IPET Network calls for more canine first aiders

The iPET Network is urging pet professionals and pet friendly venues to have a staff member on board who is qualified with the canine first aid further education course.

Veterinary nurse Rachel Bean, who wrote the network’s level three qualification in Canine First Aid, is now urging businesses to “think seriously” about pet safety, and the “ramifications that not doing the training could have for clients and staff”.

Four years ago, Bean, who has run canine first aid courses across the country for 15 years, worked with Sarah Mackay and Fern Gresty of the iPET Network, after “long being frustrated that there was no actual qualification available in canine first aid”.

While courses could be taken, she says they were unregulated by Ofqual, and facts and techniques were often out of date.

She said: “Have you ever thought about what you would do if your dog or a client’s dog had an accident in your care? As a qualified veterinary nurse myself, and working in practice for over 25 years, I have seen many accidents where the dog would have benefited from some initial first aid steps, to increase the chance of surviving an incident.

“For pet professionals, or people running venues that they are proud to call ‘dog friendly’ canine first aid training really should be an essential part of starting up.”

She added: “Choose a course that uses real dogs for the practical bandaging, as this gives you experience of a dog moving. During this course you should be learning the anatomical points on the dog to aid successful bandaging, and get to experience what a real dog’s pulse feels like.

“Also try and choose a course that has small group numbers, as this means that you get as much interaction and learning time as possible.”