Kurgo Winners Grab First Aid on the Go

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Take Care While Hiking

Thanks to all of you who showed your interest in and support for making sure your pets are well cared for when they need first aid while out and about with you. Many of you indicated a need to add a first aid kit to your car as well as to have one for outings like Fall hikes. 

Just today we finally had a slight reduction in the usual Florida heat. It's 81 degrees and glorious. After work we'll be taking an extra long walk just to celebrate this spectacular weather. Hallelujah!

I'm excited to announce the winners of our 5 Kurgo first aid kits that strap onto your belt or backpack for easy, hands-free carrying while you're out walking or hiking. Congratulations to Megan S., Abby C., Bryn N., Brynn D., and Joann S. It's wonderful to see familiar names that have stuck around, and also grand to hear new names that have just joined out readership. Welcome aboard!

I'll be in touch with our winners via my AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com email account.

courtesy Kurgo.com

Watch your inboxes and your spam files to assure you don't miss your email. I'll need your correct full name and a shipping address. Feel free to email me directly if you prefer not to wait. 

For those of you who are not on the winners' list this time, I encourage you to soak up the review and the information at the giveaway post. Perhaps then you'll want to order yourself one on the Kurgo website to make sure you're prepared. Thanks again for joining us.

Happy tails,

A Kurgo First Aid Kit was provided to us for review and trial. The comments above are completely my own observations. I was not paid to provide this review or the giveaway.

Win a Kurgo First Aid Kit for Your Dog

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Kurgo's 1st Aid Kit Tags Along on My Belt

Enjoying nature with your dog can be a wonderful way to see things that you may never have noticed--viewing them through the eyes of your dog as he sniffs the bushes, rocks and trees along the path. The problem is that some of those curious sniffs can end badly. Snake bites, sharp rocks and sticks, bug bites and other surprises can await when you venture into the woods. That's why you must always go prepared to deal with the most urgent of matters.

The Kurgo first aid kit straps onto your belt or backpack quite easily, and honestly, I hardly knew it was there when this photo was snapped by a friend. Despite the 50 pieces of first aid necessities inside, it weighs almost nothing. You can read more about this at my first aid kit review.

Now it's time to get on with the fun. I'm going to be giving away 5 of these handy pet first aid kits, to assure that at least a few of you will be prepared to head off with proper supplies.

If you're more of a sure-thing sort, you can purchase a kit at the Kurgo website, where they also sell refills when you use up supplies.

Keep One In Your Car Too!

As you use the Rafflecopter entry form, keep in mind that giveaways are supposed to be fun. Enter using only those methods you find enjoyable, and pace yourself. Finally, be aware that the entry form is a bit persnickety sometimes. If it's hiding in the woods and out of sight, simply click on the post title to get it to reappear in the meadow to play. 

Entries will be open through midnight on Thursday, October 16. I'll announce the winners on Friday, October 17. Good luck!

A Kurgo First Aid Kit was provided to us for review and trial. The comments above are completely my own observations. I was not paid to provide this review or the giveaway that will follow.

Dog First Aid on the Go

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Mom! Low Hanging Branches Ahead

While hiking on our Blue Ridge Parkway adventure, we had a couple of close calls with injuries and wounds. It was a great time to have the Kurgo First Aid Kit along. We didn't have any catastrophic injuries, but a tick and a smashed digit meant we got to make use of the ice pack and the tweezers, two very important items that are each included in the kit. We were glad that the kit was small and equipped with Velcro straps to attach to a belt (or backpack) for quick access. Otherwise, I may have left it behind. Great move, Kurgo!

When hiking on gravel that seemed rough for Oliver's dainty white paw pads, I picked him up until we passed these areas. I wasn't looking to make use of wound cleaner or anticeptic ointment. Thankfully Oliver is only a 10-pounder. Tanner, who had a 2-week sleepover with his girl at grad school, wouldn't have gotten that same treatment. Maybe booties could have been an option, but otherwise, he would have found it easier to off-trail his walk to get around painful gravel. He's lucky to be the big guy with tougher skin on his paw pads. Either way, we were prepared to treat any cuts, scrapes or insect bites and keep them clean until we could get any additional medical treatment needed. That's what a first aid kit is for--diminishing the need for more serious care.

courtesy Kurgo

The Kurgo first aid kit includes loads of first responder supplies to help clean up wounds, keep them covered, 
and check for problems. You'll even find scissors in this handy pack, so you can cut the bandages or trim away fur that could potentially cause infection in a cut. And the folks at Kurgo have truly thought of everything; you can buy a first aid kit refill here. 

While you're at it, think about picking up an extra to leave in your car for those times when you're on four wheels. This nifty fold up kit fits snugly into your glove compartment for on-the-go pet first aid. What's more, if you're like us and have plunged into traveling with your pets via RV or travel trailer, you'll most certainly want to equip yourselves for any injury that could happen while you're camping or off the beaten path. 

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Watch Out for Allergies Too

I would recommend you ask your vet for a list of proactive or preventive meds that you should add to the first aid kit, just in case. We added Benedryl to use if we encountered any bug bites and ended up using it when we encountered Goldenrod--a common allergen--in bloom. It's quite beautiful but also elicits a horrible response in those who are allergic to it. 

What's more, fields of flowers such as Goldenrod attract bees, another way in which you and Fido could get bitten and require both Benedryl and the first aid kit for treatment. That said, enjoy this Goldenrod in the photo and steer clear of the real stuff. It's safer!

