First aid for pets
"Mouth to nose resuscitation"

by Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 17/97) - Jo-Anne Cooper doesn't mind giving mouth to nose resuscitation to dogs. It's her job.

And now she's teaching other people how to do it too with her first aid course for pets.

The course that is going ahead on March 9 at the Yellowknife Public Library will show pet owners how to identify when their animals are in distress.

Cooper, who's been an animal health technician for 10 years (a nurse for vets), developed the program five years ago in association with the Gold City Kennel Club. This will be her third year teaching the course.

She said that it's important for people to be aware of what to do in a pet emergency.

"Anyone who owns a pet should know first aid for them," she said.

Cooper says, however, that the course is not meant to replace veterinarian care.

"This just gives a little more knowledge like how to tell when your dog is dehydrated," she said.

She will cover other issues like CPR, mouth to nose resuscitation, how to take a pet's temperature, how to give your pet medication properly, and how to give perform the heimlich manoeuvre.

Cooper said she's used the procedure to save one of her dogs from choking. She's also had two of her former students use the procedure on their pets.

She also educates people on potential dangers for pets like antifreeze and chocolate.

Yes chocolate -- Cooper said that a four ounce chocolate bar can be lethal to a five lb. dog. A chemical known as theobromine is a deadly toxin for dogs.

"People should be aware of these things," she said.

Cooper said that hypothermia and frostbite are important issues at this time of year. She goes into detail about the procedure for these emergencies.

Knowledge about your pet can also help the vet identify a potential problem.

"It's really nice to have the knowledge should the need arise," she said. "It will help the vet if you can describe what exactly the problem is."

"Everyone knows first aid for themselves, so there isn't ny reason why they shouldn't know it for their pets."

Cooper owns Borealis Kennels and Pet Specialities in Yellowknife.