Emergencies can happen. Being prepared is the best way we can be counteract an emergency. These 4 motivations for being pet first aid certified will help you be ready for many situations. We know your dog is your best friend. Caring for your dog the best way you can is usually at the top of your priority list as a pet owner. Training your dog to be handled for all types of treatments is another great benefit of knowing pet first aid. All pet first aid should be followed up with veterinary care as soon as possible. None of the following information is meant to diagnose or cure any illness or injury.
The vet isn’t always open for emergencies
Emergency vets are few and far between. Pricing at these vets can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on the procedures needed. Most vets have typical business hours for office hours, so after hours care is often significantly more expensive. Administering emergency first aid, CPR, or rescue breathing could help your pet while traveling the distance to an emergency vet. Knowing how to brace a leg, induce vomiting, or bandage an appendage can buy your pet valuable time and keep an injury from becoming worse. Always follow up any pet first aid with veterinary care.
Peace of mind you can handle a situation is great motivation to learn
Knowing exactly what to do in a situation is a great way to reduce anxiety. If you know exactly what you’re doing, you won’t be nervous and can think with a clear head. These 4 motivations for being pet first aid certified are good guidelines for showing how being prepared can help save a life. A quality class will teach students how to be prepared in a variety of situations. A pet first aid kit is essential for all pet owners. Another factor to consider is training your dog to be handled in all types of potential emergencies. A dog that is used to being restrained should not struggle and risking injuring itself further.
Most important of the 4 motivations for being pet first aid certified: knowing your dog’s vital signs
Checking your pet’s vital signs is the best way to quickly assess their health. A quality first aid class will teach you how to evaluate the signs that show distress in your pet. From heart rate, to breathing, to temperature, this information can help you and your vet determine a possible condition or cause of injury. Checking your pet’s vital signs is one of the first steps of administering first aid to your pet. Know how to do this safely is essential. Pets cannot talk so we cannot ask them how they are feeling. Depending on the levels of their vital signs, we can get a potential “snapshot” of what is going on with the animal.
Being able to “pet-proof” your home
Many emergencies, both for people and pets, happen at home. A good first aid class can teach you what hazards can be avoided in the home. This can include different furniture, household cleaners, and other potentially dangerous or toxic things that could harm your pet. High furniture can be dangerous for smaller breeds. They can injure bone or soft tissue jumping off from even seemingly small heights. Household cleaners Make sure all household cleaners are locked in an area your pet cannot accidentally get to and ingest them. All pesticides and insecticides are EXTREMELY dangerous for pets. Knowing how to induce vomit if you suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous can be lifesaving.
There are many more than 4 motivations for being pet first aid certified. In this blog we touched on the most common we hear from pet owners. Whatever your motivation is, your pet will be better off that you’re first aid certified!
