Newbie News by Erin Weiss

Pet First Aid & CPR Seminar

When I was first asked if I would like to attend a pet first aid and CPR seminar, I have to admit my first reaction was to laugh.  I could not imagine a scenario where I would need to perform CPR on a dog and when I pictured it, well, it looked a little silly.  After giving it some more thought I realized that as a dog walker and pet sitter, emergency situations can and do arise and I need to be prepared for when they do.  

The seminar took place on a Sunday afternoon with Dr. Brian Lapham, a veterinarian with Southpoint Animal Hospital.  I recognized most of the attendees as fellow Pack Leaders of All Breed Care, all eager to learn and stay ahead of the game with useful pet-related information.  Dr. Lapham dove right in with an excellent presentation on general first aid, including topics such as heat stroke, seizures, snake bites, and burns.  I was surprised and a little ashamed that I hadn’t even considered the possibility of dealing with a heat stroke or a snake bite; these are very real problems that can occur at any time while walking someone’s dog, and I would need to know how to handle them.

Pack Leader Patty Jones learning how to find a heartbeat

The second part of the workshop focused entirely on pet CPR.  The first thing we learned was the “ABC’s” – Airway, Breathing, and Circulation.  Using a rubber dog (specifically designed for CPR practice), Dr. Lapham demonstrated the best way to check for a breath by watching the chest rise and fall, and listening/feeling with your hand.  He also showed us how to do to “Mouth-to-Snout resuscitation” by breathing into the animal’s nose.  We learned how and where to check for a heartbeat by finding the Femoral and Apical Pulse, as well as the proper location and technique for doing the compressions.  The rubber dog proved to be an excellent tool for hands-on instruction, and those of us who were new to the workshop were given an opportunity to practice the whole process!  I am happy to report that each of us was able to successfully resuscitate the rubber dog.

 

            Dr. Lapham closed the seminar with a review of his favorite first-aid kit supplies, and a diagram depicting proper tick removal (this came in handy sooner than I expected when I found one on myself yesterday!).  I have always carried a simple first aid kit in my car, but now I can add things to it (such as tick removers) that I would never have thought of before.  We learned how to make and secure a muzzle, including tips for approaching the dog if it appears hostile. 

Dr. Lapham demonstrating how to muzzle a dog

            Attending the workshop has made me a more confident pet care provider.  I now have the safety knowledge and skills necessary to provide first aid in the event of an injury.  In a true emergency situation, I will always remember to remain calm, be aware of my surroundings, and call for help. Whether you attend a workshop or simply browse a pet first-aid website, I believe every pet owner should take the time to familiarize themselves with this information. I’m so glad that I did.