Pet Instructor Skill Review Level 3 (VTQ)™
Course Content
- Introduction to your Pet First Aid Instructor refresher course
- Course introduction
- Dog First Aid and The Law
- The vet and your role in first aid
- The Role of the Dog First Aider
- When is Veterinary Care Required?
- Keeping your pet safe in an emergency
- Car Accidents
- Car Accidents - Injuries and Treatment
- Pet Proofing your home
- Please rescue my pets stickers
- Hand Hygiene
- Dog Microchipping
- Cat microchipping
- Precautions and Safety
- Pet Anatomy and Physiology
- First Aid Kits and Equipment
- Checking a Pets health
- Initial Assessment
- Checking Your Dog's Health and Finding Out What Is Normal
- Gum Colour
- Collecting a Urine Sample
- How Dogs Show Pain
- How Dogs Show Pain - Vets Comments
- Taking a Pulse
- Taking the Temperature
- Taking the Rectal Temperature
- Vital Signs
- Comprehensive Assessment and Checking Vital Signs Example
- Pet Accidents and First Aid
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - CPR
- Dog CPR Introduction
- Dog CPR Practical Demonstration
- CPR on deep chested dogs
- Small and barrel-chested dog CPR
- Cat CPR
- Near and Secondary Drowning
- Dogs Drowning and Treatment
- Near and Secondary Drowning - vets comments
- How Realistic is Dog CPR - hear what our vet says
- Oxygen and Your Dog
- Administration of Oxygen
- Choking
- Bleeding Control
- Different Conditions you may see
- Breathing and Respiratory Problems
- Loss of Appetite
- Sneezing
- Lethargy
- Urination Problems
- Weakness in Animals
- Weakness and Collapse - additional vets comments
- Hair Loss and Skin Conditions
- Cataracts
- Dehydration in Dogs
- Clinical signs of dehydration in dogs and cats
- Hydration and rehydration in dogs
- Fluid balance in dogs and cats
- Oralade - treating dehydration
- Oralade for cats
- Oralade - The Science
- Injuries
- Suspected fractures
- Types of fractures on animals
- Dog Fractures Treatment
- Spinal injury and moving an injured dog
- Spinal Injuries
- Paw Problems
- Paws and Claws
- Nail and Claw Injuries
- Eye Injuries
- Eye Problems
- Ear Problems
- General Bandaging
- Bandaging the Ear
- Bandaging the Tail and Tail Injuries
- Bandaging the Body
- Fight Wounds
- Puncture Wounds
- Mouth and Dental Problems
- Animal bites and scratches on dogs
- Small Cuts, Scratches and Grazes
- Bandage aftercare
- Stings on animals
- Ibuprofen and pets
- Carbon Monoxide and dogs
- Poisoning
- Vet poison information line
- Inducing Vomiting in a Dog
- Inducing Vomiting - vets comments
- Snake Bites
- Dog Burns
- Chemical Burns
- Electrocution
- Electric Shocks
- Cruciate Ligament
- Falls From Height
- Illness
- Dogs and Illnesses
- Bloat and Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (GDV)
- Why do dogs eat grass
- Why are Onions Toxic to Dogs
- Why is Chocolate Toxic to Dogs
- High Temperatures and Heatstroke
- Hyperthermia - Vets Comments
- Hypothermia Treatment
- Hypothermia - vets comments
- Vomiting in Animals
- Different Types and Causes of Vomiting
- Vomiting - vets comments
- Seizures and Epilepsy
- Diabetes
- Allergies in Dogs
- Allergic reactions
- Pancreatitis
- Cushings Disease
- Nose and Respiratory Problems - Vet
- Breathing Difficulties
- Coughing and kennel cough
- Kennel Cough - vets comments
- Diarrhoea in Animals
- Stomach Conditions
- Possible Causes of Blood in Dog Faeces
- Rabies
- Alabama Foot Rot
- Blue Green Algae
- Hip Dysplasia
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Pyometra
- Vestibular Syndrome
- Parasites that affect pets
- Cats
- Different types and sizes of animals
- Summary and Your Practical Session
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Hip dysplasia is a condition that we find in some larger breeds of dog. The problem with hip dysplasia is that the hip does not fit together very well. So the hip is made up of the cup inside the pelvis and the top of the femur of the back leg. What should happen is this femur should fit nice and snug inside the cup of the pelvis and so when it rotates, it has a lot of contacts there and has really good movement within the joint of the hip. So when you fully extend the leg, it can go all the way back and you can flex it all the way up. This is a congenital condition, so animals are... Dogs are born with this. If they are going to have hip dysplasia, it does not happen