Tapestry's Cat Care Article : Packing your pet a first aid kit.

What to include in a Pet First Aid Kit

These are some suggestions as to what you could include to make a well-stocked pet first aid kit. Pets have different needs and requirements than humans, so it might be a good idea to have separate ones for animal use.

What to include:

first-aid manual
elastic bandage
sterile gauze
adhesive bandages
sling
muzzle (hurt animals may bite)
Elizabethan collar
scissors
antibacterial soap
ointment
Exacto (tm) knife (for cutting through collars etc)
antiseptic wipes
antibiotic cream
calamine lotion
thermometer
tweezers
safety pins
small container of distilled water, sealed tightly
band-aids (in case you're bitten)

a syringe without a needle (good for squirting into injuries or eyes to rinse clean)
adhesive tape (one that will stick to fur)
antiseptic solution (like hydrogen peroxide)
hydrocortisone cream
plastic gloves
flashlight and
extra batteries
your list of emergency phone numbers
blanket (stored nearby)
disposable instant cold packs
Tensor (tm) bandages
terry cloth towel
old bed sheets (good for tearing into bandages)
razor and blades (for shaving and cutting hair)
extra medication your pet may be on
disposable camera w/ flash (to document accident scene, any animals that may have been in contact with your animal, unknown contagions or even for insurance claims)

Be sure to read through your first aid manual so that you are aware of what steps should be taken in a first aid situation.
Always be wary that injured animals may bite/strike out in pain.
If your animal has been bitten by another animal, be sure to try to remember what the animal looked like and catch it if you can. DO NOT PUT YOUR LIFE IN DANGER. Many animal bites carry dangerous bacteria or even worse, disease.
To transport a wounded animal, it is a good idea to find a flat board to secure it to. If you suspect it may have a spinal injury, if at all possible, do not move it if help can come to you.
Regardless how much you love the animal you are treating, do not place yourself in danger. As cruel as it may sound, it does not make sense to risk two lives to save one.
Once you have wrapped a wound, be sure to put on an Elizabethan collar to prevent the animal from worrying at the wound and making it worse.
Always remember the following concepts of first aid:

ABC - Air, Breathing and Circulation. Check to see that the animal has an open airway. Then check to ensure the animal is breathing. Lastly, listen and feel for a pulse.

RICE - Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Any injury can easily be dealt with using these steps.

- After injury has occurred, you should always encourage the injured party to rest. This will help prevent further injury, help slow blood flow and calm the individual.

- Place ice on the injured area. This will help prevent swelling, prevent blood flow to the area and numb the pain.

- Compression slows bleeding and helps maintain control over swelling. BE CAREFUL with this! It is always a good idea to use some sort of elastic based wrap when applying compression. You do not want the injured area to swell and cut off circulation. Never leave compression on unsupervised for long periods of time... continually unwrap and check the injured area.

- Elevation basically means to place the injured area above the heart. If possible, recline the injured animal. For example, if they have a laceration on their hip, lay them so that their head is pointed downward and their back end is upward. This helps slow blood flow by using gravity to make it harder for blood to reach the injured area.

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