A short pet first aid class could help save the life of a pet you come across–or your own cat after an accident or injury in your home.
It’s a fear all animal lovers have. You’re driving down the road when suddenly you see an injured cat or dog at the side of the road. Hit by a previous car, the animal is bleeding but conscious. You pull over.
But now what? How do you get the injured animal into your car without further harming the animal or inadvertently harming yourself?
This worry has plagued us for years. We’re always stopping to pick up lost animals, and many have found their way to our home, either due to dumping or simply being lost.
Fortunately the animals we’ve helped have not had a life-threatening injury requiring an immediate trip to the veterinarian’s office. But the next one could–and so I decided to take a pet first aid class.
Pet first aid classes–much like a human first aid class with instruction on everything from CPR techniques to bandaging–can help save a life.
A few years ago when I was in Dallas to speak at the Cat Writers’ Association conference, I stayed an extra day to take a pet first aid class taught by Arden Moore.
The author, radio show host, and pet lifestyle expert is a Master Certified Instructor for Pet Tech, an international training center whose instructions are all approved by critical care veterinarians.
The one-day class was a hands-on learning experience, using plush pets for CPR practice and Moore’s own dog and cat for hands-on practice in muzzling, wrapping, checking for vital signs, and more.
The only dog-cat pet first aid training team in the country patiently allowed the class of eight to learn how to check for capillary refill, how to take an animal’s pulse, and how to muzzle a dog in an emergency when all you have is a long piece of cloth.
What to do if you come across an injured animal
“You can’t help an animal if you put yourself in harm’s way,” explained Arden Moore, who has trained numerous pet owners and pet sitters in emergency first aid procedures.
Even veterinarians, accustomed to the facilities of the clinic, have taken her classes to learn what to do when in an emergency situation without traditional tools.
Moore advised potential first responders to “control your own breathing, talk out loud while working, and protect yourself.”
What you’ll learn in a pet first aid class
Along with emergency procedures including CPR, rescue breathing, and fracture and bleeding protocols that are essential if we ever come upon a pet who has been hit by a car, the class also covered:
- choking management
- care for heatstroke
- care for frostbite
- poisoning
- seizures
- other emergency management techniques
Dealing with an injured animal is never a pleasant experience. But having some first aid instruction can mean the difference between life and death for a lost or homeless animal–and for our own pets in the case of an emergency.
At the end of a certification class, you’ll receive a certificate that is generally valid for two years after the class–but the lessons you learn can last a lifetime, especially with continued education either in the form of more classes, online classes or even reading a pet first aid book.
Classes You Can Take in Person & Online
Pet First Aid 4U: Arden Moore’s company offers certification courses, non-certification first aid courses and interactive live classes via Zoom. (You can also sign up for a two-day class to get certified to teach pet first aid!)
Pet Tech: Pet Tech® is known as the first International Training Center dedicated to CPR, first aid and care for cats and dogs.
Red Cross Cat & Dog First Aid Online Training: This is an inexpensive, 35-minute online class you can take to learn the basics of pet first aid. The Red Cross also has a downloadable first aid app.
Pet Emergency Education: These in-person classes offer a two-year certification.
Books on Pet First Aid
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