Pet First Aid

A pet-safe antiseptic spray, such as Johnson's Antiseptic Wound Spray, covers small cuts and grazes picked up on a walk. Alongside that, a cleaning or soothing solution for minor skin irritation and something to settle an occasional mild stomach, like a prebiotic stool-firming tablet, cover most of what comes up day to day.

It is worth keeping a small kit together somewhere easy to find rather than buying items only after something has happened, since a scraped paw pad or a small cut rarely waits for a convenient moment.

A pet-safe antiseptic spray is fine for a small graze or cut that is clean and not bleeding heavily. Clean the area gently first if it is visibly dirty, then apply as directed on the product, and keep an eye on it over the next day or two for any sign of swelling or discharge.

Never use a human antiseptic or wound product on a pet unless it is specifically labelled as pet-safe, since some human formulations contain ingredients that are fine for us but not for a dog or cat.

An occasional loose stool after something a dog has eaten on a walk, or a change of food, is common, and a stool-firming product can help settle it. It is meant for a mild, short-lived upset, not an ongoing problem, and it is not a substitute for working out what actually caused it.

If loose stools continue beyond a day or two, come with vomiting, or your pet seems generally unwell, that has moved beyond what a first aid product is for.

A wound that is deep, will not stop bleeding, or is clearly causing significant pain needs a vet rather than a spray from this aisle. The same goes for a limp that does not improve, repeated vomiting, or any sign your pet is genuinely unwell rather than just having a rough day.

Our directory of local vets is there for exactly this, and it is far better to be seen and told it was nothing than to manage something at home that needed proper attention.