Higher Certificate in Canine First Aid
Higher Certificate in Canine First Aid
This veterinary approved and externally accredited online course is written and designed by a qualified registered veterinary nurse and clinical animal behaviourist. It has been designed for pet professionals, fulfilling Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements. However, it is suitable for pet owners too.
Written with the benefit of practical veterinary experience and informed by current veterinary best practice standards.
Learning outcomes:
- Gain the skills to identify and effectively respond to various first aid scenarios that may arise.
- Acquire the knowledge necessary to conduct a safe assessment of the dog's condition.
- Learn the proper techniques for administering basic first aid treatments and providing immediate care while awaiting veterinary assistance.
- Explore fundamental principles of first aid, emphasising safe handling practices and updated CPR protocols, along with additional essential skills.
This course includes:
- 8 modules
- Bitesize lessons
- Access on all devices
- Lifetime access
- Video demonstrations
- Downloads
- No assessments, just quizzes
- Certificate of completion
- CPD transcript
- Tutorial & technical support
- Unique 'Accredited First Aider’ graphic
- First aid quick reference e-book
Who this course is for:
- Dog owners
- Dog walkers
- Dog groomers
- Dog carers / sitters
- Dog trainers
- Dog kennels / hotels
- Animal behaviourists
- Pet professionals
Before you enrol:
There are no specific requirements for this course. This certificate course has been designed to help the student develop new skills and enhance their knowledge. You can enrol on this courses without any animal related qualifications, although a reasonable standard of literacy is required.
This course includes videos with English subtitles. We design our courses to work with the way you learn — not against it. Whether you are neurodivergent, have a sensory or physical difference, or simply prefer flexible ways to study, the features below are here to support you.
- Reading Ruler: Highlights one line at a time to help maintain focus. Toggle it on/off from the toolbar at the top of each lesson.
- Table of Contents: Longer topics display a Contents button in the toolbar for quick navigation between sections.
- Dark Mode: Reduces eye strain in low-light environments. Toggle it from the sidebar panel (top-right icons).
- Reading Time: Each topic shows an estimated reading time in the toolbar so you can plan your study sessions.
- Auto-Generated Subtitles: Available on all of our videos (approximately 95% accurate). Enable them using the CC button in the video player.
- Video Transcripts: Text versions of video content with timestamps, allowing you to follow along or revisit specific sections.
- Adjustable Playback: Video quality adjusts automatically based on your connection. Use the gear icon for manual control, or adjust playback speed to suit your pace.
- Feature Boxes: Key information is presented in visually distinct boxes, helping break down content and improve focus for neurodivergent learners or those with reading difficulties.
- Colour Contrast: Our course materials use high-contrast colour schemes to aid readability, particularly for learners with colour blindness or visual impairments.
- Downloadable Resources: Slides and supporting materials accompany webinars, enabling you to take notes and refer back at your own pace.
The course recognises that the veterinary surgeons act 1966 restricts the diagnosis and treatment of an animal by another person other than a qualified and registered veterinary surgeon. However any lay person can carry out first aid in an emergency situation.
This course is NOT designed to replace veterinary treatment and attention. For all first aid cases, a veterinary surgeon should be contacted as soon as possible.
About the instructor:
Course curriculum:
-
Intro to First Aid & Patient Assessment
- Introduction from Caroline Updated
- The basic principles of first aid
- What to include in a first aid kit
- Hand hygiene, safe handling and restraining techniques Updated
- Assessing and examining the patient and measuring the vital signs Updated
- Mucous Membranes and Capillary Refill Time
- Suggested Tasks
- Multiple Choice Questions Quiz
-
General First Aid Situations
- Haemorrhage and Locating the pressure points Updated
- Dealing with clinical shock Updated
- General Wounds Updated
- Poisoning Updated
- Bites and Stings
- Suggested Tasks
- Multiple Choice Questions Quiz
-
CPR, Neurological & Recognition of Pain
- Cardio-Pulmonary Arrest (CPA) and Performing Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Updated
- Dealing with fits Updated
- Recognising pain and its effect on the patient
- Suggested Tasks
- Multiple Choice Questions Quiz
-
More General First Aid Situations
- Burns and Scalds Updated
- Hyperthermia Updated
- Hypothermia Updated
- Ticks - recognition and safe removal Updated
- Suggested Tasks
- Multiple Choice Questions Quiz
-
General Intestinal Conditions, Electrocution & Drowning
- Gastric dilation-volvulus (GDV) Updated
- Vomiting Updated
- Diarrhoea & Dehydration Updated
- Electric Shocks & Electrical Burns Updated
- Drowning / Near Drowning Updated
- Suggested Tasks
- Multiple Choice Questions Quiz
Student reviews:
- Students gained genuine confidence to handle emergencies with their own pets and in professional dog-care roles
- Reviewers valued the clear, engaging blend of videos, written content and bite-sized modules that suited learning at their own pace
- Students appreciated how the course equipped them with practical, real-world skills applicable to dog walking, grooming, boarding and breeding businesses
- Learners found the comprehensive yet accessible content made recognising symptoms and knowing when to seek veterinary help feel achievable and less overwhelming
Based on 144 published student reviews across all star ratings for this course.
Taylor N.
VerifiedI think the course was very good. Structured in a way that is easy to learn, and not overwhelming.
I think the whole course was good, there is nothing i could note to change.
Joanne C.
VerifiedExcellent course
A course that covers a brilliant range if topics , and easy to understand. Would recommend.
Ian B.
VerifiedExcellent and informative
Really enjoyed this course, was full of easy to follow guides and information
Michael B.
Verifiedxcellent Pet First Aid Course – Practical and Informative
I found the course very informative and useful, particularly for working with dogs on a daily basis. It covered a wide range of common emergencies and helped me understand how to recognise signs of illness and injury and provide appropriate first aid. I feel much more confident about dealing with an emergency and knowing when veterinary attention is required. The course has also given me useful knowledge that I can apply in my dog-walking and pet-care work. Overall, I would recommend the course to anyone who regularly works with or cares for dogs.
Adriana S.
VerifiedHighly recommended
This was a well-structured and easy-to-follow course with practical information that can be applied in real-life situations. The content was clear, the pace was appropriate, and I particularly enjoyed learning the essential first aid techniques for dogs. As someone with a background in Animal Science who works in pet care, I found the course very valuable for improving both my professional knowledge and confidence when dealing with emergencies. I would definitely recommend it to anyone working with animals or to dedicated pet owners, as it provides practical skills that could make a real difference.
Sarah P.
VerifiedAnother fantastic course
I've lost count of how many of Caroline's courses I've completed. They're all fantastic and this one is no exception. Very detailed and well thought out course content with clear instructions on how to manage veterinary first aid situations.
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