Crosstown Pet is taking the Professional Dog Walker Certificate program at Langara College!
Six courses make up this program designed for dog walkers, trainers, and other dog handlers. Taught by industry professional Jill Taggart, PhD in Behavioural Psychology, Master of Science – Animal Behaviour, and a practicing Clinical Animal Behaviourist.
Crosstown Pet was excited to learn First Aid for Dogs-
Professional dog handlers, dog walkers or kennel owners need to know first aid for dogs. Skills learned include: pet-proofing your space; first aid and CPR skills for dogs; life-saving education and emergency response skills such as bleeding, wounds, poisons, bone injuries, and delivering puppies. A 3-year Dog First Aid certificate from St John Ambulance is issued upon successfully completion.This workshop is not a substitute for veterinary care, but teaches you the best possible first-response procedures.
Basic Pet First Aid by Kirsten Wilson, RAHT
Tips to remember when moving an injured animal
It is important to remember that any animal, including your own pet, may bite if frightened, injured/painful, or ill.
DEALING WITH TRAUMA
In the case of a trauma or accident, make an initial assessment of the situation before attempting to begin first aid.
Stay calm! Dogs react to your emotions; speak in a quiet, low voice and reassure them.
ABC’s
Arterial bleeding
•Is there any arterial bleeding?
•Will be evident by pulsing blood
•Constant Pressure or a tourniquet is required
Breathing
•Is the pet breathing? If not, begin AR
•Clear mouth of vomit/foreign material
•Hold lips down, breathe into nostrils
Circulation
•Check for heart beat or pulse
•Begin CPR if required
CHECKING PULSES
CPR
Cats–use one hand and compress chest
Small dogs—use heel of one hand to compress
Large dogs—use both hands to compress; place a binder or rolled up towel under the sternum to support the chest
SHOCK
This is a life threatening cardiovascular state that can happen with any trauma
Will see increase in heart rate (cats sometimes decrease)
Shallow, rapid breathing
MM will be pale, white, grey or ‘muddy’
CRT (Capillary Refill Time) will be longer than 2 seconds
CHOKING
Do not give a ball or toy that is too small for the breed of dog
Signs of choking include drooling, pawing at the mouth, difficulty breathing, gums may be blue
Seek Veterinary attention immediately
If a ball or toy is stuck, you can try placing fingers behind the angle of the jaw and pressing in and up toward the
mouth.
Heimlich manoeuvre
“OUT”
It would be great if all owners trained ‘out’
Never put your hand in a dog’s mouth to get something out
Roll of tape to hold mouth open
WOUNDS
Check the whole body thoroughly
Sometimes the only indication is wet or ’tufted’ hair
Apply pressure until bleeding stops
Clean the area thoroughly with an antiseptic soap
PENETRATING WOUNDS
Metal, wood etc punctures body
Do not remove offending material
Place a doughnut bandage if necessary to control bleeding
DEGLOVING WOUNDS
Skin is ‘torn’ from muscle
Keep muscle moist with gauze and saline
SCRAPES/ROAD RASH
Clean area thoroughly but gently with antiseptic soap
Footpads: apply bandage
POISONING
Inhaled—remove pet to fresh air
Absorbed—rinse area for 15 minutes with water
Ingested—if ingestion is within 1 hour, and it is not a corrosive or a petroleum product
›Induce vomiting—5ml of 3% Hydrogen peroxide per 5 lbs
Can repeat once in 10 minutes if vomiting has not occurred
Seek immediate veterinary attention
SEIZURES
Can happen for a variety of reasons
Try not to handle the pet, except to keep them from harming themselves, as you may get bitten.
Ensure they cannot fall from bed or couch.
