This is the last in our series to build a first aid kit.  Many of these are everyday, household items that are also excellent additions to your first aid  kit.

Apple Cider Vinegar – must be organic/raw/”with the mother” (will appear cloudy).  Can be used to disinfect wounds or surfaces.  Do not use full strength, dilute 1 part ACV to 4-5 parts distilled water.

Aloe Vera – used topically to soothe burns, cuts and scrapes.  Also effective on insect bites and hot spots.

Hydrogen Peroxide – can be used to induce vomiting if necessary (check with poison control on when to induce vomiting, it’s not always appropriate).

Grapefruit seed extract – GSE – great as a disinfectant and a natural antibiotic.  If taken internally, be sure to dilute it (roughly 8-10 drops in a glass of water).

Slippery Elm and Marshmallow Root – each of these herbs will coat the digestive tract and soothe; great for digestive issues such as diarrhea.

There are so many natural healing options that it’s easy to cover your first aid kit needs completely naturally.  As always, take the time to educate yourself so that you can make informed decisions on what is best for your pets.  We sincerely hope you build an awesome kit … that you never have to use.

Banjo was found tied to a fence, living in his own feces.  He was 40 lbs underweight, had sarcoptic mange, heartworms and a host of other problems.  Because he looks like a Wolf, Noah’s Arks had a very difficult time due to laws concerning Wolves and Wolf-hybrids. In fact, they were told that if they took him into their program, he would have to immediately be taken out of state.  They were able to have a DNA test done which proved he was a Siberian Husky/Australian Shepherd/German Shepherd mix.  With those results, they were able to get him the necessary medical attention.  This very sweet boy has found freedom in his forever home where he has other dogs to play with.

Before we discuss specific oils and their uses, I need to stress the importance of using high-quality, therapeutic grade oils.  You will not find these at the grocery store or drug store.  You may be able to find them at a specialty health care store.  And they will not be inexpensive.  But quality is imperative, especially if you are considering internal use.

While essential oils have an amazing amount of versatility, these are generally regarded as top choices for everyone to have on hand.

Tea Tree Oil – anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, this oil is excellent at cleansing.  Can be used to clean a wound or clean a surface area.

Lavender Oil – perhaps one of the most versatile essential oils to have in your home.  It can be used to soothe and calm in stressful situations.  It is also used to soothe and clean cuts and abrasions, burns and bites (do not use on punctures).

Peppermint Oil – can be used to soothe digestive issues aromatically or by placing a drop or two directly on the abdomen.  It is also a natural stimulant to aid with exhaustion.

Lemon Oil – antiseptic and disinfectant; excellent as a surface cleaner.  Also used on insect bites.

Please remember that the smell of essential oils can be very strong.  If possible, allow your dog to smell the oil before using it.  If they react adversely to the smell, do not use it on them.  Also, some essential oils can be toxic to cats and should not be used on/around cats without direction from someone professionally trained in essential oil therapy.

Here’s a great video of an interview with one of the country’s top integrative vets and one of the pioneers of essential oil therapy in the veterinary field.

We have one more article to finish out the series for your first aid kit.

Here’s another chance to win a free ticket to our Holistic Health for Your Pet seminar!

This is a 5 hour seminar with holistic veterinarian, Dr. Doug Knueven. You’ll learn about health and healing through natural methods including nutrition, homeopathy, massage, herbal supplements and more! Plus you’ll get cool stuff just for coming and be entered to win awesome prizes!

Contest begins at midnight tonight.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now that you have the basics for your pet first aid kit, let’s talk about some homeopathic remedies that are good to have on hand for emergencies.

Arnica Montana.  This is one of the most important remedies you could have in your kit (it seems to personally be one of our most used!).  It is effective for bruises and muscular injuries, especially when traumatic such as muscle or joint sprain.  It is also useful for healing after surgery.

Rhus Tox.  It is also used for muscular aches and pain, but more for general aches as opposed to traumatic injury.  Arthritis, stiffness.  Also used for itchy rashes.

Aconitum Napellus (Aconite).  My personal favorite, as it was the turning point of my personal belief in homeopathy.  You see, I’m a fairly fearful person when it comes to trauma.  I don’t like blood.  When I see an injury occur, I wince and squirm.  I’m quite squeemish.  Aconite works when there is great anxiety involved.  Used for shock, often in connection with Arnica.

Nux Vomica.  Great for vomiting and when your dog strains to go to the bathroom but little comes out.

Arsenicum Album.  This is used for intense vomiting and diarrhea; the diarrhea is very liquid and dehydration is an issue.  The dog will look exhausted, weak and restless.

Apis Mel.  This is used for insect bites and bee stings as well as some allergic reactions.

