You probably have a first aid kit in your bathroom cabinet. Likewise, you'll need one for your pet. A good dog first aid kit is imperative because items made for humans may not always be safe for your pet.

A first aid kit for dogs is something that you rarely need, but when an emergency happens, you wish you had been better prepared. Ready.gov explains how being prepared is essential to save on veterinary bills and, sometimes, even save your dog's life.

There are many situations when a dog first aid kit can be useful. Other than accidents at home, it's handy while traveling, hiking, or camping. If you already have your own first aid kit, you can add the missing items to make it dog-friendly. But ASPCA Pro recommends that you keep a separate first aid kit for dogs that is very specific to your pet.

Below, we'll discuss the use of canine first aid kits and review some of the best pre-assembled dog first aid kit choices we liked the most.

Why First Aid Kit for Dogs is Essential to Have

Just like little kids, dogs get themselves into trouble quite often. They get into things that they shouldn't and try to explore areas that may be harmful to them. Being prepared for emergencies is a big part of being a responsible pet owner, and the American Red Cross explains and encourages all pet owners to familiarize themselves with pet first aid procedures and have at least the very basic pet first aid kit at home and/or in a car.

A pet first aid kit is similar to that designed for people – a collection of essential supplies and instructions that would allow you to assist your pet in case of accident. You can easily assemble your own dog first aid kit (here's how). However, purchasing a dog first aid kit that is already pre-assembled is significantly cheaper than buying all the first aid kit supplies separately. It's also a lot easier than tracking down the materials you need and ensuring you've got everything.

Some pet first aid kits only have the necessities, while others include a lot of extras. It's up to you to evaluate each best dog first aid kit listed below to make sure it will be suitable for your dog. For example, if you frequently take your dog on hikes or other outdoor adventures, it may be wise to purchase one of the larger kits. We've ranked these pre-assembled kits below in order of cost-to-value.

Most pet owners will not want to waste time looking for health supplies and instructions on how to use them when a dog cuts his paw or gets into something poisonous. The more extensive your best dog first aid kit is, the better. That way, you'll have the peace of mind in knowing that you've got what you need in one convenient place, and understand at least the basics of canine first aid procedures.

Top 7 Best Dog First Aid Kit Choices

1Canine Friendly First Aid Kit for Dogs

When you need to treat a pet for a wound or insect bite, you don’t want to scour the place for all the things you need. That’s why first aid kits are important – they make things simple and swift.

RC Pet Products Pet First Aid Kit
346 Reviews
RC Pet Products Pet First Aid Kit
  • Allows you to assist your pets...
  • Kit organizes supplies and...
  • Great for your car, house,...
  • Contents include bandages,...
  • See full list of contents...

The Canine Friendly Pet First Aid Kit is a handy fabric bag with a zipper that opens the whole side of the kit to allow full view and access to the supplies contained in each vinyl pocket. This kit contains a very helpful manual with simple instructions on how to respond to emergencies properly.

Inside the kit are supplies that include a pair of scissors, a pair of tweezers, gauze rolls and gauze pads, elastic bandage, triangle bandage, exam gloves, tongue depressors, cold pack, emergency blanket, antiseptic wipes, and a few other items. The Canine Friendly Pet First Aid Kit is a good starting point for pet owners who always had the intention of coming up with a kit but never got around to actually doing it.

Dog owners like the convenience of having all the small items in one place. They find the kit very useful, even for humans. It has room for their dog’s medicine from the vet and even their own emergency stuff. It’s good to have one place for all health-related supplies – it beats having to stash another bag that may contain similar items anyway. This is especially handy when going on trips with the four-legged travel buddy. Regarding the price, this is a great buy.

PROS:

  • Comes with a brief canine first-aid instruction manual
  • Comes in a fabric case with a convenient carrying handle
  • Contains 32 items
CONS:

  • Doesn't include as many items as other dog first-aid kits
  • While cheap enough, it's still slightly overpriced for the items that it includes

 

2Adventure Medical Kits Trail Canine First Aid Kit

This Trail Dog Canine First Aid Kit is very comprehensive and portable. It’s carried in a canvas bag with a carrying handle. The back has a space for the vet’s emergency numbers and a sort of checklist of supplies you’ll find inside the kit in four categories – wound care, sprain, instructions, and medications.

Sale
Adventure Medical Kits Adventure Dog Series Me &...
410 Reviews
Adventure Medical Kits Adventure Dog Series Me &...
  • Human & Canine First Aid...
  • SOL Emergency Blanket: Treat...
  • Emergency Cold Pack
  • 10 CC Irrigation Syringe:...
  • Splinter Picker: Safely remove...

This is a 1.47-lb kit which you may easily bring wherever you go. In fact, it’s a good idea to always have one of these kits from Adventure Medical Kits in the car and another one in the house – you never know when and where you’ll need one.

