Los Angeles Pet First Aid

April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month. As a professional pet sitter and dog walker in Los Angeles, I believe that pet professionals and parents should be prepared for pet-related emergencies. If living in Southern California has taught us anything, it’s that we need to plan for the unexpected.

Pet First Aid & CPR Classes

No pet parent wants to watch their pet suffer and feel like they cannot help. No pet lover wants to endure the guilt of not having the skills or ability to respond to their pet’s needs in an emergency. Unfortunately, however, many pet parents wait until they experience an emergency or tragedy to consider taking a Pet First Aid and CPR class.

Did you know?

Dogs are more likely to experience pet first aid emergencies because, as a species, they tend to take more risks than cats.

Thankfully, those of us that want to be proactive have options. There are online and local Pet First Aid & CPR courses. The Los Angeles County Public Health website lists a few Pet First Aid classes in the area.

It’s important to note that Pet First Aid & CPR classes teach more than just CPR and rescue breathing. Pet First Aid courses allow pet parents to learn about their pet’s physiology and how to prevent accidents and injuries. They also allow pet parents to connect with other pet lovers that have different species, experiences, and perspectives.

As we know, each pet is an individual, therefore, learning from the stories and experiences of other pet parents helps us anticipate issues that we may not have otherwise recognized.

Pet First Aid Skills

The skills taught during Pet First Aid classes are often underestimated. PetTech, one of the most established Pet First Aid & CPR certifying entities in the US, teaches a Snout-to-Tail Assessment in which the instructor goes through the possible illness warning signs one might uncover while gently touching and massaging a pet from snout to tail.

The Snout-to-Tail Assessment aims to find bumps, lumps, etc. before they become a significant cause for concern. The earlier cancer is caught for example, the better the outcome. For this reason, learning a skill such as the Snout-to-Tail Assessment is a way to prevent suffering and ensure a pet’s longevity.

Other skills taught during most Pet First Aid & CPR classes include rescue breathing, choking management, impalement and bleeding protocols, poisoning, and seizures. Pet parents learn how to manage an emergency, ask for assistance from bystanders, and who to call before transporting an ill or injured animal to an emergency veterinary clinic.

Whether a pet professional or a pet parent, these skills will put students’ minds at ease when faced with the unexpected. Most classes are four hours long, which allows students to practice their skills so that they become muscle memory.

Pet First Aid Kit

One of the most valuable tips that many certifying entities offer their students is a list of items necessary to complete a pet first aid kit. The good news is that most pet parents can start compiling their pet first aid kit long before they attend a pet first aid class. Pet Sitters International offers a comprehensive checklist here. This truly is a complete list featuring items that can be found in your local grocery store.

Pet First Aid Kits are created with each particular species in mind. A human first aid kit, containing bandaids and human-safe antibiotic ointment, for example, would not work for dogs or cats because bandaids cannot be used on fur or hair and human-safe first aid products may contain ingredients that are dangerous to pets. While compiling your pet first aid kit, keep in mind that pets tend to lick their wounds, which is why all the items in your pet first aid kit should be specifically designed for the species you share your life with.

For those pet-friendly families that like to adventure or travel with their pets, it is recommended to have a travel-friendly pet first aid kit with you at all times. Whether a dog is embedded with foxtails, a cat snags a claw, etc. having a travel pet first aid kit in one’s luggage, car, or backpack can turn a painful and stressful situation into an easily managed blip in the itinerary.

Pet First Aid for Pet Parents

I echo the AVMA when I say that pet parents will be better able to respond to their pets in an emergency if they prepare and learn Pet First Aid & CPR. As a Certified Professional Pet Sitter®, certified by Pet Sitters International, I believe that educating ourselves for the sake of our beloved pets makes us better pet parents and caregivers.

To learn more about my services, including dog walking and pet sitting in Los Angeles, please contact info@furbabybestie.com.

All the bestie, Steph