because of something you have done, it is something they are born with.And it does not always become apparent until they grow into a certain size. So normally from nine months onward is where you may start to look at it. Up to that point, they are growing and they are not as heavy as they are once they get to nine months plus. And so the movement or the lack of range of movement in the hip is not always apparent. Once it is, we need to look into what we are going to do about it. So there are varying degrees of hip dysplasia, some are quite mild and others are far more advanced. In those advanced cases, they are the ones that may require surgery and they effectively have a hip replacement. So they have a ball and socket joint that is then giving them the range of movement that they would have in a normal hip. It can affect one or both sides of the hips and does not seem to change from breed to breed, it is just random.The most common breeds that get affected are Labradors, German Shepherds, Rottweilers and we do see some in Border Collies as well. And the reason it would become apparent as they will start to, when they are running, start to bounce on their back legs instead of running independently on their back legs they tend to do what is called bunny hopping. They may also sit a little bit funny, that would be the first clue. When we do x-rays, we try to do them as late as we possibly can. So in a six-month-old dog, not all the bones will have had their full growth yet. And so interpreting those images and to see the degree of hip dysplasia, is not always as easy as it is when they are older.Once confirmed and diagnosed, we either go down a surgical route or a management route. So in the milder cases, it may be that we want to do physiotherapy just to try and build up the muscle and improve the range of movement in that limb. As they get older, cases of hip dysplasia, dogs with hip dysplasia, are more likely to develop arthritis in the hip joint and therefore we are looking for signs of pain and reduced mobility in the hips and then treating that accordingly with pain relief and joint supplements, acupuncture, hydrotherapy and physiotherapy as required ongoing throughout their lives.Hip dysplasia is similar to any of these congenital joint diseases, in that if your dog is overweight or too heavy, then the pain and the range of motion is going to be more impaired. So it is really important with any dog, whether they go for the surgical option of a hip replacement or whether you are managing them with pain relief and joint supplements, to make sure their weight is good for them. And if they are overweight you need to get into your vets, contact your veterinary nurse and get them booked into your local veterinary weight watchers.
Understanding Hip Dysplasia in Dogs
Overview of Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a condition found in some larger breeds of dogs, where the hip joint does not fit together properly.
Congenital Condition
Development: Dogs are born with hip dysplasia; it is not caused by external factors.
Onset: Symptoms may not appear until dogs reach a certain size, typically around nine months of age.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Bunny Hopping: Dogs may exhibit bunny hopping while running, indicating discomfort in the hip joints.
Diagnostic Tools: X-rays are used for diagnosis, preferably after the dog has reached skeletal maturity to accurately assess hip dysplasia severity.
Treatment Options
Varying Severity: Treatment options range from physiotherapy for mild cases to surgical intervention for advanced cases.
Surgical Intervention: In severe cases, dogs may undergo hip replacement surgery to restore mobility and alleviate pain.
Management and Long-Term Care
Arthritis Risk: Dogs with hip dysplasia are prone to developing arthritis in the affected joints as they age.
Management Strategies: Management may include pain relief, joint supplements, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and physiotherapy to maintain mobility and alleviate discomfort.
Weight Management
Impact of Weight: Overweight dogs experience increased pain and mobility issues; weight management is crucial for managing hip dysplasia.
Veterinary Support: Consult your vet or veterinary nurse for weight management plans tailored to your dog's needs.
