pet connection

I’ve always enjoyed hiking with my dogs, so I was intrigued by the idea of a first-aid bandana. I envisioned instructions on how to make a splint or use it as a sling in the event of a broken bone. That is about the only emergency situation not covered on this useful piece of bright red cloth, which should be kept easily accessible whether you are at home with your dog or out and about. If nothing else, you can use it to stanch bleeding if the recommended clean, sterile gauze is unavailable. Just don’t use the side with the directions on how to stop bleeding.

In white lettering that is easy to read, the Wag’N Pet First Aid Bandana gives advice on how to deal with 10 emergency situations–shock; seizure; temperature-related distress such as heatstroke or frostbite; burns; spider, snake and insect bites or stings; choking; and bleeding–plus instructions on conducting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for a pet, general pet first aid tips, and a description of which situations require immediate veterinary care.

The bandana is best suited for wear by medium-size and larger dogs. On Twyla, it looked more like a Superman cape than a bandana, although I imagine that someone born with the scarf-tying gene could make it work on a small dog. The editor in me notes that the word “choking” is misspelled as “chocking”–twice. That’s really the only flaw, as far as I can tell, and of course it’s one that doesn’t affect the utility of the bandana, which is 100-percent cotton and machine-washable.

Whether you are a hunter, field-trialer, agility competitor, hiker, camper or new puppy owner, this is a useful item to have, one that is easily portable wherever you and your dog go. It’s available for purchase here. $8.