Calendula Officinalis.  Excellent for healing cuts, wounds, burns, etc.  Can be used topically as a cream/ointment on wound or taken internally to speed healing from the inside.

Dosage and timing for remedies will vary based on circumstances.  It is generally fairly easy to find 30c pellets (that’s what we use), and generally 3-4 pellets is the amount you would use.  For acute situations, you would dose more frequently, possibly every 30 minutes or so for the first few doses and then taper off to every few hours to once/day, etc.  Typically, you would place the pellets under your tongue and allow them to dissolve.  That’s not very practical with a dog so we typically fold them up in a piece of paper and crush them into a powder and pour the powder into the gumline pouch of the dog’s mouth.  (Note: you should not touch the pellets with your hands, they should go from container to mouth.)  That said, there are other forms available for purchase (fast-dissolving pellets, liquid tinctures) should you want a different form.

Storing your homeopathic remedies is critical to the success of using them.  Store them in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight.  Do not store them near anything that puts off an electromagnetic field (e.g., microwaves, computers, etc.).  Do not store them near strong smells (essential oils, vapor rubs, etc.).

If you’d like to learn more about homeopathy, be sure to visit National Center for Homeopathy and Homeopathy Plus. Or if you’d like to pick up a book or two to read, this is a great list.

Next time, we’ll discuss Essential Oils for your first aid kit.

The first dog we’d like to highlight from Noah’s Arks is one that we’ve personally met and, until just last week, didn’t even know his history.  This is the story of Blu.

He was homeless and starving when he wandered into a yard in Monticello, GA.  The family brought him inside and offered him food.  As he was eating, another dog in the home approached the bowl and Blu tried to protect his food.  The family saw this as an aggressive move, as opposed to defensive, and he was immediately taken outside.  There he was kicked and beaten with shovels by the husband and six others.  Someone called 911 and when they first arrived, they believed Blu was dead.  Blu was taken to the vet for immediate care and xrays where they found his skull was cracked, his leg was broken and his head had massive swelling that was draining out of his ears.  Through months of dedication and love, his injuries – both physical and emotional – healed.

Every week, we receive a delivery from one of our distributors, Holistic Pet Source in Nashville, TN.  And every week, Blu rides along side our delivery driver James on that route.  Blu has a new life.  One that’s filled with love and compassion.  All because one person made a 911 call.  Please stand up for what’s right and report animal cruelty.

Everyone should have a first aid kit for their pets.  And whether you choose to use holistic methods (and we hope you do!) or conventional methods, there are several items that belong in EVERY kit.

First you will need the container you will use for your pet first aid kit.  You can buy a cute one like in the photo, or you can simply use a small airtight box.  Just be sure it’s large enough to hold your supplies but not so large that they slide around in the container.  Once you have your container, you can begin filling it with the basics.

• Emergency numbers:

1. Your holistic vet
2. The closest veterinarian
3. Emergency vet clinic
4. Poison control center (ask your vet for the nearest one)

• Non-stick bandages (not human type).  We prefer PawFlex (stop by and we’ll show you why).
• Gauze to wrap injuries or muzzle the injured pet if necessary.  It would be good to have a couple of different sizes of gauze (e.g., 2″ rolls, 4×4″ pads, etc.).
• Adhesive tape (or vetwrap) for securing gauze and/or bandages.
• Ice pack.
• Cotton balls.
• Qtips.
• Tweezers.
• Syringe.
• Eyedropper.
• Scissors.
• Warm blanket, thick towels.
• Pure water (spring or distilled).
• Clean spray bottle.
• Measuring cups/spoons.
• Important medical paperwork on each pet and current photo of each pet (in case they get lost).
• Leash.

Next time, we’ll discuss homeopathic remedies that are useful to have in your first aid kit.

April is Prevent Animal Cruelty month and I couldn’t think of a better group to highlight and support in connection with this than Noah’s Arks Rescue (http://www.noahs-arks.net/RESCUE/HOME.html). 

Noah’s Arks Rescue supplies emergency medical and surgical care to abused animals.  The only animals in their foster program are those that are in their surgical care.  We’ll be highlighting some of the stories of pets saved by Noah’s Arks Rescue throughout the month.  As a warning, parts of these stories may be disturbing to read.  But we believe it’s important for people to know these stories. 

Through knowledge comes power…the power to help change.

While no one likes when their pet is sick or injured, it always helps to be prepared. 

April is Pet First Aid Awareness month so we’re going to give you tips throughout the month to help you be prepared for emergencies. 

By the end of the month, you’ll be able to build a Holistic First Aid kit for your pets.

Congratulations Rekha Drwiega!  You are the winner of the free ticket to the Holistic Pet Seminar.  Thanks to everyone for participating!

There’s still room and still time to register.