92 percent of animals will experience an emergency during their lifetime. Perhaps just as important is information from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), which reports that 25 percent more pets would survive if just one pet first aid technique were applied prior to getting emergency veterinary care.
Rob Nager, owner of Decadent Dog in Needham, MA and certified PetTech™ CPR and first aid instructor, believes that the most important thing for pet owners to be aware of is that pet CPR and first aid classes exist.
“In my experience, most pet owners just aren’t aware that they can spend four hours learning crucial techniques that may someday help them save the life of their beloved pet,” Nager said. “In any emergency, feeling helpless is excruciating and, because of pet CPR and first aid classes, unnecessary.”
According to Nager, Pet Sitters International’s 2008 Pet Sitter of the Year™, abrasions and choking are the two most frequent pet injuries he encounters.
''Dogs are usually eager to make the most of their outside time by running and playing with reckless abandon,'' he said. ''Unfortunately the world is filled with rocks, sticks, trees, broken glass, pieces of metal and other sharp objects that can quickly puncture or cut the pads of their feet. Additionally, dogs and cats are both prone to choking hazards by eating too quickly and from swallowing toys, balls, string, tinsel, bones and biscuits.''
Simple first-aid procedures can make the difference between life and death. Nager recommends that all pet owners and pet-care givers know how to perform rescue breathing and/or CPR, as well as be able to respond effectively to bleeding, poisoning and injuries such as heatstroke and frostbite.
The best piece of advice Nager gives pet owners is to stay calm when dealing with a pet emergency.
“By taking a deep breath when you first discover an injured pet, you are more able to assess the situation and react with safety as you put your knowledge and experience into action,” he said.
Nager says that becoming a certified CPR and first aid instructor has been enormously beneficial to his business.
''I’ve earned the respect of my clients, staff and other pet professionals like veterinarians, groomers, trainers and pet-store owners in the Boston area,'' he said. “By being PetTech™ certified, I have earned a level of credibility as a knowledgeable professional within my community. There is no doubt in my mind that this knowledge helped our company achieve solid growth last year in a down economy.”
The decision to become certified in CPR and pet first aid was an easy one for Nager.
“As a pet sitter, the health and well-being of my clients’ pets are in my hands,” he said. “My first priority and pledge to every one of my clients is that I will do everything I can to keep their pets safe.”
To find the best care for your best friends, please visit The Pet Sitter Locator (http://www.petsit.com/locate/). And to find a pet first aid class in your community, please visit PetTech (http://www.pettech.net/)
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