FEATURE | CRISIS CONTROL wanted to scream , but nothing was escaping my lips . “ This isn ’ t possible , and it can ’ t be happening right now . Why had I not thought this was a possibility ? He helps me teach people how to save their dogs ; it ’ s not supposed to happen to him . This isn ’ t real !”
These were very real thoughts and very real words that crossed my mind on that humbling night in early 2013 when my beloved dog fell to the ground in front of me . In seconds , my life with this amazing dog was flashing before my eyes . I ’ m a Certified Master Instructor for Pet Tech , and I teach Pet CPR and First Aid to pet owners and pet care professionals alike across the country and in my home state of Texas . He was my first partner in every class . He changed my life and taught thousands of people how to save their pets , and now I was facing doing CPR on my own CPR demonstration dog .
In the unfortunate moment that your dog collapses in front of you , you don ’ t have time to scream or overanalyze . You don ’ t have time to find a handbook or Google “ Dog CPR .” You have your head , your hands , and your heart , and that ’ s it . You must rely on muscle memory , what you ’ ve heard or seen , and your connection with your pet . Ask anyone who has been in the position of the “ rescuer ” performing the adrenaline-pumping whirlwind procedure of CPR on a beloved pet , and they will tell you how incredibly time-altering it is .
Recently during an Association of Professional Dog Trainers member survey , the question was posed : “ Are you or any member of your training team certified in pet first aid ?” More than 50 percent of members said they were not trained in pet CPR and first aid !
If a pet went down in front of you , your client would most likely not know what to do . And it is reasonable to expect the pet professional should know what to do . All first responders and medical personnel must keep their human CPR training current , no matter how many times they have taken it or how long they have been in their field . It is widespread for large corporations to require specific members of their teams to be trained for human CPR , but there is no requirement in the pet industry ever to have training in how to save a pet . You never think it will happen to you until it does , and then it might be too late .
I also want to ask , of those of you who were trained , are you still current ? What do you remember from your class ? Have you reviewed any of your materials since the class ? Was it online , or did you have an opportunity to practice the technique in person , on a stuffed dog to make sure your hand placement and process were correct ? Aside from CPR , what were all the pet first aid skills taught , and how thorough was your training ? Programs should cover all types and positions of Canine and Feline CPR , Rescue Breathing , Bleeding and Shock Management , Choking Management , Injury Assessment , Poisoning , Snakebites , Assessing Your Pet ’ s Vitals , How to Put together a Pet First Aid Kit , Insect Bites and Stings , Heat and Cold Injuries , Snout-To- Tail Assessment , Emergency Muzzling for Safety , Seizures , Senior Care and Dental Care . How many emergencies could you prevent if you had more training in all the different emergency situations that your personal pets or your client ’ s pets could come across ?
I would estimate that 60 percent of my students enrolled in my Pet Tech classes because an emergency had recently occurred and they didn ’ t know what to do . Sometimes those pet parents are lucky , but many have lost their pets . They do not ever want to feel that way again , so they decide to take action and learn what to do next time . Many of our students don ’ t know what they don ’ t know . They may enroll for a specific topic , or the CPR portion intrigues them . Countless students during the 15 years I have been teaching are fascinated at all of the other emergencies that we cover that are statistically more likely to happen to a pet on any given day .
In the last few years , one of our favorite Pet Tech stories was about a dog that collapsed on a grooming table from an unknown cause . The whole thing was caught on security cameras and is inspiring to watch . While several team members stood around
The APDT Chronicle of the Dog | Winter 2021 43