Vet-Led Pet First Aid Course
Which Pet First Aid course suits you?
All courses are written and delivered by veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses.
Attendees on all courses will receive a certificate of completion
We run our courses on Wednesday evenings.
If this time doesn't suit you, please get in touch, as if we have demand,
we can move session times to other evenings/daytime/weekends.
Essential Pet First Aid
4 hours, in-person
Two evening sessions, each 2 hours
Ideal for pet owners, and those in community roles who are in contact with dogs and cats.
Ideal for those considering a career change into veterinary nursing, veterinary care roles (VCA), patient care role (PCA), or veterinary medicine.
It is suitable for adult (over 18) vet school candidates and vet nursing candidates
This course is suitable for senior school pupils thinking about veterinary medicine or nursing as a career. Under-18s must accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
First session:
1. Welcome and Introduction
-
Welcome and course aims
-
What pet first aid is and what it is not
-
The role of first aid before veterinary care
-
Staying calm, keeping yourself safe, and protecting your pet
-
How the session will run and when questions are encouraged
2. Rapid Assessment and Decision Making
-
How to quickly assess an unwell or injured pet
-
What is normal and what is not
-
Breathing
-
Gum colour
-
Responsiveness
-
-
Recognising emergencies that need immediate veterinary attention
-
When home first aid is appropriate and when to act fast
Includes simple demonstrations and group discussion.
3. Safe Handling, Restraint, and Preventing Injury
-
Why frightened or painful pets may behave differently
-
Approaching an injured or distressed animal safely
-
Basic restraint techniques for dogs and cats
-
Using muzzles, towels, and blankets appropriately
-
Protecting yourself and others while helping your pet
Second Session:
4. First Aid at Home and Being Prepared
-
What to include in a pet first aid kit
-
How to store supplies safely
-
Emergency contact planning
-
Transporting your pet to the vet safely
-
Preparing for common scenarios at home or on walks
-
5. Sudden Illness and Collapse
-
Recognising shock and what to do
-
Collapse and weakness
-
Seizures
-
Breathing difficulties and choking
-
Poisoning and toxin exposure
-
What to do immediately
-
What not to do
-
Clear guidance on when to seek urgent veterinary care
Case-based discussion to support decision-making.
6. Wounds, Bleeding, and Bandaging Basics
-
Types of wounds
-
Cuts, bites, punctures, abrasions
-
Controlling bleeding safely
-
Cleaning wounds correctly
-
When not to clean or bandage
-
Simple bandaging techniques
-
Common mistakes to avoid
Hands-on bandaging practice included.
7. Summary, Key Takeaways, and Questions
-
Recap of core first aid principles
-
Red flags to remember
-
Reassurance and confidence building
-
Final questions and discussion
-
Signposting to further training and support
Comprehensive Pet First Aid Course
6 hours, in-person
Two evening sessions, each 3 hours
Ideal for pet owners, dog professionals, and community roles.
This course is suitable for senior school pupils thinking about veterinary medicine or nursing as a career. Under-18s must accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
It is also suitable for adult (over 18) vet school candidates and vet nursing candidates
First Session:
1. Welcome, Course Overview
-
Welcome and introductions
-
Overview and learning aims
-
Brief recap of essential first aid principles
-
Safety first
-
Rapid assessment
-
Knowing when to act, who to contact and what to do
-
-
Setting expectations for practical sessions and questions
2. Assessment and Emergency Decision Making
-
Primary and secondary assessment in more detail
-
Recognising deterioration and red flags
-
Monitoring changes over time
-
Prioritising problems in an emergency situation
-
Communicating effectively with a veterinary practice during an emergency
Includes case examples and group discussion.
3. CPR and Life-Saving
-
Recognising cardiac and respiratory arrest
-
When CPR is appropriate and when it is not
-
Practical CPR techniques for dogs and cats
-
Chest compressions
-
Rescue breathing
-
-
Recovery position and post-CPR care
-
Common misconceptions about CPR
Hands-on practice with individual guidance.
4. Trauma and Accident Management
-
Road traffic accidents
-
Falls and crush injuries
-
Bite wounds and fight injuries
-
Managing bleeding and shock in trauma cases
-
Suspected fractures and spinal injury precautions
-
When and how to move an injured animal
Practical demonstrations and discussion of real-world scenarios.
5. Temperature-Related and Physical Injuries
-
Heatstroke
-
Early signs and emergency action
-
-
Hypothermia
-
Recognition and safe warming
-
-
Burns and scalds
-
Immediate first aid
-
What not to apply
-
Includes practical guidance and case discussion.
