Animal lovers are being offered the opportunity to learn how to save their pet's life in a medical emergency in an Animal Health and First Aid course at TAFE NSW Primary Industries Centre at North Wagga.
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The course will feature five weekly, three-hour sessions, offering a practical, hands-on experience with animals at the campus and will provide basic first aid to animals and assist in their healthcare with a focus on domestic pets.
TAFE NSW Animal Studies Teacher Tamara Percival, who will deliver the course, said the information provided in the course would be of great benefit to a diverse range of people.
"It's definitely important to look at all aspects of animal care work," Miss Percival said.
"Horse trainers, vet nurses, people who work in pet shops and pet owners will learn about looking after their animals better.
"The main benefits are that pet owners would get extra knowledge in dealing with health care and what to do in an emergency.
"The pet care part also gives a taster to people who are thinking of working in the industry, but don't want to fully jump in, it gives them a chance to see if they'll like it first."
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Miss Percival believes that offering the course is timely with the increase of pet ownership during COVID-19 as people look for companionship during lockdown.
She said it made sense for owners who were attached to their pets to learn practical skills to respond to an animal in distress.
"We'll look at the different emergencies that we come across in the industry," Miss Percival said.
"We'll also look at a broad range of animals' health parameters and we can access dogs and cats in the classroom.
"The course looks at assisting in stabilisng a patient in an emergency, the risks they are facing and gives people some signs of what to look like if their dog is not eating or breathing properly.
"This is a very hands-on course and there will be lots of animal handling and practical work."
Animal studies student at the campus, Dayna Spuur, who will start veterinary nurse training next year, described the course as "amazing and definitely informative".
"I've learned so much, it teaches you how to be much more aware of what needs to be done in an emergency situation," she said.
Local veterinarians have also backed the course, saying that just like in humans, a basic knowledge of animal first aid could be the difference between life and death for a pet.
Enrolments close on 29 September for the course which will start on October 12.
Details: 13 16 01 or www.tafensw.edu.au
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