Pet Instructor Skill Review (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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Hydration and rehydration in dogs
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Studies have shown that in people, dehydration as low as 2% can result in cognitive impairment and fatigue. Yet in dogs and cats, dehydration of up to 5% is often imperceptible from clinical exams alone. Therefore, proactive management and early intervention are essential and making sure that water is always available to drink is a must. Animals that have vomiting or diarrhoea, blood loss or heat stroke will all have a significant fluid loss that can, if not treated in a timely manner, rapidly lead to severe dehydration or shock. However, it's important to bear in mind that dehydration does not just affect sick or injured animals, even healthy animals will have an increased fluid loss and be prone to significant dehydration at times. For example, a dog panting excessively on a hot day or after extended exercise will also increase fluid and electrolyte loss that would need to be replaced. A dog that's panting excessively for 15 minutes, or even sooner if the panting is due to high temperatures, can rapidly succumb to significant dehydration if they do not have adequate fluids available to them. For animals in extremely hot environments, such as those left in hot cars, even having access to fluid is not enough to replenish what we lost once the body temperature reaches critical levels. These cases are always medical emergencies requiring rapid veterinary intervention with controlled active cooling. If a dog is feeling unwell or has a poor appetite, then reduced feed intake can also equate to reduced fluid intake. This is especially true if the animal is usually fed a meat-based wet diet which provides a significant portion of their daily fluids. Older and very young animals have a decreased thirst mechanism, so they may not be stimulated to drink until high levels of dehydration are reached compared to other animals. This is something that needs to be considered when caring for these animals.
Previous lesson
Clinical signs of dehydration in dogs and cats
Next lesson
Fluid balance in dogs and cats
Understanding Dehydration in Dogs and Cats
The Impact of Dehydration
Exploring the effects of dehydration and the need for proactive management:
Human vs. Canine/Feline Dehydration
Comparing dehydration thresholds in people and pets:
- In humans, cognitive impairment and fatigue can result from dehydration as low as 2%.
- In dogs and cats, clinical exams alone may not detect dehydration up to 5%.
The Importance of Early Intervention
Highlighting the critical need for proactive management:
- Ensure constant access to water for pets.
- Fluid loss due to vomiting, diarrhoea, blood loss, or heat stroke can quickly lead to severe dehydration or shock.
- Even healthy animals can experience increased fluid loss, e.g., from panting on hot days or during vigorous exercise.
- Excessive panting for 15 minutes, especially in high temperatures, can rapidly cause significant dehydration.
Hot Environments and Critical Dehydration
Addressing the risks of hot environments and dehydration:
Animals left in hot cars face critical dehydration once body temperature reaches dangerous levels.
Reduced Feed Intake and Dehydration
Exploring how reduced food consumption can lead to reduced fluid intake:
- Ill or unappetizing dogs may consume fewer fluids.
- Meat-based wet diets, a primary source of daily fluids, can be affected.
Susceptibility Based on Age
Understanding age-related differences in thirst mechanisms:
Older and very young animals may not drink until severe dehydration occurs.
