Why you should learn pet first aid

Dogs are joyous, adventurous creatures that love investigating anything and everything. It’s one of the things that makes them such a wonderful pet. But it also means that they can get themselves in a bit of a pickle from time to time. You never know when an emergency situation might arise that requires your intervention. Being properly trained in dog first aid will help you to stay calm in a crisis. This will allow you to provide the care they need, which could potentially save their life.

An emergency could take many forms, such as a dog attack, drowning, choking, poisoning, heatstroke or a traffic accident. It’s important that you are able to recognise what is and isn’t normal behaviour for your dog. In the event of an emergency, it’s imperative that you stay calm and don’t panic. Keep the contact details of your vet in your mobile phone or in a safe place at home so you always have quick access to it. 

Firstly, once your dog is out of immediate danger, you should call your vet. If you suspect your dog may have a serious injury, such as a broken bone, don’t try to deal with it on your own. Touching a painful area could cause your dog to lash out and injure you, and maybe injure themselves further too. Remember that they will be scared about what’s happening too. Don’t feed your pet or give them water unless your vet says it’s safe to do so. Keep a pen & small notepad in your pocket when you’re out and about or leave a pen and paper next to your landline incase you need to take notes when your vet is giving you instructions or if they give you an alternative phone number.

It’s also a good idea to keep a first aid kit for your pet. This will allow you to treat minor injuries by yourself. A good first aid kit should include some antiseptic wipes, dressings, tweezers, cotton wool, blunt-ended scissors, bandages, gloves, surgical tape and a thick towel.

The PDSA offers free pet first aid courses (with a £5 booking fee) across the UK throughout the year and the Blue Cross has a helpful PDF about basic first aid that is worth reading.

Thu Dec 24 2020