For wound care, the Adventure Medical Kits Trail Dog Canine First Aid Kit has bandages, gauze, sterile dressing, tape, wound wash, syringe, glove, antibiotic ointment, antiseptic, and alcohol. For sprain, it has triangular bandage, cold compress, and safety pins. Then it also has common medications, medical instructions, and instruments, such as EMT shears, tick remover forceps, emergency blanket, travel medicine guide and first aid manual, among other things.

Best value for the money – this is what buyers think about this kit. It has the basic first aid things they need for a day trip or two, and just the right weight to add to the backpack. They’d want to find something more substantial though for much longer trips, but this is essentially what they’d bring along during weekend camping and usual walks to the woods or the beach.

PROS:

  • Comes in a canvas bag with a carrying handle
  • Comes with a brief canine first-aid instruction manual
  • Features a space on the outside of the bag to write your veterinarian's phone number and other emergency information
CONS:

  • Doesn't include as many items as other dog first-aid kits
  • Will not suffice for longer trips or lengthy hiking/camping adventures

 

3Rayco Dog First Aid Disaster Kit with Safety Collar

This is a square-shaped kit that you could easily insert between clothes inside a backpack or put inside a sling bag. It doesn’t occupy that much space but packs a lot in it. The important thing that it does is keep the most basic first-response supplies in one small kit that you could bring anywhere because it’s so light and compact.

Dog & Pet First Aid Emergency Kit - Travel - Home...
1,529 Reviews
Dog & Pet First Aid Emergency Kit - Travel - Home...
  • Saline solution- Great for...
  • Styptic pencil (5 grams) - Dip...
  • LED Reflective Collar 3...
  • Compact - This kit maybe...

This dog disaster first aid kit contains 16 items – a pair of scissors, a pair of tweezers, triangular bandage, gloves, tongue depressor, instant ice pack, depressing bandage, emergency blanket, elastic bandage, antiseptic wipes, cotton buds, sterile gauze, antibiotic ointment, styptic powder, medical tape, and sting relief pad. These supplies are what you’d commonly need for cuts and injuries requiring immediate attention while waiting to get your pet to the vet.

The carrying case is nice and compact, and the mesh and vinyl compartments keep supplies in place but easy to find and access. It’s the perfect thing to carry when hiking with dogs since it won’t be too bulky. A pet owner wished it came with more of the antibiotic ointment. It does come with a little of everything, which is good for reminding which supplies are more needed – which to buy less of or more of when replenishing them.

PROS:

  • Comes in a compact carrying case with a handle
  • Ideal for short hikes or to keep in the car for traveling with your dog
  • Includes an emergency card to write important contact numbers and information on
CONS:

  • Only contains 16 items
  • Some products included in the kit are of cheap quality, but they still get the job done.

 

4AKC Pet First Aid Modified Kit for Dogs

This is a variation of our first product from the American Kennel Club, which contains 100 items. However, this one contains only 46 pieces. Originally, this had 50 items inside, but four items were recently removed.

AKC Pet First Aid Kit, Red (46 Piece) Modified
150 Reviews
AKC Pet First Aid Kit, Red (46 Piece) Modified
  • 50 Piece Plus Kit Modified to...
  • For Pet Emergencies and Every...
  • Extra Room to Personalize the...
  • All in a Heavy Duty Zippered...
  • Great for Home, Travel,...

It has the same red rectangular carrying case as the 50-item kit, with clear pockets inside to keep supplies in full view and easy access. This will be just the right thing to bring during trips, camping, beach combing, or whatever activities you’re doing with your pet. To be safe, make it a mainstay inside your car so there’s no forgetting it when it’s most needed.

This kit contains scissors, gloves, cotton swabs, a gauze roll, an instant cold compress, gauze dressing pads, self-adhesive wrap, an emergency blanket, tweezers, a magnifying glass, a med applicator, pet waste bags, a collapsible water bowl, and a few other items. The fabric bag is well-made with plastic compartments to organize the supplies. There’s a plastic envelope that folds in the center to hold other items that you add to the kit. Due to concerns about hazardous materials (hazmat), four items were removed from the AKC Pet First Aid Modified Kit – alcohol, antiseptic, hand sanitizer, and sting relief wipes.

This best dog first aid kit looks like it contains almost everything you’d need when attending to a dog with a minor wound or has a slight limp. You could easily buy the four items removed and possibly add styptic powder or a thermometer. The first aid carrying case itself is a beauty and holds a lot of stuff. It’s something that you would like to contain everything but hope you’d never come to use.

PROS:

  • Contains 46 items
  • Comes in a convenient fabric bag with a carrying handle
  • Extra room inside the kit for you to add your own items
CONS:

  • Contents inside do not have expiration dates on the label
  • Strong chemical smell when you first take this kit out of the packaging

 

5RC Pet Products Pocket Pet First Aid Kit for Dogs

These last two products would beat the five others for their sheer small size – they’d slip inside the side pockets of your cargo pants with no effort at all. This first aid kit for dogs is a mere 4”x 6”x 2” size and looks more like a coin purse than anything else. It has a carabiner, which you may use for attaching to your dog’s leash or your belt loop or backpack. Nothing can be more perfect for daily walks.

