Rochdale resident highlights importance of animal first aid after saving dog’s life

Melanie Ward pictured fourth from the left, holding the dummy dog

Melanie Ward, from Rochdale, and Dog First Aid Manchester trainer Gemma Vale are highlighting the importance of knowing first aid for your pets after Melanie recently saved her dog’s life at home.

First aid trainer Gemma, who runs dog first aid courses for dog professionals and dog owners across Greater Manchester, hosted a Dog First Aid Manchester course which Melanie attended a with her 3-year-old German Shepherd, Stitch, earlier this year.

Two months after the course, whilst at home on 25 June, Stitch swallowed a hose pipe nozzle and began to choke. Using her knowledge from the dog first aid course, Melanie was able to use the 'milking' technique she was taught to gradually move the object up Stitch's throat, and then remove it, saving her dog's life.

Melanie said: “'I will be forever grateful to Gemma for explaining everything in a way I could understand. I did it without even thinking. I just remember Gemma saying if it is round and you can feel it, you can help.

"If it wasn't for this course I could be telling a very different story.

“Stitch is fine and acting like nothing happened.”

First aid trainer Gemma said: “It is such a rewarding feeling when you have someone who has taken your course and come back to you to say that they used the skills you taught them to save a dog's life.

“This is just what happened with my course attendee Melanie who emailed me to say that she had used one of the techniques I taught her to save her dog, Stitch. Melanie advised she would have been telling a completely different story had she not attended my course and learned life-saving skills.

“During lockdown, the skills I teach have never been more important; with veterinary clinics working on skeleton staff or video consult calls, it has been of great importance that dog owners know how to perform a full body examination and check their dog's vitals, which is something I teach on my course.

“Having dog first aid knowledge is so important as a dog owner or someone who works with dogs as it can really mean the difference for the animal. My vet team advises that in most cases, if first aid had been administered, the outcome is better.”