Firms urged to have animal first aiders, expert says

Pet professionals and pet friendly venues are being encouraged to have a staff member who is qualified with the ‘canine first aid’ further education course.

Veterinary nurse Rachel Bean, who wrote the iPET Network’s level three qualification in canine first aid, revealed that businesses should think “seriously” about pet safety, and the ramifications that not doing the training could have for clients and staff.

The course has modules in canine CPR, how to dress a wound, poisoning, fights and other scenarios which may occur in a hotel or hospitality setting.

Four years ago Bean worked with Sarah Mackay and Fern Gresty of iPET Network, after long being frustrated that there was no actual qualification available in canine first aid and while courses could be taken, they were unregulated by Ofqual, and facts and techniques were often out of date.

Bean said: “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.”