RC Pet Products Pocket Pet First Aid Kit
735 Reviews
RC Pet Products Pocket Pet First Aid Kit
  • Include 1 walks 'n' wags pet...
  • Includes 1 gauze pbt bandage...
  • Pocket size design is...
  • Carabiner for easy attachment...
  • Waste bag portal for dual use

This canine-friendly first aid kit contains a first aid guide, gloves, medical tape, gauze pads, bandage roll, antiseptic wipes, wound plaster, and elastic bandage. The case is made of bright orange fabric, so it’s easy to spot in the midst of other things, even with its tiny size. The pet first aid kit has a black round thing on its back. Looking closer, you’d see an X-shaped opening where you may stuff doggie bags, so it’s just one pull when you need one.

The tiny size of this kit is already a dead giveaway, and it is not the same as the first aid kit you’d bring to a week-long camping trip. Instead, it’s a neat way of packing antiseptic, some gauze pads, and first aid tape without actually rummaging through the medicine cabinet for those items every time you go out for a walk. Think of it as keeping your walks a bit more fun, worry-free, and safe.

PROS:

  • Slim design (4”x 6”x 2”) could fit in a purse or pocket
  • Equipped with a convenient carabiner to attach the kit to a leash or hiking pack
  • Comes with a brief canine first-aid instruction manual
CONS:

  • The wrap included in this kit does not stick to itself, so you have to tie it or use safety pins to keep it from falling off
  • Doesn't include as many items as other dog first-aid kits

 

6Rayco Small Dog First Aid Kit

This small pet first aid kit has 20 items, and it comes as a travel bag with belt loop. It’s perfect when traveling. It’s something you could pull right out of your pocket or from your waist.

No products found.

Imagine traveling with your dog, and something in his paw is bothering him. Your dog would be grateful if you checked his paw right away instead of digging inside your luggage to look for a first aid kit. In fact, he’d thank you for having the good sense of wearing your dog's first aid kit where it’s within easy reach.

This compact emergency kit has 20 first aid items including a pair of tweezers, emergency blanket, emergency whistle, waterproof ID card, collapsible water bowl, gloves, antiseptic, sting relief pads, alcohol cleansing pads, gauze pad, self-adhesive wrap, non-adherent sterile pad, and a safety guide. The travel bag of the kit measures 4”x5”x1.5”.

Dog owners find this best dog first aid kit very useful. Teams that respond to dog emergencies even bought this for their members. They added some more supplies that they thought they’d need more of. They’ve used other brands of first aid kits at this price point, and they like this best. The carrying case is one of the best they’ve seen for the price.

PROS:

  • Comes in a travel bag with a belt loop
  • Slim design (4”x 5”x 1.5”) could fit in a purse or pocket
CONS:

  • Only includes 20 pieces
  • Not as many dog-specific products in this first-aid kit

 

7Pet First Aid Kit for Dogs & Cats

Accidents and emergencies do happen, especially with playful canines, and you’d want to be able to make a timely response when something like that happens. A first aid kit is a must-have for families who own pets.

This large version of pet first aid kit for dogs and cats is one handy piece with 85 items that a pet owner might need in emergency and even non-emergency situations. This is licensed and approved by the American Kennel Club for this purpose.

The red case is made of fabric and has a handle. It measures 11.5”x9”x3” and has pockets and compartments. The first aid for dogs kit contains a tick removal tool, scissors, tweezers, magnifying glass, disposable styptic pencils, hand sanitizers, alcohol swabs, antiseptic pads, cotton swabs, tongue depressors, gloves, gauze, thermal blanket, and syringe among 100 items. You may add your own items or tailor the contents to your pet’s specific needs.

Pet owners were impressed with the quality and exhaustive list of the items it contained. It does lack some essentials, like an ear thermometer, but a quick trip to the drugstore solved that. There’s enough room inside the kit for their favorite brand of eye wash or topical medicine. Others ordered this just prior to a trip, and they were so glad they had it with them. It had everything they needed for minor cuts and skin irritations, and they rated this as top-notch for its usefulness.

PROS:

  • Licensed and approved by the American Kennel Club
  • Comes in a fabric case with a convenient carrying handle
  • Contains 100 items
CONS:

  • Some products included in the kit are of cheap quality, but they still get the job done

Disclosure: We may earn affiliate commissions at no cost to you from the links on this page. This did not affect our assessment of products. Read more here and find full disclosure here.

Want to share this?

7 Top Rated Best Dog First Aid Kit Choices

Diana currently lives and works in London, UK and she's been an animal lover and dog owner since she was a child. After graduating high school, she focused on getting her degree in English to become a writer with a focus on animals, pets and dogs.