Another important inclusion for the safety of you and others while treating your injured or sick dog is a muzzle or similar creation. Using rolled gauze, you can wrap your dogs snout shut if he is extremely fearful and lashing out. This will assure that his caregivers are safe from bites that are fear-based, occuring while your dog is frightened and in pain. Taking this step also makes the treatment easier since you're not fighting to keep from being bitten by your dog when he's terrified from the experience. You can now focus on other matters. Keep your voice as calm as possible and speak reassuringly without coddling your dog.

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Taking a Short Break on the Hike

If your dog is seriously injured, an emergency blanket is also included to help keep him warm while you transport him to get help. Impressive? You bet!

Let me tell you a little-known but very important tip: The Blue Ridge Parkway, along with many other remote natural areas, has no cell service. So, when Fido gets hurt, guess who gets to play nurse and doctor? You! So, be prepared to be a first responder, while moving quickly to get to the nearest veterinarian's office, if needed. #ProactivePetParent

As usual with my product reviews, I'll be opening a giveaway for Kurgo's First Aid Kit soon. Watch for this event if you'd like to enter to get prepared for your potential job as a first responder. If not, feel free to visit the website listed above to order a kit right now.

Want to know more? You can hob knob with the social media folks at Kurgo via these sites to learn everything you ever wanted to know about Kurgo: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KurgoProducts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kurgo

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/KurgoProducts

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kurgoproducts/

Kurgo's Blog: http://www.kurgoblog.com/

Safe Travels,

A Kurgo First Aid Kit was provided to us for review and trial. The comments above are completely my own observations. I was not paid to provide this review or the giveaway that will follow.

Dogs Deep in the Woods: A Pet Solutions Post

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© Vicky TGAW via flickr.com
Preparedness Assures Enjoyment

Dear Carrie:

I’m going to take my 2 Labs camping and need to know what I need in their first aid kit.

Brenda 

------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Brenda:

Camping with 2 Labs sounds like my kind of fun. Tanner, my Golden Retriever, would be so jealous! 

You've asked a very good question. While pet first aid kits are quite commonly available (petfirstaid.org), there are some things that they lack.

For example, an injured dog is prone to lashing out at its owner, if in pain, even as you try to help it. A soft muzzle that can be collapsed and carried in a small space is well worth the trouble if your dog is seriously injured.

Include a spare leash just in case of a broken one. An old towel or rug serves as a clean bedding during First Aid and can be used as a stretcher if you and a partner need to carry your dog.

A cross shoulder leash/harness or hip harness for you is unbelievably useful for keeping a dog with you if one of the dogs is injured. You'll need both hands.

Most first aid kits do not include enough stretch gauze or stretchy, self-stick bandage. Take triple the amount they include. You can pick this up at any drug store. This is useful in creating a splint as well as covering a gauzed injury, and can be used on yourself as well. Additionally, I always include extra Peroxide for cleaning a larger wound. You just can't have enough if a serious wound is incurred.

Add Benedryl tablets and a dosing mechanism (small can of dog food, cheese, ham wrap, etc) for allergic reactions or bites. Treat your dog with pest repellent that is non-toxic before entering the woods, and reapply twice a day while there. These products may include natural oils such as peppermint, cedar, and clove. Vets Best sells a complete line.

Make sure your dogs are well-identified with tags and microchips just in case you lose one. I believe PetHub now has a tag with a GPS tracker embedded--worth the cost.

Of extreme importance is taking care of yourself, as you cannot care for your dogs if you are seriously injured. Carry some sort of weapon to protect yourself from dangerous animals, both human and non-human.

Check with your vet for instructions on first aid if your dog is bitten by a snake. Have the poison control number and a cell phone with you at all times. These are your best allies.

Have fun and be safe!

Active Dogs Win First Aid Kits from Show-Me Animal Products

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© C.D., reader copyright on file
Reader Participation Makes our
Giveaways Extra Special!

© A.C. reader copyright
Lola is Active!

You guys just never fail to thrill me. Every morning when I visit my reader email box there is something fun and energizing awaiting me there. Thanks for all of your enthusiastic entries.


Although I have already announced the winners at the original post using the Rafflecopter widget, I just couldn't let all these adorable photos go unpublished. Although they have graced the pages of my Facebook site recently, there are so many that I just had to share a few here.

© S.D., reader copyright
Shiloh

When I decided to take on this First Aid review, I was not aware of what an active bunch you are. Some of the photos did a good job of sharing your love for the outdoors. Of course we all know that even a couch potato can get injured at home, so our winners will be well-prepared.


If you're not one of the lucky three, I encourage you to prepare a kit for your pup emergencies, or purchase one from Show-Me Animal Products. I love this company for their mission. While it rallies around helping animals, they also help disabled adults find work, as all the kits are assembled by these special-needs folks that are able to put the kits together. It's makes me feel good to support such a business.

© A.C. reader copyright
Lola Practices Good
Water Safety

This is just a sampling of the fun pictures we received. Be sure to stop by our Facebook page if you'd like to enjoy the rest. While you're on Facebook, drop in at the Show-Me Animal Products' page and tell them I sent you. 


Today's winners of the three first aid kits are Denise V., Shilohsmom., and Ashley C. You'll receive an email from AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com. Be sure to reply soon with your mailing address so we can ship out your First Aid Kit next week just in time for your Fall Leafing hikes. 


Thanks again for all your participation. Have you stopped by Fido's Freebie Friday yet to see what sort of new goodies are up for grabs? Check it out and be sure to take another peek later on or over the weekend. Linkups will continue through midnight tonight. My giveaways are open through next Thursday. Happy tails!