Pet first aid kit for Indian homes: what to keep, and what never to use
Checked against 3 sources
A dog or cat first aid kit list is mostly ordinary supplies from any chemist: bandages, cotton wool, tweezers and a wound wash, with no medicines in it at all1. That's by design — first aid is for keeping your pet safe and comfortable on the way to the vet, never a substitute for one12. Write your vet's number and the nearest 24-hour clinic's number on the lid, so no one has to search for them in a panic.
A hurt or frightened pet may bite or scratch, even its own family — approach slowly and speak calmly .
- What's inside
- Bandages, blunt-ended scissors, wound wash, cotton wool, tweezers, tick tweezers, dressings, tape, gloves, a foil blanket1
- On the lid
- Your vet's number, and the nearest 24-hour clinic's number1
The printable version of this guide is a free PDF. Get it at thapki.app/guides/pet-emergency/first-aid-kit/
On this page
What to keep in a dog or cat first aid kit
- Bandages, in more than one width1.
- Blunt-ended scissors, for cutting bandages or matted fur safely1.
- A wound wash or saline, to rinse a cut or graze1.
- Cotton wool, for cleaning around a wound, not inside it1.
- Tweezers, and a separate pair of tick tweezers — worth keeping handy through the monsoon and after a walk in long grass1.
- Non-stick wound dressings and self-adhesive tape, to hold a dressing in place without sticking to fur1.
- Disposable gloves, so you're not touching a wound with bare hands1.
- A foil or thermal blanket, for shock or a long wait for help1.
- Antiseptic wipes, for your own hands, not for your pet's wound unless your vet tells you to use one1.
- A clean towel or blanket, which doubles as a stretcher for a dog that can't walk1.
- Your vet's number and the nearest 24-hour clinic's number, written on the inside of the lid, not just saved in a phone — see who to call, city by city.
What never belongs in the kit
- No medicines of any kind, including any human painkiller or fever tablet — never give one unless your own vet has told you to, and never guess a dose for a pet from a human packet3.
- No home remedies for a wound, a bite or an upset stomach. Rinse and cover a wound, then call1.
- Nothing that makes your pet vomit, unless a vet tells you to do it and how1.
- No cotton wool or dressing pushed into a wound — clean around it and let the vet look at what's underneath1.
First, check your pet is safe to approach
Checked against vet sources. Not yet reviewed by a vet.
- A hurt or frightened pet may bite or scratch, even its own family — approach slowly and speak calmly12.
- Follow danger, response, airway, breathing, circulation, then send for help: make sure the area is safe, see if your pet responds, and check it's breathing before you do anything else1.
- Once your pet is stable enough to move, get it to a vet — see the full list of go-now signs for what counts as an emergency.
When first aid isn't enough
First aid buys time on the way to a vet. It isn't treatment, and it isn't a reason to wait and see12. If anything on the go-now list applies, call a vet now rather than working through the kit.
Get the printable lid sheet (PDF)
One A4 page to tape inside the kit's lid: what's inside, what never goes in, and space for your vet's number and the nearest 24-hour clinic. Leave your Play Store Gmail and mobile number below and the download starts right away.
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Not fully clear yet
Official sources disagree or leave gaps on these. Confirm before you rely on them.
- PDSA's list is written for the UK; we found no Indian veterinary college or AWBI page with its own first-aid-kit list, so this page follows PDSA's items, which are ordinary first-aid supplies sold at any Indian chemist, not UK-specific products.
- redcross.org blocks automated page checks, so this page doesn't cite the Red Cross pet first aid material directly; PDSA and RSPCA cover the same ground.
Sources and how we check
Facts checked against the official and veterinary sources below by Thapki. Not yet reviewed by a vet. Written with AI help from the sources below, then checked line by line; the Thapki team reads and approves every page before it goes live. How we check
- 1First aid for pets
- 2First aid for your dog
- 3Poisoning from human over-the-counter drugs (pet owner version, updated May 2026)
From thapki.app/guides/pet-emergency/first-aid-kit/ · facts last checked 5 Oct 2026. Guides share public information; they are not a substitute for your vet's advice.