Second Session:
6. Medical Emergencies and Sudden Illness
-
Gastrointestinal emergencies
-
Bloat
-
Severe vomiting and diarrhoea
-
-
Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis
-
Eye injuries and sudden vision loss
-
Recognising and responding to pain
-
Humane first aid support while seeking veterinary care
7. Transporting an Injured Animal and Emergency Planning
-
Safe lifting and carrying techniques
-
Using makeshift stretchers and supports
-
Car transport considerations
-
Keeping pets stable during transport
-
Planning ahead for emergencies at home and work
Includes practical demonstrations.
8. Scenario-Based Practical Sessions
-
Small-group, realistic emergency scenarios
-
Role-play with guided decision making
-
Applying assessment, first aid, and communication skills
-
Group feedback and discussion
9. Summary, Key Takeaways, and Questions
-
Review of key skills and principles
-
Common pitfalls to avoid
-
Building confidence and staying calm in emergencies
-
Final questions
-
Signposting to advanced training options
Advanced Pet First Aid
9 hours, in-person
Three evening sessions, each 3 hours
Ideal for committed pet owners, dog professionals, and community roles.
This course is suitable for senior school pupils thinking about veterinary medicine or nursing as a career. Under-18s must accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
It is also suitable for adult (over 18) vet school candidates and vet nursing candidates
Session 1
1. Welcome, Aims, and Refresher
-
Welcome and introductions
-
Overview of the three-session course structure
-
How this course builds on essential first aid
-
Safety, confidence, and realistic expectations
-
How and when to ask questions
2. Primary Assessment and Triage
-
Step-by-step primary assessment
-
Responsiveness, breathing, circulation
-
Identifying life-threatening problems
-
Triage when more than one issue is present
-
Deciding what needs immediate action
Includes demonstrations and guided discussion.
3. Safe Handling and Restraint in Emergencies
-
Behavioural changes in pain or fear
-
Protecting yourself and others
-
Practical restraint techniques for dogs and cats
-
Use of muzzles, towels, leads, and blankets
-
When not to restrain
Hands-on practice included.
4. Wounds, Bleeding, and Shock
-
Types of wounds and how they differ
-
Bleeding control techniques
-
Recognising and supporting shock
-
When to bandage and when not to
-
Common mistakes that delay recovery
Practical bandaging and pressure techniques.
5. Poisoning and Toxin Exposure
-
Common household and outdoor toxins
-
Early signs of poisoning
-
Immediate first aid steps
-
What never to do
-
Information to gather before contacting the vet
Case-based discussion.
6. Summary and Questions
-
Key takeaways from Session 1
-
Reinforcing confidence and calm decision-making
-
Questions and discussion
Session 2
1. Recap and Session Overview
-
Review of key points from Session 1
-
Outline of today’s focus
2. Breathing Emergencies and Choking
-
Normal vs abnormal breathing
-
Recognising respiratory distress
-
Choking and airway obstruction
-
Immediate actions and positioning
-
When urgent veterinary care is needed
Includes demonstrations.
3. Seizures and Neurological Events
-
What seizures look like
-
What to do during and after a seizure
-
When seizures are an emergency
-
Other neurological signs to recognise
4. Temperature-Related Emergencies and Collapse
-
Heatstroke
-
Early signs and emergency action
-
-
Hypothermia
-
Recognition and safe warming
-
-
Collapse and sudden weakness
-
Monitoring and transport considerations
5. Allergic Reactions and Anaphylaxis
-
Recognising mild vs severe reactions
-
Swelling, breathing difficulty, collapse
-
Immediate first aid support
-
When every minute matters
6. Pain Recognition and Humane First Aid Support
-
How animals show pain
-
Supporting comfort without causing harm
-
Why human painkillers must not be given
-
Keeping pets calm while seeking veterinary care
7. Summary and Questions
-
Key learning points
-
Confidence check-in and discussion
Session 3
1. Welcome and Recap
-
Review of key learning from Sessions 1 and 2
-
Outline of practical focus for the final session
2. CPR and Recovery Positions
-
Recognising cardiac and respiratory arrest
-
When CPR is appropriate
-
Practical CPR techniques for dogs and cats
-
Recovery positions and post-CPR care
-
Common misconceptions
Hands-on practice
.
3. Major Trauma Management
-
Road traffic accidents
-
Falls, crush injuries, and bite wounds
-
Managing bleeding and shock in trauma
-
Prioritising injuries
-
Staying calm in high-stress situations
4. Fractures, Spinal Injury, and Immobilisation
-
Recognising suspected fractures
-
Spinal precautions
-
Safe immobilisation techniques
-
When and how to move an injured animal
Demonstrations and guided practice.