Monitor the pet; if a seizure lasts more than 3 minutes, seek immediate veterinary attention
VOMITING/DIARRHEA
Most vomiting and diarrhea is self-limiting
If non-productive (dry heaves) and abdomen looks distended/swollen—this is an emergency
If there is blood in vomit or diarrhea, should be seen that day
Smaller pets more at risk of dehydration
FRACTURES
Fractures can occur to legs/feet/nails, teeth, ribs, jaw
Fractured tooth: should be evaluated by Vet
Tooth knocked out: place in a glass of milk and get to the Vet ASAP
Fractured nails may need bandaging and antibiotics
Fractures to limbs: stabilize the fracture–use sticks, branches, rolled newspaper or
magazine as a splint; place against the limb and tie with roll gauze
Joints above and below the fracture must be immobilized
Seek veterinary attention ASAP
HYPOTHERMIA
Temperature less than 35.5 C
Pet will be depressed, have a decreased respiratory rate, uncontrolled shivering, may lose consciousness
Move pet to a warm place
Cover with blankets, you can try to warm them with your body heat
If conscious, you can give small amounts of warm water to drink
Do not apply a major heat source—this can cause the blood vessels in the extremities to open up and cause a drop in blood pressure
HYPERTHERMIA
Temperature is greater than 41.5 C
May pant heavily, or may stop panting in spite of high temperature
May have difficulty breathing, weak pulse, collapse
Cool pet with cool water, wet towels, you can apply rubbing alcohol to foot pads
Seek immediate veterinary attention
ALLERGIC REACTIONS
May be due to vaccines, medications, bites, etc
Facial swelling
Hive or welts
Pawing at face
Benedryl©: Small dog 25 mg, Large Dog 50 mg
ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION
More serious allergic reaction
Will lead to shock and eventually death
Vomiting/diarrhea, difficulty breathing
Seek immediate veterinary attention
Minor (swollen face, welts) reactions can progress quickly to anaphylaxis—best to seek vet attention with any allergic
reaction
EYES
Any red, sore, scratched or wounded eye should be evaluated by a veterinarian
Keep the pet from scratching at the eye with an E-collar
Do not remove a penetrating foreign body
If a foreign body is not imbedded, you can try flushing with saline
If an eyeball is protruding from the socket, keep it moist with saline and seek veterinary attention immediately.
DROWNING
Clear mouth of any foreign material/water
Place head lower than rest of body
May try elevating hind legs and ‘hanging’ pet to allow water to run out
Begin CPR if necessary
Seek immediate Veterinary attention
BURNS
Apply ice to area, or soak area in ice water; do not hold under running water
Do not apply ointments or cover area with bandage
Electrical burns may only be visible as sores in the mouth or on the tongue, but they can lead to serious internal
problems
Chemical burns
›If acid—flush with mixture of baking soda and water
›If alkali—flush with mixture of vinegar and water
›If unsure what type—flush with copious amounts of
water
Seek immediate veterinary attention for any burn
MEDICAL HISTORY
Get the medical history of your ‘clients’
On medications?
Which vet?
Vaccines current?
LEASHES/COLLARS
Flexi-leads
6 ft nylon
Collar—nylon with snap
Choke
Prong
Halti/Gentle Leader
Harnesses
WHAT SHOULD I CARRY?
Extra leash
‘Mini’ first aid kit—fanny pack?
Owners phone numbers
Vet phone numbers
Cab phone numbers
LOWER MAINLAND EMERGENCY CLINICS
.Animal Emergency Clinic of the Fraser Valley (Langley)
#306 6325 204th St.
604-514-1711
Central Animal Emergency Clinic (Coquitlam)
812 Roderick Avenue
604-931-1911
Mainland Animal Emergency Clinic (Surrey)
15338 Fraser Hwy
604-588-4000
Vancouver Animal Emergency Clinic (Vancouver)
1590 West 4th Ave
604-734-5104
CANINE VITAL SIGNS
Temperature: 37.5-39.5 C (99.5 ºF-103.1ºF)
Pulse/Heart Rate
60-180
.Respiration Rate Dog
10-30
Panting dogs respiratory rate can be much faster and be normal
Kirsten Wilson, RAHT demonstrates ‘OUT’
Kirsten Wilson, RAHT shows us how to wrap a fracture
Kirsten Wilson, RAHT shows us how to check for the femoral pulse
Hendrik of Crosstown Pet with Pet First Aid Kit
Hendrik of Crosstown Pet practicing how to wrap a fracture
Crosstown Pet 