If you are in northern New England like me your are currently buried in 3-4 feet of snow.  I have to keep telling myself Spring is around the corner and to get my gear ready for some hiking once the trails clear.  While I’m snowed in I thought I would start a short series on one of the most important pieces of gear I bring with me on my dog friendly activities – a first aid kit for both me and my dogs.  I have one kit I keep in my vehicle and bring with me on hikes.

In upcoming posts I will detail what is actually in my kit and why.  Although you can buy prepackaged kits, I built my own so I could better customize it for my needs.  Right now, I want to talk about my decision to always have one with me.

My safety and the safety of my dogs is a top concern when hiking.  If I know an area then I know the threats the terrain may present.  In new areas, I stay alert looking for any trouble my dogs can can in to.  I am in the habit of periodically checking their pads, underbelly and other contact areas for signs of cuts, bites, and any concerning sensitivity.  In my area terrain is often rocky which may cause cuts from sharp contact points or injuries from slips or falls.  Broken glass is sometimes a concern.  Coming upon an old campsite where campers left broken glass or pieces of metal may result in injury.  People illegally dump trash in the woods which may result in an injury from rusty metal or glass.  Barb wire from old farms, as well as trash pits from old farms and sunken foundations can be yet another threat.  Being in the woods means being among wildlife.  If my dogs surprises or corners an animal, say a porcupine, it may not go se well for them.  I like to keep the trapping seasons in mind too.  Going off trail or deep woods hiking presents the possibility of my dog getting in the wrong side of a game trap.

I am not trying to scare anyone out of the woods, rather, just bring some awareness to the different threats that could just ruin your day.  A minor injury on the trail, if left untreated, may become more serious by the time you get somewhere with medical supplies.  Worse yet, a serious injury could lead to death if you do not have the first aid supplies to deal with it.  This is what lead me to my decision to always carry a first aid kit.  I asked myself the following questions: If my dog sustains an injury resulting in massive blood loss, do I have a way to stop it and stabilize him?  If my dog injures a leg joint do I have a way to splint it or immobilize it so it does not become an ACL injury?  If my dog has a bad cut on his pad do I have a way to clean the wound, bandage it and then cover the wound to keep it bandage and protected while he limps out of the woods?  I am not in extraordinary physical shape and there is no way I can carrying a 75 pounds friend far.  These questions, and other questions like them, made me realize that I did not have a way to deal with injuries.  I felt I was not being responsible and decided to build a first aid kit that I could always have with me.  I also got basic first aid training.

In my next post I will begin to talk about what is in my first aid kit.  I want to detail everything from the kit itself, and why I chose it, to all the medical supplies inside.  I have some unique items in there that I think you will be surprised to learn have legitimate medical applications.

Lastly, consider taking a canine first aid course, or one for humans.  I will be talking about gear and why I carry it but I will not be talking about how to apply it.  I defer to the professionals for proper training for that.  There are even online classes, some of which are free.  Here are some I found from Udemy, a reputable source of online training.

First Aid for Pets – This course is run by a veterinarian, Dr Katherine, and teaches basic knowledge to render aid for your pets in emergencies.  Be prepared for pet emergencies: build a first aid kit + learn what actions to take for a range of traumas and diseases.

First Aid for Remote and Rural Locations – Wilderness First Aid for those who enjoy the remote areas.

First Aid – A guide to first aid for the common man. Covers sudden illness, wounds, burns, bone injuries and more.