IHeart: DIY Doggie At Home Medical Kit

Today I am excited to welcome Serena Faber Nelson, author of the incredibly adorable blog, "Pretty Fluffy".

Because such a large percentage of the population has a furry pet friend, it's important to keep them in mind when organizing as well.  And because Serena writes a blog dedicated to pooches, I thought she would be the perfect guest to stop by and share with us an organizing pet project she recently completed, along with some other fantastic pet organizing tips.

"One of my favorite things about the New Year is the opportunity to lay foundations for the year ahead.  Feeling secure knowing you've got the big stuff sorted.  Knowing that you have a safety net to catch you when things fall apart.  Because as much as we want life to be perfect - it ain't.  So this month I want to encourage all pet owners out there to go about creating your own DIY Doggie At Home Medical Kit.

What you'll need:

• Storage container with a snap lock lid
• Cotton pads for clean up and topical applications
• Gauze for swabbing, padding or wound cover
• Bandages for compression and dressings
• Cotton buds for topical applications and clean up
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Flea and tick treatments
• Worming treatments
• Antiseptic for small grazes and wounds
• Sanitizer for your own hands after dealing with wounds

This is merely a starting list for you.  Think about what your dog needs medically day to day and in an emergency.  Check with your vet as to what they would recommend to include, and consider your local area and your dog's lifestyle for any extras - such as doggie sunscreen or tick removal devices.

Package all of the items into the container, and wrap in a bow {for prettiness!}.  Don't forget to label the kit with your vet's emergency contact number.  Should you have an emergency on your hands, this saves time by allowing you to call the vet for help while attending to your dog.

And as much as you may want to, DO NOT use it to dress up as a mummy for Halloween.  Emergencies only people.  {You can, however, pretend to be a doctor from Grey's Anatomy when tending to the thorn in your dog's paw.  You can even use the word 'Stat'}.

 

Here are some more handy hints to get your dog's health and safety sorted for 2012:

Ever gone to find out your dog's registration details and after hours of searching have found them in your toaster's warranty guide?  {Which has, of course, expired.}  It's time to get rid of that clutter.  Streamline your dog's paperwork into one folder - this one from Kikki K does all the hard work for you.  Believe me, often when you're looking for this info, you want it pronto!  You want this file to include the following:

• Your vet's contact details {including emergency after hours numbers}
• Registration and microchip papers
• Vaccination details
• Health records
• Training certificates
• Dietary information

This one goes for you too!  Throughout the year it's easy to build up old tablets, powders, lotions and potions for the family, and your pooch is no exception.  Trouble is these medications go out of date, and using them when they have expired can be ineffective and plain right down dangerous for your dog.  So go through your home medical collection and dispose carefully of anything damaged, or out of date.  Not too sure about something?  Contact your vet or error on the side of caution and get rid of it.  Once the clean out is complete, now is the ideal time to stock up on at home treatments such as worming tablets or flea treatments, to ensure you have your dog's healthiest foot forward.

So your dog hates the vet.  Or maybe they love the vet.  Or maybe they liked the vet but then thought the vet wasn't that into them and then the whole thing got complicated.  Whatever it is, just get your dog to the vet annually to make sure their vaccinations are up to date.  And don't leave it too long - be cool, call the vet, check when your dog is due and get them booked in.

Set digital reminders on your phone or computer that will bring up alarm notifications for annual vaccinations, worming, flea treatments and other medications.  This will ensure you don't forget!

No, I'm not talking about Facebook {that that there is anything wrong with that}.  I'm talking about a one page "Cheat Sheet" for visitors who may come to look after your dog when you are away.  You never know when you may be called away suddenly or unable to return home.  Having a short guide to what your dog eats, where they sleep, how often they exercise and any important medical info, means that practically anyone can step in and care for your pooch when you can't.  This one page document is one less thing for you to worry about, allowing you to focus on more important things. 

Kikki K - Beautiful, practical paperwork solutions for important documents.
Apple 'My Dog' App - Keep all your dog's info in  one handy app.
Dog Help Network - A new online guide providing help & information on a variety of dog health issues.

Thank you so much for having me today Jen!"

Thank YOU to Serena for the great reminder of the importance of being organized pet owners!  So many great tips and tricks and ideas!  For more puppy eye candy, fun products and endless ideas on how to be a fab pet owner, you can check out the Pretty Fluffy blog here.  I can't wait to make up a doggy medical kit for my favorite pups!

How else do you keep your pets organized?