Why I Started Teaching Pet First Aid: A Life-Saving Lesson
- Aubrey Oiller
- Mar 24
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 1
It was a regular evening at home when my life changed forever. It was also Christmas day, so very quiet. Our pug Loki, was happily chewing on his favorite treat when suddenly, he began to gag. At first, I thought he was just coughing, but within seconds, his movements became frantic, then he went limp—he was choking.
Panic set in, but deep down, I knew I had to act fast. Thanks to a pet first aid course I had taken, I remembered the Heimlich maneuver for dogs. With shaking hands and a racing heart, I positioned myself behind Loki, applied firm yet controlled abdominal thrusts, and within moments, the lodged treat came out of his throat. He gasped for air, then got up for a drink of water. I, on the other hand, was in shock, realizing how close I had come to losing him.
That night, I couldn’t stop thinking about what could have happened if I hadn’t known what to do. The terrifying reality is that so many pet owners face similar emergencies, but without the right knowledge, they can only watch helplessly as their beloved animals suffer. It was in that moment of clarity that I decided to start teaching pet first aid.
Empowering Pet Owners Through Education
Many of us see our pets as family, yet few of us are prepared for emergencies. From choking and heatstroke to poisoning and seizures, knowing how to react in those critical moments can mean the difference between life and death.
I began by educating myself further, taking advanced courses and becoming certified in pet first aid. Then, I started offering workshops to fellow pet owners and professionals. I wanted to empower people with the confidence and skills to respond to emergencies, just as I had for Loki.
Through my classes, I teach practical, hands-on techniques—things like how to perform CPR on a pet, how to recognize the signs of distress, and tips to create a pet first aid kit. The response has been overwhelming. I’ve had students share their own stories of near-tragic incidents and how, after my training, they felt more capable of protecting their much loved companions.
The Reward of Saving Lives
Nothing is more fulfilling than hearing from someone who saved their pet’s life because of what they learned in my class. One student told me how she saved her dog from heatstroke during a hot summer day. Another was able to stop excessive bleeding after an accident. These moments reaffirm why I do what I do.
Pets bring us unconditional love, companionship, and joy. The least we can do is be ready to help them when they need us most. Teaching pet first aid has become my mission, and I hope to reach as many pet owners as possible so that no one has to experience the helplessness I felt that night with Loki.
If you have a pet or pet business, I urge you to learn basic first aid. It’s a skill you never hope to use—but if the moment comes, it could be the most important one you’ll ever have.
Would you know what to do in an emergency? If not, now is the time to learn. Your pet’s life may one day depend on it.
We are part of an amazing blog circle with other canine professionals, click the link below to go to Whistle and Wag to continue around the circle learning more about canine first aid.
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