Top 10 Essential Veterinary Supplies Every Pet Owner Should Have

If you are a pet owner, you will know that taking care of your animal companion’s health requires some essential veterinary supplies that you most often find at the veterinarian's office.  

Taking them to the local veterinary physician should be your first choice and is the best course of action. But you can also take steps for their health and well-being by keeping some equipment with you at your residence.

Here are some of the most essential equipment you can keep at home to ensure the health and safety of your pets. 

Veterinary Stethoscopes

A stethoscope is the most recognizable equipment and one of the most important in veterinary supplies, you might see at your local doctors so, you might be surprised to know that stethoscopes are also used for our animal companions.

Veterinary stethoscopes usually have a smaller diaphragm to accommodate the smaller sizes of cats and dogs while larger stethoscopes with larger diaphragms are used for large animals, such as horses. 

Keeping a veterinary stethoscope available at home will let you monitor for any irregular heartbeats or heart conditions and then let you follow up with your local veterinarian.

Thermometer

Like humans, our furry friends can also get sick sometimes. They might be suffering from fever.

Pets, including both cats and dogs, most commonly require in-ear thermometers that can instantly evaluate if they have a temperature. Keeping a thermometer in your home will let you monitor one of the most important indicators of your pet’s health.

It is also important to note that canines and felines have a higher baseline temperature than humans so be sure to consult your veterinarian for assistance.

Weighing Scale

If you have a cat or a dog, you would do well to monitor changes in the weight using a weighing scale specialized for animals. These weighing scales have a higher sensitivity to record small changes in your puppy or cat’s weight. 

Rapid weight gain or loss could be a sign of an underlying health issue. 

The scale also lets you monitor for obesity, which afflicts more than half of all cats and dogs in the United States and is a major cause of increased mortality in pets.

Activated Charcoal 

Our pets may sometimes accidentally eat or drink something that is not good for them. Cats and dogs are susceptible to many everyday use items that are harmless for us but poisonous for them!

For example, chocolate can be fatal for canines, and aspirin can be life-threatening for felines.

In the case that your pet has ingested something toxic for them, you can provide them with activated charcoal. The charcoal, when administered orally, can slow down and limit the toxic effects of whatever they may have ingested and allow for urgent medical care.

It can be a literal lifesaver.

Dental Care Kit

Like humans, our furry friends also require regular dental care to keep unpleasant mouth odors away as well as ensure the removal of plaque and tartar buildup.

The regular toothbrushes we use are not the right choice for our pets. So, opt for a special pet dental care kit.

This kit might include special enzymatic toothpaste, finger wipes, as well as specialized brushes for hard-to-reach areas so you don't need to visit your vet, specifically for cavity complications. 

Nail Clippers

In the case of dogs, trimming nails is an essential part of their upkeep as the long and overgrown nails tend to crack and break which can cause your pet discomfort. 

Long nails can also put irregular stress on the dog’s feet, increasing the chance of arthritis.

Also as cat owners can attest, nail clippers can save you from a lot of pain and scratches if your feline is in a bad mood. 

Flea and Tick Spray 

Flea and Tick Spray is essential equipment to have around the home if you are a pet owner. As our pets often have fur, they are frequently vulnerable to fleas and ticks that can be hard to see and be the cause of skin infections. Moreover,  they can transmit Tapeworms or Lyme Disease to your pet and even you!

Most frequently, however, these little parasites can cause great discomfort and pain to your pet. Removing ticks and fleas by hand is difficult, and pulling them out can often keep part of the insect lodged in the skin and cause infections. 

For this reason, using Flea and Tick Spray is the most effective and recommended method and can be easily done at home. 

Hair Trimmer

A hair trimmer for your pets is not just for maintaining their physical appearance. Many times your pet can be afflicted with skin infections and diseases like eczema.

These can be hard to detect from over their coats.

A hair trimmer can remove fur to better monitor for any skin conditions as well as provide close trimming around any wounds or incisions.

Ear Cleaning Kit

For both cats and dogs, excessive ear wax buildup can cause infections that can result in pain and discomfort. In some situations, it can also cause ear infections. 

Sometimes, liquids like rainwater may also enter the ears of dogs; in that case, it is best to clean and dry them out.

This is something you can do at home with an Ear Cleaning Kit which will both keep unpleasant odors and the chance of infection away. 

The kit may include:

• Ear Cleaning Solution 
• Ear Wash 
• Wipes 

Pet First Aid Kit

Finally, but perhaps most importantly, a Pet First Aid Kit will keep you prepared in the case of any serious health emergency you might face and if you can not find immediate access to veterinary services. 

Most pet first aid kits are tailored to the needs of the specific species of pet and contain life-saving items including but not limited to: 

• Tongue depressors
• Disinfectant
• Gauze
• Instant cold packs 
• Hydrogen Peroxide

A first aid kit being readily available can make a significant difference for your pet and also save you a lot in future treatment costs.  

Final Words

So now we’ve established that there are many veterinary supplies that pet owners can do for the health and well-being of their pets and animal companions from the comfort of their own homes. 

These items not only help with providing more regular and effective healthcare solutions but may also save you lots of money on veterinary care costs. 

We hope you and your furry companions find this list helpful!