In the news recently, we've read a lot about preparing your dog for an emergency situation. Creating a first aid kit could be a great way to protect your pet.

Here are a few suggested items for your dog's first aid kit.

Start with a plastic tote or container (even a large book bag may work). It would also be a great idea to make two kits, one for home and one for the car.

Your Kit Might Include:

• Batteries
• Flashlight
• Cotton balls and/or Q-tip swabs
  
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Sterile gauze pads and bandages
• First aid tape
• Antibacterial ointment
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Rubbing alcohol
• Antiseptic wipes
• Extra leash
• Styptic powder (helps to stop bleeding)
• Prescription medications (for you and your pets)
• Sterile latex gloves
• Book or notes on pet first aid
  
• Mineral oil
• Buffered aspirin
• Benadryl
• A soft blanket
• Self-activating hot pack
• Self-activating ice pack
• Hydrocortisone cream
• Thermometer
• Bottle (for water)

There are many more items that might also be essential, even an antler dog chew (smile).  Remember, proper planning brings peace of mind.

Antlers are made to shed. Most often, the bone near the base of each antler is destroyed by "osteoclasts" and the antlers fall off or sheds at some point^. Because of their fast rate of growth, antlers are considered a "liability" since there is a very large nutritional requirement on animals to re-grow their antlers annually, and as a consequence can be a telling sign of metabolic efficiency and food gathering capability.

In most arctic and temperate-zone species, antler growth and antler shedding is considered seasonal and controlled by the amount of daylight. However, In tropical species, antlers can be shed at nearly any time of year

Antlers are boney structures unique to cervids. Antlers most commonly grow in pairs, and each antler originates out of an attachment point on the animal's skull. When the antler begins to grow, it is covered by a soft, plush layer called velvet. This velvet is vascular, and supplies oxygen and nutrients to the growing antler. Antlers grow faster than any other bone in any other mammal. Once an antler reaches its full and complete size, the velvet falls off exposing the dense textured bone. The dead bone structure is what we call "mature antler".

Below is an image of an antler with its velvet outer layer.