In Case of Armageddon Pull Here

Maybe it's a lingering obsession with pioneering days, a romanticized notion of self-sufficiency epitomized by Little House on the Prairie. Maybe it's survival stories like Gary Paulson's Hatchet that my kids and I can't get enough of. Or maybe it's a healthy dose of survival instinct. It's probably a combination of all these things that keeps my family's eye trained on catastrophe, and keeps us constantly considering ways to weather "the end of the world as we know it."

Admittedly, my family's preparations are more academic than hands-on at this point. While we haven't yet planted a Victory garden or worked out the kinks of preserving food, we recognize the good fortune of having wild plum trees growing in our tree lines. We stop cursing the burdock and other weeds invading our yard (for a little while) after reading a survival tale where the heroine dines on their roots and leaves. We admire the genius of a composting toilet and solar water heaters.

An example of home-made e-collars

Therefore, as someone who admires creative problem solving in a pinch, I thrill to hear tales of MacGuyver-like veterinarians creating e-collars out of ice cream buckets and--yes, of course--duct tape. Just yesterday a neighbor shared the contents of his hunting dogs' first-aid kit complete with antiseptic wipes, bandages and dental floss. The dental floss caught my eye. "Ahhh, for in-the-field suturing of wounds!" Amazing!

Maybe your dog doesn't chase bears through the North Woods of Wisconsin (and certainly may not tolerate major wound repair without sedation), but it is a good idea to have first-aid supplies on hand for house pets and hunting dogs alike. After all, if it's not a zombie attack or tornado, it could be a bee sting or deep scrape.

So what should you keep in your pet first-aid kit? Here are some suggestions:

• Sterile gauze pads (3" x 3") and gauze bandage rolls (1" and 2")
• First-aid adhesive tape, 1" roll
• Cotton swabs (Q-tips®)
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Small bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide
• Styptic pencil or cornstarch (stems blood flow from minor cuts)
• Antibacterial ointment
• Antiseptic cleansing wipes
• A current pet first-aid book
• Eyewash or sterile saline solution
• Eyedropper
• Digital rectal thermometer in a plastic case
• Leather work gloves (to protect you from being bitten)
• Latex gloves
• Leash
• Thin rope
• Splint materials (tongue depressor, 12-inch wooden ruler or thick magazine)
• Benadryl® or generic diphenhydramine (for allergic reactions -- get a dose from your vet!)
• Telephone number for and directions to the nearest emergency veterinary facility

Place the contents in a plastic storage box, tackle box or coffee can with lid. Ready-made first-aid kits are available for purchase at pet supply stores pharmacies, retail and discount stores and on-line.    Naturally, you should contact your veterinarian before administering any medications and for assistance following emergency treatment at the scene of injury.

Thankfully the world did not end on May 21, 2011, as forecasted, giving my family some extra time to build a root cellar, install solar panels and learn how to can vegatables. But there's no reason to wait to put together some simple first-aid items for you and your pets.