I am a fully qualified Pet First Aid Instructor (ITG Pet First Aid instructor Level 3 VTQ) as well as holding additional qualifications in Security Dog First Aid and Teaching Pet First Aid for Children.
Whether you simply own a dog or work with them in a professional capacity, Canine First Aid is an essential skill to have.
First Aid is the initial steps taken after an accident, illness or injury to the animal. This does not involve diagnosing the dog or giving any forms of medication. It is an immediate and temporary response. Although first aid does not in any way replace Veterinary care, it will often keep the dog alive long enough to allow the vet to treat the animal.
The difference between knowing pet first aid and not can mean life or death in an emergency situation. Would you know what measures to take if a dog started choking? Was poisoned? Hit by a car? A basic understanding of Canine first Aid gives you the skills to calmly and confidently manage these situations. From a working knowledge of how to administer CPR or how to stop bleeding, first aid provides the all-important initial response in a crisis.
We check a dogs pulse by feeling the femoral artery. Run your hand along the inside of the dogs hind leg until you’re nearly where the leg joins the body, feel for the slight dip here. Use your fingers to gently press down and feel for a pulse.
Every dog’s ‘normal’ heart rate is different, get used to your dogs normal so that you can detect when it falls outside of this range! This can range from anywhere between 60-140 beats per minute in a resting dog.
The dogs heart is located on its left hand side, for this reason we always position the dog onto its right side in order to preform CPR.
You’ve likely heard that chocolate and alcohol are poisonous for dogs, but did you know that onions, raisons and your favourite sugar free chewing gum are all also extremely poisonous? Other commonly reported poisons are insecticide, ibuprofen, rat poisons and house hold cleaning products.
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Based in Epping, Essex I can easily reach most of the M11 corridor including Woodford, Loughton, Enfield Hertford, Chelmsford, Harlow, Bishops Stortford, Saffron Walden and Cambridge.
Here to help with practical, positive training that provides lasting results to all breeds, ages and behavioural issues.