Pet Owners & Pet Professionals Animal First Aid Courses

04/03/2026

Hello from Little Paws HQ 🐾
Venue Confirmed 🐶

I’m pleased to share that the venue is now confirmed for the Pet First Aid Course. Thank you so much for your interest and patience whilst I arranged the details.

Course Details:
📅 Date: Saturday 11th April 2026
🕙 Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
📍 Venue: Peninsula Bowls Club, Bells Lane, Hoo, ME3 9JD
🚗 Parking: Plenty of free parking available

The course will be delivered by a qualified veterinary nurse and will cover essential skills to help you respond confidently in an emergency.

🥪 Lunch: Please bring a packed lunch
☕ Light refreshments will be provided
Cost: £38.50 per person

This fee covers the veterinary nurse, Kerry from Pet Owners & Pet Professionals Animal First Aid Courses , hall hire, and refreshments. I am not making a profit from this course, as I believe pet first aid is an invaluable skill for every dog owner.

To secure your place, please send payment via PayPal to:
Littlepaws.kim@gmail.com

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

I will also have Little Paws dog-friendly candles and diffusers available on the day if you wish to browse.

Once you have confirmed your place, please let me know. Also, if you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask 😀
0736 8864661

Thank you again for your interest, and I look forward to seeing you there.
Kim 🐾
Little Paws HQ

02/03/2026

From Veterinary Poison Information Service March newsletter.
"Spring is coming and that means adders will become active. We have already received our first enquiries involving adder bites.

The adder (Vipera berus berus) is the only venomous snake native to the UK, and is also found across northern Europe. It is a protected species in the UK. Adders are most commonly- but not exclusively- found on dry, sandy heaths, sand dunes, rocky hillsides, moorlands and woodland edges.

The venom of the adder is a complex mix of chemical compounds that cause a variety of effects on the body. The clinical signs of an adder bite can include:
• Rapid, progressive, local swelling around the bite site
• Pain
• Lethargy
• Collapse
• Vomiting
• Panting
• Lameness
• Bruising
• Bleeding

This is not an exhaustive list and there be other more serious systemic signs in some cases, especially if left untreated. Antivenom is not needed in every case."
If you think your pet has been bitten by an adder contact your veterinary surgery or phone the Animal Poison Line on 01202 509000.

27/02/2026

Can you really afford not to attend an animal first aid course?

Pet Owners First Aid course is Accredited and Certified, covers cats & dogs, it is directed at pet owners and pet professionals i.e. hydrotherapists, physiotherapists, dog groomers, dog walkers, boarders, SVNs, ACAs, VCAs and anyone working within the domestic pet industry. The course has been written and is delivered by an experienced, qualified registered Veterinary Nurse with a Certificate in Emergency and Critical Care.

The course is certified by CPD UK (offering 6 hours CPD) and accredited by AMTRA (offering 14 points) and Canine Hydrotherapy Association (refresher first aid courses offering 6 hours CPD and meets NARCH requirements.
Please do not hesitate to get in contact should you have any further questions, would like more information or wanted to book onto a course.

Gillingham Golf Club 2026 Course Dates:
Sunday 12th April
Wednesday 13th May
Wednesday 10th June (CAT ONLY COURSE)
Wednesday 22nd July
Thursday 15th October
Wednesday 2nd December

Venue:
Gillingham Golf Club, Gillingham, Kent. ME7 2AP

Course Times:
Arrive 9-9.15am
Start 9.15am
Finish 3.30pm

Cost: £65 per person (reduced to £60 per person if more than one place booked).

Hosted Events:

Pet Owners First Aid can travel to you to deliver a course, bookings are being taken now, contact me for more information.

The courses below are organised by an independent businesses, contact the host directly for more information, cost and to book a place.

Smarden, Kent:
Snowys Canine Therapy Centre
Sunday 22nd March
Contact: training@peopleandpawsacademy.co.uk or 07341237716

Newbury, Hampshire:
Aquatic Canine Therapy-ACT Now
Saturday 28th March
Sunday 19th July
Saturday 17th October
Contact : info@actnow-newbury.co.uk

Other dates and venues are being booked now, keep an eye on the website the most up to date course list.

www.petownersfirstaid.co.uk

For more information contact:
Phone: 07395 834735
E-mail: info@petownersfirstaid.co.uk
Website: www.petownersfirstaid.co.uk

26/02/2026

It is usually obvious when our pet is unwell but sometimes, we may just get a feeling that something is not right. It is in these instances it is beneficial to know what the normal parameters, (heart and respiratory rate) for your animal is, if you know what is normal you are more likely to detect an abnormality.

Within the veterinary world a lot of information can be gained by some simple examinations, some of these can be performed at home with little stress involved for you or your pet.

Always take the respiratory rate first, you can do this just by observing the animal while it is relaxed and not stressed or excited.

