We bought a fabulous
first-aid box from Daiso today. Our Love Kuching first aid area (not including the medications inside the fridge) looked unkempt, like so -
And here is our quaint new kitty first-aid box -
And so I proceed to pack. But let me take this opportunity to show you some of the essential kitty meds and ointments that are most often used -
Loperamide, an anti-diarrhoeal that settles the digestive systems. More effective than kaolin solution and Mylantal (antacid) syrup. Quarter tab once a day for both kittens and cats. Available by prescription only from vets and human doctors.
Chlorphenaramine, available over the counter from pharmacies. Use for runny nose, allergies, as an antihistamine. Quarter tab for kittens and cats, half tab for dogs. For humans, you take this for runny nose too. Do not use regular Lemsip or Panadol Cold for runny nose on cats because it contains paracetamol which cats cannot metabolise.
Danzen, available over the counter from pharmacies, used by humans for sore throats as an anti-inflammatory. Useful for cats in pain, one tablet once a day.
Antiseptic powder, used after washing external abrasions, scraps and the like with peroxide solution which is available from vets. The antiseptic powder promotes healing and stops bleeding. Also useful as styptic powder for bleeding when trimming claws. Available only by prescription from vets.
Nova antiseptic balm, made of natural ingredients, useful for promoting healing when wound is past the bleeding stage, for contact
allergies as well.
Povidone iodine, also useful for cleaning surface wounds, available over the counter from pharmacies. Useful for helping bald scaly patches on fur heal especially when it comes to
scabies.
Gauze and bandages, which we hardly use but was given to us via
Xiao Jie the NUS cat early this year.
Eye ointments, two brands available - Ilium Opticin and Terramycin, depending on which vet you go to. Useful for conjunctivitis in cats to reduce eye inflammation due to cat flu viruses, which kittens are extremely susceptible to.
Ear cleaner containing pyrethins which kills ear-mites, donated to us by the folks of NUS Cat Cafe.
Ear swabs for pets, available from your vet or from Daiso which is the one shown here. If in doubt as to how to clean your cat's ears, ask your vet for a demonstration or we can show you how when you come visit us. Alternatively use a regular cotton pad. Clean with proprietary ear-cleaner or baby-oil, don't use water.
Our collection of refrigerated medications. The important ones we need from here are the deworming syrups, Vibravet antibiotics for cat flu', vitamins, antacid solution for diarrhoea or constipation or vomitting. We also have kaolin solution for mild diarrhoea among others.
And so, organising the non-refrigerated medications in our new first aid box, and here it is!
As with human first aid kits, put the edible medications in a different section from the inedible ointments.
And our messy kitty first aid section in our lounge area now looks a tad better.
From left - the ear-grooming section, then the first aid box, then our mobile first aid kit which we bring when we go out for rescue work (containing basic first aid supplies) and then the gauze and such. Organised kitty first-aid area, yay!
