CEFA – CANINE EMERGENCY FIRST AID

LECTURE HOURS: 4.5

HANDS-ON HOURS: 3.5

Certified Canine Emergency First Aid: Lifesaving Skills for Dog Owners and Professionals

This comprehensive, full-day Certified Canine Emergency First Aid course is tailored for individuals who work with dogs, including dog owners, trainers, behaviour consultants, veterinary professionals, and animal care workers. The course provides participants with crucial knowledge and hands-on experience to respond confidently and effectively during canine emergencies. It has been evaluated and highly recommended by numerous veterinarians, making it an essential lifesaving resource for anyone responsible for a dog’s welfare.

Participants will learn how to recognize and assess common injuries and illnesses in their early stages, allowing them to respond swiftly and accurately before professional medical help is available. The course covers a wide range of emergency situations, from choking and bleeding to seizures and heatstroke, ensuring that attendees are prepared to handle various scenarios with competence and care. In addition to early recognition, the course emphasizes the proper techniques for performing first aid, stabilizing the dog, and improving the likelihood of survival during transport to a veterinary clinic.

A key component of this course is the hands-on practice. Participants will work with both a live, trained seminar dog and a CPR dog mannequin, allowing them to practice critical first aid techniques such as CPR, wound care, and bandaging under realistic conditions. This hands-on experience ensures that attendees can apply the skills in real-life emergencies with confidence.

Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a Canine Emergency First Aid certification, demonstrating their preparedness to act in emergency situations and assist a dog in need.

Topics covered include:

Morning – Professional First Aid

• Recognizing signs of pain and distress
• Common Canine diseases
• Head to tail assessment
• Poison response
• Major and minor burns
• Hyperthermia response
• Hypothermia response

Afternoon – Trauma Response

• Muzzling and restraint
• How to read your dog’s vitals
• Bleeding and bandaging
• Impalements
• Broken bones and splints
• Shock management
• Safe emergency transport
• Canine Heimlich maneuver
• Canine CPR

The target audience for this course includes; Animal Control Officers, Cruelty Investigators, Canine Handlers, Shelter workers, Veterinarian Technicians, Dog trainers & Behavioural Consultants, Breeders, Groomers, Doggy Daycare Attendants, Dog Walkers / Pet Sitters, Foster Parents for Canine Rescue groups and the average dog owner.