Injured Pets
For some people, pet animals serve as mere guard dogs or pets to give their children to teach them responsibility. For others, pets are members of the family who are taken care of and loved throughout a pet’s short life. With a pets continuously high energy, they are prone to getting injured – and when a pet who is treated like a member of the family gets injured, it’s much like having a child, sibling, or parent injured.
The problem lies in management. Pets are also notoriously difficult to manage medically. If they get hurt, their immediate reaction is to become aggressive. Even the gentlest of dogs and cats can turn vicious if they have an injury. By taking a Pet First Aid and CPR class at Red Deer First Aid, you will learn how to recognize and manage a variety of pet injuries.
Red Deer First Aid
Red Deer First Aid a training provider in Red Deer, Alberta. We offer training programs for first aid, food safety, and of course, pet first aid and CPR. Our Pet First Aid and CPR course is offered monthly throughout the year so slots do run out quite fast. We encourage prospective students who need training and certification to sign up as early as two to three months in advance to confirm their slot.
Pet First Aid and CPR
Our Pet First Aid and CPR course is four hours long and is based in a classroom. The course is divided into lectures and laboratory sessions, with the latter including training with a pet mannequin. The program’s curriculum includes topic such as:
- Recognizing a pet is hurt or sick
- Wound care and infection control
- Splinting and bandaging
- Poisoning management
After you complete the program, you will have to pass a final exam to be certified. Certificates for Pet First Aid and CPR training do not expire. There are no Pet First Aid and CPR refreshers available, but we do encourage our trainees to retake training every few years to update their training.
Pet First Aid and CPR training costs 79.99 dollars.
Getting started: Managing Bleeding Injuries
The most common injury a pet will receive is a cut, or a wound that is bleeding. These can be difficult to manage, especially if the pet doesn’t want to be held or touched. In any situation wherein a pet is hurt or sick, always immobilize the pet first. Approach him or her calmly, and muzzle (for dogs) or immobilize him/her (for smaller pets like cats). You can muzzle a pet with a soft leash or strip of linen. Smaller pets can be immobilized by wrapping them in a towel or cloth securely.
Once the pet is calm and immobilized, hold gauze or clean cloth over the wound until the bleeding stops. It will usually take several minutes for the blood to clot and bleeding to stem. If the bleeding is severe, tourniquet the affected area using a bandage or elastic gloves. Bring the pet immediately to a veterinarian after stabilizing him or her.