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Learning emergency first aid for
your pet Eileen Mitchell
Were that to happen
today, I would know exactly how to treat this minor wound myself. After
attending a pet first-aid class, I now feel equipped to provide the immediate
care required for common illness or injuries that might befall my boy. The
three-hour class, taught by the American Safety Academy, is not intended as a
replacement for professional medical treatment but teaches how to provide basic
emergency care and perhaps save a pet's life until professional care is
available. According to the American
Animal Hospital Association, 1 in 4 injury deaths could have been prevented if
first aid had been applied. As anyone who has a pet knows all too well,
injuries - from abrasions and bites to burns and bleeding - happen quickly. Knowledge makes
difference The session I attended
featured all dog owners, so our focus was on Fido, although the interactive
class is intended for dogs and cats. The manual included in the course fee says
that first aid is similar for most pets. Since our pets can't tell
us what is wrong, the illustrated manual provides guidelines for detecting
illnesses and injuries as well as instructions for treatment. By following the
manual, in tandem with a video and lecture, students are taught how to assess a
situation, recognize symptoms and administer care. "Begin with the
three A's," Bury instructed the class. "Assess the scene: Is it safe
to approach the animal? Alert your veterinarian or an emergency-care facility:
Let them know that you are bringing in a sick or injured pet so they can
prepare and meet you outside. Attend to your pet's immediate needs. This means
checking their ABCs: airway, breathing and circulation." Especially helpful was
the hands-on practice, using life-size dog mannequins and stuffed animals. We
practiced checking for a heartbeat and pulse, learned how to create a restraint
if a commercial muzzle isn't available (neckties, pantyhose, belts or Ace
bandages) and studied how to administer CPR to a large versus small dog. We even administered
rescue breathing, which is done mouth-to-snout through a protective shield.
Should I ever see an anxious Elvis pawing at his face, drooling, breathing
loudly and coughing, I will recognize the symptoms of a choking dog and know
how to apply a procedure similar to the Heimlich maneuver. Choking is a leading
cause of canine cardiac arrest. "Stick with
Nylabones," Bury advised her students. She added that rawhide and pig's
ears are notorious choking hazards. The class covers a large
amount of material. The intention isn't to provide a thorough education or
foster paranoia but rather to serve as a reminder of the possibilities and the
urgency of immediate and proper action. What if your dog is hit by a car?
Bitten by a black widow spider? Falls in a pool, is pierced with an arrow or
drinks some tasty antifreeze? Be prepared "Don't rely on
memory," Bury warned. "People tend to panic in an emergency and often
can't remember their own names." When a classmate pointed
out that a nearby animal emergency hospital had recently closed, Bury used this
as an example of the importance of periodically checking local 24-hour
emergency clinics to ensure that the facilities are still operating. Imagine
learning otherwise as you stand in front of the hospital's locked doors at Fellow student Shirley
Wright said she found the class well worth her time. "I have two cairn
terriers and one is a senior dog," the
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