One morning in February of 1997, Sunny, our yellow Labrador retriever, woke up unable to move and in agonizing pain. We sat on the floor by her bed trying to comfort her as she began to tremble, hoping against hope that someone would come into the veterinarian’s office extra early to tell us what to do. For this most easy-going of dogs who never complained about anything, every movement, no matter how slight, now caused her great distress. All of a sudden she frantically dashed for the outdoors, letting out a cry that echoed through the house. Sunny answered nature’s call and then collapsed on the ground.

Emergencies similar to this can occur suddenly and without warning. Has an outdoor cookout ever been so inviting that your pooch couldn’t resist reaching up for a sizzling treat? Has your cat’s tail ever been accidentally closed in a door? Have you found a dog left in a car and suffering from heat stroke? Have you ever feared your cat would get bitten by a bee and suffer an allergic reaction? If you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions, you’ll realize that being prepared applies not just to the Boy Scouts, but to you as well.

Statistics show that preventable accidents are the leading cause of death among companion animals. According to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), one out of four additional animals could be saved if just one pet first aid technique was applied.

In an emergency, first-aid is the initial and often most critical step. Knowing what to do in those first few moments can save your animal’s life. The most accomplished veterinary surgeon will not be able to bring your dog or cat back once his heart and lungs have stopped, but by knowing the life-saving skills of first-aid and CPR, you can keep your animal’s organs working until professional medical help is available.

Many of us have taken human first-aid or CPR courses. However, dogs and cats don’t share the same anatomy as us. Although the concept is the same, the techniques differ. In addition, we can’t ask our dog or cat, “Where does it hurt?” or “Did you just eat something out of the trash?” Pet-specific training is therefore essential.

Anyone you entrust the care of your dog or cat to should also know these important life-saving skills. It’s a great responsibility to look after someone’s four-legged friend, and a good pet sitter, groomer or caregiver should be ready for
the unexpected.

“I was caring for two precious Cairn terriers and had just given them a doggie treat when one of them suddenly started choking,” said Tina Kenny of TLC Pet Sitting. “As I watched her desperately trying to cough up the biscuit lodged in her throat, I realized she needed my help. I am so grateful I had taken a pet first-aid class just the day before. I quickly took the appropriate action (side chest thrusts) and the biscuit shot out of her mouth and across the kitchen floor. There was nothing quite as rewarding as knowing I had saved the day for this helpless little dog, and her wagging tail and thankful licks let me know she felt the same way.” Cat mom Heidi Fielding adds that one of the biggest benefits of taking a pet first-aid class is that it gave her “confidence in dealing with an emergency situation.” Knowing what to do is no good if you don’t have the confidence to react and use that knowledge.

After surgery to remove three ruptured discs, Sunny bounced back to her usual self, but I never again wanted to feel helpless if or when my animal was in distress. The experience led me to not only learn first-aid and CPR, but to teach it to others as well. One of my students, Kate Ahrens, sums it up best: “The last thing you want is to wish you had taken a pet first-aid and CPR class.”

These organizations offer information and/or classes on pet first-aid and CPR:
Sunny-dog Ink (southern CA): www.sunnydogink.com, (818) 951-7962
The Red Cross: www.redcross.org, (202) 303-4498
Pet Tech, Inc.: www.pettech.net, (760) 930-0309

Denise Fleck, founder of Sunny-dog Ink, is trained by The Red Cross® and Pet Tech, Inc. and has taught thousands of animal guardians throughout Southern California. She is an advocate of adopting senior pets and has been Dog Mom to eleven. Denise is a volunteer with Akita Buddies Rescue in Palmdale, California and a Board Member of the Bumper Foundation, an animal rescue organization.