• Count how many breaths taken over 15 seconds.
• Multiply this number by 4.
• E.g. 5 breaths over 15 seconds: 5 x 4 = 20 Resps per minute.
• Watch the breathing pattern, you should see gentle movement of the chest and abdomen and the animal holding its mouth closed.

Normal Respiration per minute:
• Cat: 20-40.
• Dog: 10-40.
• Rabbit: 30-60.
• Guinea Pig: 35-70.

Taking the heart rate will involve a hands-on approach and there are several ways of doing this using pulse points or feeling for the heart itself. You need to choose what is easiest for you and the least stressful for your pet.

• In large dogs the heart can be found by placing your hands gently on the chest wall, you might need to move your hands around a bit until you find the heart.
• For smaller dogs and cats, place your hand with four fingers one side of the chest and your thumb just behind the animals’ elbow on the opposite side. Do not apply any pressure, just feel for a heartbeat.
• Rabbits, guinea pigs and other small furries (rats, mice, gerbils etc..): Placing your fingers gently on their chest is the least invasive but you may find you need to adopt the same approach as small dogs and cats. For small furries just using your fingertips may work.

It is important to stress here that any intervention with rabbits, guinea pigs and small furries is highly likely to cause stress and it may not be in their best interests to do this. The other problem is that their heart rates are so high it is almost impossible to accurately count them, monitoring their general demeanour and normal behaviour may be the most effective way to detect abnormalities in the future.

There are pulse points all over the animals’ body, the easiest one to find is usually the femoral pulse located on the inside of the animals’ thigh. Place four fingers inside the thigh with the thumb on the exterior, with your fingers apply gentle pressure around the centre of the thigh. This may take practice until you feel the pulse, you could always ask your vet or veterinary nurse to show you how to do this.

• Count how many beats over 15 seconds.
• Multiply this number by 4.
• E.g. 30 breaths over 15 seconds: 30 x 4 = 120 beats per minute.

Normal Heart beats per minute:

• Cat: 120-180
• Dog: 70-140 (small dogs will have a much higher heart rate then a large dog).
• Rabbit: 130-325
• Guinea Pig: 200-300

Knowing your pet’s normal gum (mucous membranes) colour is vital as serious conditions may be identified easily by examining the gums.

DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS IF YOU THINK YOU MAY GET BITTEN!!!!

• Lift your pets’ lip and look at the colour of the gum.
• If they have black pigmentation to their gums, you can look at another mucous membrane i.e. inside their eyelid or their bum.
• Touch the gum and make a note if it is moist, wet, or dry.
• Apply some pressure to the gum with your finger and then remove your finger.
• Count in seconds how long it takes the gum to go from white back to its original colour. This is known as the capillary refill time, CRT.

This examination is not appropriate for rabbits, guinea pigs or small furries due to the potential stress caused and that they have small mouths, but you may be able to see their gum colour while they are eating or grooming.

What is normal:

• Light pink mucous membranes.
• Moist mucous membranes.
• CRT - 1-2 seconds.

What this tells us:

• Pink mucous membranes indicate good circulation with oxygenated blood.
• Moist gums indicate the animal adequately hydrated.
• A normal CRT indicates good blood pressure and good circulation.

If you pinch a small amount of skin on the back of your hand and then let it go it should return very quickly to being flat, if the skin were to take a few seconds to return to its normal shape, then you could be dehydrated. You can use the same technique on your pet by using the loose skin on their scruff or the top of their head noting if there is a delay in a return to the normal position.

It is important that your pet gets used to you checking him or her otherwise it can be a negative experience which will increase heart and respiration rate. All the above can be incorporated with play or grooming so that your pet gets used to you touching him or her in those areas. Being used to these examinations will also help reduce stress within the veterinary clinic when the same tests are performed there. Regular grooming will also help locate any lumps and assess how quickly they are growing.

It may be beneficial to write down your pets’ normal parameters as a reference for future checks, do not be worried if, while at the veterinary examination on a routine check, the results are higher than what you have found, your pet is likely to be more nervous or excited in the clinical environment.

I cannot emphasise enough how important regular health checks are for our animals; early detection can be key for a favourable outcome.

25/02/2026

🐾 Sit n Paws Doggy Deli is in Hoo this evening! 🐾

We will be at Hoo Village Institute tonight from 6:30–7:30pm, fully stocked with all your dogs’ favourite natural treats 🐶

Alongside the usual goodies, we’ve got some exciting new additions:
✨ 15cm odourless pizzles
✨ 15cm odourless braided pizzles
✨ Ostrich metatarsals

As always, dogs are very welcome to pop over and say hello, we love seeing their furry faces and handing out a little extra treat at the van 💛

If you know a dog who’d love to visit the Deli feel free to tag a friend and spread the word.

We can’t wait to see you and your pups this evening! 🐾

20/02/2026

Book early, courses are filling up quickly.

