splint.
The instant ice pack impressed our tester – you simply shake it for immediate relief for injuries. With a strap to attach to owners’ belts or backpacks, this kit is an essential accessory for walks and hikes.
In design terms, Pawly takes the plaudits – its green hard-shelled case features a pleasing image of a big-eared dog with a massive snout adorned with the First Aid cross. It’s the only kit that contains bandages personalised to dogs – green and paw-printed – which may not be a huge priority but we thought it was adorable
It’s also absolutely bunged with stuff, justifying the fact it’s the priciest product in our selection. But as it includes a whistle, rubber tourniquet, pill box and mask for CPR (although you’d need to learn pet first aid to know how to use it) we’ll let it off. A lot of thought has gone into designing and compiling this kit – the only minus is that it’s a bit too bulky to be portable on days out. It’s a must for the medicine cabinet at home though.
This is a solid performer, containing all the items on the PDSA’s list of essentials and a good variety of bandage sizes. It’s portable, with a strap to attach to belts and backpacks, but the fabric doesn’t feel quite as strong and weather resistant as Mountain Paws’ (£17.99, Mountainpaws.com) and BearHoHo’s (£20, Amazon.co.uk) outdoor offerings.
If you’re an Ocado customer though, this is worth putting on your next shopping list as you can link your Fetch purchases to your Ocado account and have them all delivered at the same time.
Veterinary nurse Amy Fletcher setup The Dog First Aid Co Ltd in May 2020, offering courses at her training centre in the North East of England, and has now expanded the business by selling kits.
Their premium first aid kit costs £36 and, by popular demand, Amy has just brought out a £16 mini version especially for travel. The beauty of Dog First Aid Co’s products is that Amy, a veterinary nurse, is on hand via email with advice, can provide custom kits for individual needs, and should you run out of any items, will restock them for you. It’s a bespoke service, and for first time dog owners that’s a reassuring prospect.
Not quite a first aid kit but we’ve included the O’Tom tick twister as ticks are nasty little beggars, especially common in woodland and heath, and carry disease. Run your hands over your dog after a walk to check none have attached themselves – if one has, in our testers’ experience the best tool for removal is a plastic twisting hook like the O’Tom.
The hook clamps on to the base of the tick, allowing you to gently twist it out, unlike tweezers, where you’re pulling and simply hoping for the best. These are a handy little purchase, and it’s always worth keeping a set at home and in the car.
For “ruff” and tumble hiking hounds, we advise owners hitch Mountain Paws’ or BearHoHo’s portable packs on to their belts. If you’re more of a style-conscious owner, you’ll want a kit that is at home in your medicine cabinet so should plump for Pawly.
For a more boutique offering though, with custom-made kits available and restocks of individual items on request, visit The Dog First Aid Co where vet nurse Amy is on hand to help with all matters medical for mutts.
