First Aid and CPR Certification for your Pet

March 15, 2015

by Natalie Secretan

Pets First AidGetting your First Aid Certificate for your dog or cat is simpler than you think. Available through various organizations, the two big ones in Toronto that stand out are St. John’s Ambulance and the Dog Guru.

Now you might think that certification is only for the professionals, but let me tell you. When my Chihuahua, Stanley, choked on a raw hide bone, I was sure glad I had taken my First Aid course and knew what to do. True, it was human First Aid that I was well-versed in, but with a few adjustments, I was able to apply the Heimlich Maneuver and save his life. Then I immediately enrolled in a First Aid and CPR course for dogs.

The Certified Pet Care Professional System available through the DogGuru.ca is divided into two certificates:

  1. Pet First Aid
  2. Pet Care 101

Most of these courses are available through the PawsWay on the Queen’s Quay, but Dog Guru, Cheryl Orletsky says that a home study program will soon be available online.

Pet First Aid Course Will Teach You

  • The importance of preventative care, including how to find out what is "normal" for your pet
  • What you can do to avoid illnesses and injuries
  • How to help your pet stay healthy and live a long life
  • How to recognize and manage all types of injuries - bleeding, bone fractures, contusions, scrapes, punctures, lacerations, strains and sprains
  • How to recognize and manage medical conditions/potential emergencies - seizures, diabetes, heat exhaustion, hypothermia, bloat, shock, poisoning, parasites; breathing emergencies such as choking, and how to perform artificial respiration and CPR Dog with Bandage: Pet First Aid Certificate Course for Cats and Dogs in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  Learn First Aid for Pets as a Pet Owner or Pet Care Professional
  • How to properly restrain and stabilize an injured pet until qualified veterinary care can be obtained

You will practice bandaging and other techniques on stuffed toy animals, as well as on live animals.  

For more information on how to enroll, please visit pet-first-aid.ca

To contact the St. John’s Ambulance about their Pet First Aid, please visit sja.ca.