First Aid Kit for Livestock

A first aid kit is a handy item to have around the home to treat children and adults for those emergencies where we get scrapes, cuts, sprains and abrasions while working or playing around the home and yard. It can also come in handy in the car for trips.

For livestock owners a first aid kit can also be a valuable asset to have around when an emergency occurs with our animals. These items and equipment should be available to treat an animal, but shouldn’t be used to replace appropriate care that can be provided by a veterinarian.

Here is a list of items for your livestock first aid kit:

1. 50 4 x 4 gauze sponges; good for cleaning or dressing wounds.

2. Self adhering bandage material; used to put pressure on an injury to control bleeding or protect it from dirt

   and debris.

3. Sterile stretch gauze bandaging, non-adhering bandage pads, cloth tape; keep on hand to dress or bind

   wounds.

4. Triple antibiotic ointment; applied to minor cuts and abrasions to prevent/treat infection.

5. Dilute iodine or Nolvasan solution; these antiseptics protect against bacteria.

6. Eye wash solution; the human type is fine to use on an animal.

7. Hemostats. This instrument can be employed to clamp off bleeding vessels.

8. Blood stop powder; handy for the control of minor bleeding.

9. Flashlight; helps to throw some light on hard to see injuries and night time emergencies.

10. Rectal thermometer with a string and clip; be sure to know what temperature is normal for the animal

    species you keep.

11. Stethoscope; useful for listening to the heart, lung and gut sounds.

12. Bandage scissors; snips bandages, gauze and hair.

13. Wire cutters; indispensable for rescuing animals tangled in fences.

14. Latex gloves; protects your hands from contact with blood, diarrhea, amniotic fluid and other unpleasant

    substances.

15. Large blanket; use as a clean surface or to cover an animal in shock.

16. Animalhealthrecords;keepahistoryofanyvaccinations,medications,andmedicalproceduresyour

    animals may have received in an easy to locate place.

17. Y our veterinarian’ s contact information and emergency clinic’ s phone number.