Do you know what to do when your loyal four -legged friend is suddenly stabbed by a wasp, opens his leg to a piece of glass or is suddenly caught by the summer heat? Many owners have no idea how to act when their dog is in need. With the holiday approaching, more and more dog owners are therefore choosing to quickly take a dog-first-aid course.
At the Veterinary Knowledge Institute Silverlinde in Etten-Leur they notice that the lessons are popular. On a weekday in June, a group of about twelve students will be taught by veterinarian Dian Wagemakers. She patiently shows how a so -called violent bleeding front leg should be connected. The ‘victim’, the friendly lobbes ‘Cooper’, visibly enjoys all the attention and the frunnik on his leg.
“There is a lot of ignorance and that is why I think it is important that every dog owner gets some guidance to quickly intervene in an emergency situation. In the most extreme situations this can even be life -saving. Certainly abroad when a veterinarian is not in the neighborhood and, moreover, the language is an extra barrier. It is actually exactly the same as with people, explains.
“I also like to be able to do something for other dog owners when something happens to their dog.”
Participant Daniëlle Walraven agrees with her. “My dog once had a big cut in his toe. Fortunately I acted accurately at the time. I also like to be able to mean something for other dog owners when something happens to their dog. An accident is often in a small corner.”
In the clinic in Etten-Leur, the courses for the summer are fully booked. The dog owners get practical tips in the most common emergency situations. “In addition to making connections, we teach them to disinfect wounds, what you have to do when the dog has eaten something wrong such as drugs and we even do exercises with resuscitation and heart massage,” Dian explains.
Tooth paste at Wespensteek
In addition to medical instructions, the vet also gives handy home, garden and kitchen tips to the students. Did you know, for example, that teeth paste relieves the pain in a dog in the event of a wasp sting? Or that a bottle of spirits works wonders when your dog has overheated. “You have to carefully spread this over the non-hairy parts of the body. Alcohol extracts heat from the body. The dog is of course not allowed to drink from the drink.”
While Beagle Cooper has now been neatly connected to all four legs according to the book, Course Leader Dian concludes that the first aid lessons for today are over. “No, I can’t teach them everything because, after all, there must still be some work for us,” she laughs.
