Veterinary toolkit

Taking another little break here from the iris beds, I've decided to start an important thread relative to life here at Shadowood this year. Since I am now caring for my third CRF cat (who also happens to be my first hyperT cat), and since three of the other cats have now come down with a mystery illness which involves high fever, I've been thinking alot lately about the veterinary supplies I keep onhand and the skills I have developed over the years. So I thought it might be useful to start a thread where we can all contribute ideas to the "veterinary toolkit" that all animal caretakers should try to keep onhand. I'm going to divide the toolkit into two categories: materials and skills. These are the things I find most critical to the care and keeping of my animals.

Supplies
topical antibiotic
eye antibiotic
systemic antibiotic (in my case for dogs, cats, and horses)
20 ga. needles in 1" and 1 1/2" lengths (for injectible meds and subQ fluids)
sterile syringes in 5cc and 20cc sizes (for injections and for oral dosing or syringe feeding)
disposable IV sets (for administering subQ fluids)
sterile bandages, gauze wrap, vet wrap, and masking tape
cotton balls and Q-tips
ear cleaner
Lactated Ringers or other sterile fluid for subQ administration
Betadine
cat and dog muzzles (I don't have a cat muzzle, but I probably should)
rubbing alcohol
fresh hydrogen peroxide (for inducing vomiting)
baby aspirin
Miralax (for constipation)
Cat Lax (for hairballs)
thermometer
stethoscope
nutrical
tweezers
pliers (for porcupine quills)
crates and carriers of various sizes
pillow cases and twine, and flattened cardboard boxes of various sizes (for when a crate or carrier isn't available)
towels of various sizes
diaper pins (to pin towels around animals so both hands are free)
twitch (for the horses)
dewormers
clean exacto knife
skin staple remover
suture scissors
regular scissors
nail clippers
tackle box or similar for organizing vet supplies
cat harnesses of various sizes and light leash
dog collars of various sizes and leash
antihistamine
leg splints of various sizes
plastic bags of various sizes
heat source (hot water bottle, heating pad, microwave heat disk, etc.)
Conversion charts and dosages (my favorite source for this sort of information is The Pill Book Guide to Medication for Your Dog and Cat)
flashlight
microscope
otoscope with fresh batteries
lots of latex gloves (nitrile gloves might be better in case you or your animals are allergic to latex)
silver nitrate sticks
Benadryl
Prednisone
ice pack
DMSO
Arnica gel
Rescue Remedy
sling (for larger animals)
stretcher (for larger animals)
cans of puppy and kitten formula
catheter tubing for tube feeding

Skills
Cleaning, dressing, and bandaging wounds
Taking vital stats (temp, heart rate, respiration rate)
Administering subQ injections (including subQ fluids)
Administering IM injections
Restraining animals
animal heimlich
animal CPR
inserting a gastric tube and trochar in case of bloat
BEING OBSERVANT

I may have things and skills in my toolkit that most folks won't find necessary, but with as many animals as I care for, and as far away as my nearest vet is, I have to be prepared to handle most veterinary situations on my own ... at least initially.

So, what would you add to the veterinary toolkit?

Laurie

This message was edited Aug 9, 2008 1:40 PM