5. Emergency Transport Planning
-
Safe lifting and carrying techniques
-
Improvised stretchers and supports
-
Car transport considerations
-
Preparing for emergencies in advance
6. Extended Scenario-Based Training
-
Small-group, realistic emergency scenarios
-
Applying assessment, first aid, and decision-making
-
Role-play with guided feedback
-
Building confidence through repetition
-
7. Final Summary, Q&A, and Next Steps
-
Consolidation of learning across all sessions
-
Common pitfalls and confidence tips
-
Open Q&A with vet and nurse
-
Signposting to advanced or professional-level training
Professional Pet First Aid Course
15 hours, in-person
Five evening sessions, each 3 hours
Designed for those working full time with pets:
Including dog walkers, pet groomers, pet sitters, dog trainers, veterinary receptionist, veterinary patient care assistants,
This course is suitable for senior school pupils thinking about veterinary medicine or nursing as a career. Under-18s must accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
It is also suitable for adult (over 18) vet school candidates and vet nursing candidates
Evening 1 – Foundations, Assessment, and Decision-Making
1. Welcome, Professional Context, and Course Overview
-
Introductions and participant backgrounds
-
Scope of the course and expectations
-
First aid vs veterinary treatment
-
Personal safety and professional responsibility
-
How assessment and certification will work
2. Applied Anatomy and Physiology for First Aid
-
Cardiovascular and respiratory systems
-
Oxygen delivery and circulation
-
Nervous system and consciousness
-
Thermoregulation and shock
-
Why understanding “normal” matters in emergencies
Taught clinically, but clearly and practically.
3. Primary and Secondary Assessment (55 minutes)
-
Structured primary survey
-
Secondary assessment and history gathering
-
Recognising deterioration
-
Prioritising multiple problems
-
Communicating findings clearly to a vet
Includes demonstrations and guided discussion.
4. Emergency Decision-Making and Triage
-
What needs immediate action
-
What can wait
-
When not to intervene
-
Managing owner expectations in emergencies
5. Summary and Questions (
Evening 2 – Wounds, Shock, Burns, and Poisoning
1. Recap and Session Overview
2. Wounds and Bleeding Management
-
Types of wounds and contamination risks
-
Severe bleeding control
-
Bandaging principles for different body areas
-
Common mistakes
-
Hands-on bandaging practice.
3. Shock Recognition and Support
-
What shock looks like
-
Why it develops
-
Immediate first aid priorities
-
Monitoring and transport considerations
4. Burns and Scalds
-
Thermal and chemical burns
-
Immediate first aid
-
What causes further tissue damage
5. Poisoning and Toxin Exposure
-
Common toxins in professional settings
-
Routes of exposure
-
Early vs delayed signs
-
What information the vet needs
-
What never to give or induce
Case-based discussion.
6. Summary and Questions
Evening 3 – CPR and Medical Emergencies
1. Recap and Safety Framing
2. CPR and Life-Saving Principles
-
Recognising cardiac and respiratory arrest
-
When CPR is appropriate
-
Practical CPR techniques for dogs and cats
-
Chest compressions and ventilation
-
Recovery positions and post-CPR care
-
When to stop
Hands-on practice
3. Respiratory and Cardiac Emergencies
-
Breathing distress and airway compromise
-
Collapse and fainting
-
Positioning and transport priorities
4. Neurological Emergencies
-
Seizures and post-seizure care
-
Neurological collapse
-
Head injury considerations
5. Summary and Questions
Evening 4 – Temperature, Pain, Infection Control, and Ethics
1. Recap and Session Overview
2. Heatstroke, Hypothermia, and Drowning
-
Early recognition
-
Immediate first aid
-
Safe cooling and warming
-
Transport decisions
3. Pain Recognition and Humane Support
-
How animals show pain
-
Supporting comfort without medication
-
Why human painkillers are dangerous
4. Infection Control and Hygiene
-
Zoonotic risk
-
PPE and safe handling of bodily fluids
-
Cleaning and disinfection
5. Legal, Ethical, and Professional Boundaries
-
Duty of care
-
Consent and communication
-
Record keeping
-
Working within competence
-
Knowing when to hand over
6. Summary and Questions
Evening 5 – Trauma, Transport, Scenarios, and re-cap of the course
1. Recap and Leadership Focus
2. Major Trauma and Road Traffic Accidents
-
Scene safety
-
Multi-system trauma
-
Prioritising injuries
-
Staying calm under pressure
3. Fractures, Spinal Injury, and Immobilisation
-
Recognition
-
Safe movement
-
Preventing further injury
Demonstrations and guided practice.
4. Emergency Transport Planning
-
Lifting and carrying techniques
-
Improvised stretchers
-
Vehicle transport considerations
5. Complex Scenario-Based Training
-
Realistic, multi-stage emergencies
-
Team-based response
-
Communication and handover
-
Vet and nurse feedback
6. Assessment, Feedback, and Certificate of Completion
-
Practical skills assessment
-
Scenario evaluation
-
Knowledge check
-
Individual feedback
-
Certificate and next steps