A Simple First Aid Kit For Your Pup

As we were gearing up for our Big Sur road trip back in February, I started doing a little research on first aid for dogs and gathering supplies to build our own kit. We were planning to do some light hiking and exploring in an area notorious for having little to no cell reception and for being wildly overgrown with poison oak. So we wanted to be prepared in case anything happened. (Thankfully, nothing did.) In any case, I realized that just having general pet first aid knowledge and owning basic supplies can go a long way when the situation calls for it, whether at home or away from home.  

So here's what we have in our doggy first aid kit. It's usually kept in the house with our people first aid supplies, but when we travel with Hoku, we just take it with us and toss it in the trunk. For hiking, we have a smaller, more compact version that we carry in our packs. 

  • Sterile Contact Lens Solution + Syringe
    Use together to clean wounds. 
     
  • Q-Tips and Cotton Rounds
    Use to clean wounds or apply antibiotic ointment.
     
  • Antibiotic Ointment
    Use sparingly to disinfect simple scrapes and abrasions only. Do not use on deeper, more serious wounds. Cover right away and do not let your pup lick it. **Always consult with your vet first to make sure this is appropriate for your dog.
     
  • Non-Stick Absorbent Pads
    Use to cover wounds after cleaning and disinfecting.
     
  • 3M VetRap Bandaging Tape
    This is a self-stick bandaging tape created especially for animals that doesn't stick to fur, provides compression support and stretches to conform to areas like joints.
     
  • Regular Bandaging Tape
    Use it when the VetRap needs additional reinforcement (i.e. on a paw pad.)
     
  • Benadryl
    Use to alleviate bee or wasp stings, insect bites, or other mild allergic reactions. **Always consult with your vet first before administering any kind of medication to your dog.
     
  • Tweezers With Magnifying Glass
    Use to remove splinters. Cannot stress how helpful the magnifying glass is!
     
  • Pup's Photo
    In the event that your pup gets lost. 
     
  • Waterproof Pouch for Health Documents
    Use it to hold your pup's most up-to-date health records and proof of vaccinations. Be sure to include important phone numbers like your vet, the nearest emergency clinic, and ASPCA's Poison Control Center (1-800-426-4435). 
     
  • Scissors
     
  • Extra Leash
    For whatever reason, leashes break. It's happened to us before so we carry an extra one just in case. 
     
  • Small Towel
    For cleaning up messes or to provide padding. 
     
  • Emergency Pocket Guide
    Just good to have on hand for reference.

Check out the Humane Society for a more comprehensive list of supplies you could include in your kit. There are also pre-made kits you can buy from Amazon. And like anything, some items will have expiration dates so be sure to check your supplies regularly in case anything needs a refresh.

Cheers to happy and healthy pups!

Potato(e) Mountain | 3422 Ft

Distance: 5 Miles  |  Time: 1.5 Hours  |  Elevation Gain: 1150 Ft

We arrived at the Potato Mountain trailhead bright and early on a Sunday morning. We had read mixed reviews about cars being required to display an Adventure Pass, but we put ours up just in case. Since it had rained the day before, the weather was a little chilly and the air smelled especially fresh. Thankfully the ground had already dried significantly and was not muddy. Right after passing through the yellow barrier at the trailhead, we noticed a pretty cool phenomenon of what appeared to be steam rising up off the ground and refracting off the morning sun to create some pretty stunning geothermal light effects.  

As we hiked along and enjoyed views of the lush valley against a backdrop of the mountains, Hoku suddenly switched over to Shiba hunter mode after a ballsy gray squirrel with a tantalizingly bushy tail charged right at us. Since he kept trying to pull at it and wouldn't listen to our commands to "leave it" alone we made him sit on the side of the trail for a time-out until he calmed down. We've found that even hikes are an opportunity to train and that's his protesty Pouty McPoutser face above. (Dogs...they're just like little kids, am I right?) 

As we made the hairpin turn towards Potato Mountain at the trail junction, we started to hear a faint buzzing sound that just kept getting louder and louder. Lo and behold, there were these man made beehives on the side of the trail literally swarming with bees in every direction. On the account of me being terrified of bees and David being deathly allergic, we debated for a minute whether to turn around or to run through the swarm as fast as we could. With the summit just within reach, we decided to go for it. And as we sprinted across, I could feel bees hitting my face and loud buzzing sounds in my ear. Hoku tried to catch a few of them even though he's been stung before, but unfortunately he just never learns. Though fortunately for us, we made it out of the swarm just fine and tried really hard not to think about having to pass it again on the way down!

The steepest incline up to Potato Mountain just ahead with fog rolling into the mountains creating some pretty dramatic views! That's us below looking at the mountains towards Mt Baldy in the far distance. 

We eventually made our way above the clouds and fog and into the warm sun. The way the light hit the mountain ridges that morning really reminded us of the Ko'olau mountain range back home in Hawaii. 

We made it to the top and had it all to ourselves! Doesn't it look like we could just jump off the side of the mountain and bounce onto those fluffy clouds?

Hoku's like where are the potatoes? Someone told me there would be potatoes up here.

The views of the mountains and Claremont from the top were magnificent. Overall Potato Mountain was a really relaxing, short hike to start off an easy Sunday. With the exception of the killer bees, of course. We passed by a few other groups of hikers and dogs on the way down, but nothing compared to the crowds typically seen on the Claremont Wilderness Loop. Hike #11 in the 52 Hike Challenge, done and done.