Gillingham Golf Club 2026 Course Dates:
Sunday 12th April
Wednesday 13th May
Wednesday 10th June (CAT ONLY COURSE)
Wednesday 22nd July
Thursday 15th October
Wednesday 2nd December

Venue:
Gillingham Golf Club, Gillingham, Kent. ME7 2AP

Course Times:
Arrive 9-9.15am
Start 9.15am
Finish 3.30pm

Cost: £65 per person (reduced to £60 per person if more than one place booked).

Hosted Events:
Pet Owners First Aid can travel to you to deliver a course, bookings are being taken now, contact me for more information.

The courses below are organised by an independent businesses, contact the host directly for more information, cost and to book a place.

Smarden, Kent:
Snowys Canine Therapy Centre
Sunday 22nd March
Contact: training@peopleandpawsacademy.co.uk or 07341237716

Newbury, Hampshire:
Aquatic Canine Therapy-ACT Now
Saturday 28th March
Sunday 19th July
Saturday 17th October
Contact : info@actnow-newbury.co.uk

Other dates and venues are being booked now, keep an eye on the website the most up to date course list.
www.petownersfirstaid.co.uk

Pet Owners First Aid course is Accredited and Certified, covers cats & dogs, it is directed at pet owners and pet professionals i.e. hydrotherapists, physiotherapists, dog groomers, dog walkers, boarders, SVNs, ACAs, VCAs and anyone working within the domestic pet industry. The course has been written and is delivered by an experienced, qualified registered Veterinary Nurse with a Certificate in Emergency and Critical Care.

The course is certified by CPD UK (offering 6 hours CPD) and accredited by AMTRA (offering 14 points) and Canine Hydrotherapy Association (refresher first aid courses offering 6 hours CPD and meets NARCH requirements.

Please do not hesitate to get in contact should you have any further questions, would like more information or wanted to book onto a course.

For more information contact:
Phone: 07395 834735
E-mail: info@petownersfirstaid.co.uk
Website: www.petownersfirstaid.co.uk

20/02/2026

Right. Let’s have a chat about the Veterinary Surgeons Act reform (VSA), the politicians seem to be, but just surface level. No real explanation of what things mean.

Because yes, protecting the RVN title matters. Hugely. I WILL keep banging that drum; we have been for quite some time.
Title protection isn’t ego, it’s public safety, clarity, accountability and trust. It's knowing that the person the public are entrusting their beloved pets to is accountable.

If you’re an RVN (or know one), that should mean something legally, not just socially.

But here’s where the conversation keeps wobbling. At the moment, vets and nurses are regulated as individuals. We are regulated and registered, sworn in with an oath. We answer to the RCVS. We have Codes of Conduct, CPD requirements, fitness to practise.

If we get it wrong, it’s our name, our registration, our career on the line. It's us, as individuals, who risk disciplinary action and being struck off.

Businesses? Not so much. How can that be? Do the public really know?

And that gap is doing real damage.

There are now more than 6,000 veterinary premises in the UK.......but when I tried to find how many 'fertility clinics' there were, I struggled. They slip through the cracks. They even advertise taking bloods.....which is a bit wild given it's not allowed unless it's taken by a vet professional. Make it make sense. We will dig into that more later.

Yet there is no single regulator overseeing veterinary businesses as businesses.

Some elements get picked up piecemeal
• The VMD looks at medicines supply and advertising
• Trading Standards may step in around consumer law and misleading claims
• The CMA is investigating pricing, transparency and market power (welcomed by vet professionals)

But none of these bodies are set up to regulate ethical clinical delivery at a business level.

Which means you can end up with
• Services operating in ethical grey areas
• Fertility clinics, breeding services and add-ons that sit uncomfortably with welfare science
• Commercial pressure quietly shaping care pathways

And when something goes wrong? It lands on the professional. Usually, the vet or the nurse in the room.
That’s the bit I can’t get comfortable with.
You cannot keep tightening regulations on individuals while leaving the systems they work in largely untouched. Time has moved on and scope has broadened to meet demand.
That isn’t balance. It’s offloading risk.

If VSA reform is serious about
• animal welfare
• public trust
• protecting professionals
• and yes, properly protecting the RVN title

Then it has to go further than scopes and job titles.It has to look at how businesses are owned, incentivised and held to account alongside the people delivering care. I mean, if fertility clinics really cared about the miracle of life.....they'd do it for free? But nope.....platinum frenchies seem to be the thing.

Otherwise, we’re just asking regulated professionals to operate ethically while others run free, masquerading as safe, in plain sight.

Bring on the VSA reforms. The Veterinary Surgeons Act is outdated and is no longer fit for the profession, public or animals it serves.

Please, add to the consultation. It matters. Animal welfare needs you to raise your voice....constructively.

19/02/2026

Another fantastic course yesterday and a full house. Lovely to meet those attending for the first time and really good to see those who were refreshing thier first aid knowledge and skills.

18/02/2026

12/02/2026