by Sally Chandler

If you are new to having a greyhound, remember that their skin is incredibly thin and that it’s not unusual for them to cut themselves on almost anything. You will quickly learn that having a first aid kit is a must. Most things can be bought online or at your local drugstore and have generics.

Things I have in my greyhound first aid kit

Large Band-Aids (the type you’d put over a knee)

Gauze, both rolls and patches in various sizes. (I use the 3×3’s for for brushing teeth)

Non-stick gauze

Blood barrier hemostat gauze to stop bleeding

Stick to itself bandages (available in a variety of colors)

Elastickon

Surgical scrub

A box of sterile 1 time use sterile saline solution eye flush. (20 to 100 per box)

Silver Sulfadiazine Cream (from your vet for putting over wounds)

Betadine solution for cleaning wounds

Sterile saline “wound wash” for cleaning out wounds

Neosporin Children’s foaming wound cleanser

Vetericyn for cleaning out wounds

Tuff-Foot to make it more comfortable for the dog to walk on the street and to prevent (?) corns. Tuff-Foot is a liquid that evaporates quickly. It’s used to toughen hunting dog’s feet – there’s no reason we can’t use it on our hounds too.

Nail clippers.

Styptic powder or gel (I suggest the former) in case you cut a quick. Keep in mind that though this stuff has been used forever, it stings like hell.

A high quality file for nails. I prefer DiamondEB

Ear cleaner. I’m a big fan of Virbac products so that’s the brand I use.

Flat cotton pads to clean ears.

Pet Pecillin for diarrhea USE ONLY IF YOUR VET SAYS SO

CET canine toothpaste – comes in a variety of flavors but the website says the beef is for plaque. We all know how greyhounds and plague go together….

Children’s size toothbrushes if I get tired of using gauze

Biotene oral gel for bleeding gums

Aspirin 81 mg USE ONLY IF YOUR VET SAYS SO

 I’m sure there are other things out there that are not in my kit that work just as well. They will build up with time. Every couple of years, go through it and throw out anything that’s old.

March 11, 2013. All rights reserved.