Our pets are much loved family members, and you are trusting someone outside your family to look after your pet. You are trusting them to keep them safe.
Sadly accidents can happen and ensuring that the person entrusted to look after your pet, is first aid trained, this helps to demonstrate their commitments to provide the best possible care for your pet. Not having a basic knowledge of first aid could be disastrous.
By your pet carer being first aid trained, it helps gives them the knowledge on how to prevent an emergency, and in the unfortunate event of an emergency gives them the knowledge and skills on how to act calmly in the situation, helping make informed decisions in the important first few moments after an accident as occurred, helping to prevent further injury, and keeping your pet stable until they can be seen by a vet.
Doing the right thing during an emergency has the potential to help your pet recover more quickly once they reach the vets, as they may have prevented a deterioration in your pet’s condition and even aid the recovery process. Acting correctly and quickly can also help reduce the risk of secondary infections.
Being first aid trained your pet carer will also know the warning signs to look out for such as lethargy, irregular breathing and signs of dehydration. For example, just the look of your pet or the presence of an irregular or ‘out of character’ behaviour can be a sign that something isn’t right.
Always ask your pet sitter what the plans are they have in place for an emergency situation. Have an agreed emergency plan in place with them, to include if they can carry out first aid, if they will take your pet straight to the vets and if so, will it be your own or their vets. All professional pet sitters will have a veterinary release form in place which will include, your details, your vet’s details, your pet’s details, what should happen in regards, to treatment – do they have authorisation to authorise treatments with the vet in your absence.
Under no circumstances should your pet sitter give your pet any medication, unless it is regular medication prescribed to them.
Never be afraid to ask your chosen pet care provider if they hold a valid current first aid training certificate.
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