K9 First Aid Canada

03/11/2026

Dehydration Happens Fast

Vomiting.
Diarrhea.
Overexertion.
Heat.
Stress.

Dehydration doesn’t take days — sometimes it takes hours. And it doesn't have to be the heat of summer to happen.

Watch for:
• Sticky/tacky gums
• Lethargy
• Skin that doesn’t snap back quickly
• Sunken eyes
• Weakness

🚩 Puppies and senior dogs decline faster.

Hydration matters more than food in the first few hours of GI upset.

When in doubt — call your vet.

03/06/2026

March is Pet Poison Prevention Month!

Our pets are family & it is important that we keep them safe. There are so many things that are in our daily lives that are toxic to our pets, would you know what to do if you pet ingested something toxic? Would you know if what they ingested was toxic or safe? How about the signs of toxicity for those instances where you did not see them ingest something or even know what they ingested?

Stay tuned this month as we share some Pet Poison Prevention information all month long!

Learn more about toxicity & what to do until you can get to a vet at one of our first aid programs! Our programs are vet-reviewed & approved, full of great information that could save your pets life! Visit our website for course information and upcoming courses throughout North America.

02/16/2026

On Family Day we celebrate the ones we love most. That includes our dogs. If something happened tomorrow, would you know what to do?

02/15/2026

02/13/2026

Feature Friday! Meet the passionate animal advocate, Carolyn Kemps of Vanscoy, SK

From Carolyn:

Having taught Equine Emergency First Aid for 10 years - I know well that horse owners like me also have dogs they love and want to see live their best lives

My favorite part of teaching is when participants share real world experiences with the course content which some may think will never happen to them - until it does! To give pet owners the knowledge to prevent the preventable and to make good choices when faced with emergencies is very rewarding!

When I'm not teaching equine and canine first aid, I enjoy my time living on a ranch and competing in Cowboy Dressage.

I think everyone should take pet first aid, as living rural - emergency care is a bit of a drive so it’s up to me until I can reach help. Even in the city - vet resources are often stretched to their capacity, so if we can have skills to do preventive maintenance and to recognize and react to real emergencies - we can be active partners in our pets healthcare team.

Clients can contact me at: [email protected]

02/06/2026

✨ Opening Ceremonies are on… and WOW.

One thing the Olympics always reminds us of?

You don’t train after the big moment happens.
You train before it… so you’re ready when it counts.

And honestly — pet emergencies are exactly the same.
Choking. Bleeding. Poisoning. Heat or cold exposure. Shock. Heart Failure.

💛 When your dog needs you, you don’t get time to “figure it out.”
You become their first responder.

🐾 Be the calm. Be the trained one. Be the safe place.

Ready to feel confident if something ever happens?
📍 Join us for an upcoming Dog or 🇨🇦Pet First Aid + CPR class.

Drop a 🇨🇦 in the comments if you’re watching tonight! 👇

02/04/2026

Cool deal!! Check out courses scheduled in Saskatchewan this spring or become a host for your group and be in to win!

✈️💘 VALENTINE’S DAY VACATION GIVEAWAY! 💘✈️

Want a reason to finally book that pet first aid course? 👀
Here it is… 😍

Register before Feb 14, 2026 for ANY upcoming class and you’ll be entered to WIN a:

🎉 $250 WestJet Vacation Voucher 🎉

✅ Valid for any upcoming course
✅ Your registration must be received by Feb 14
✅ 1 registration = 1 entry (easy!)

📅 Draw happens online Feb 15 at 12:00 PM MST

This is your sign to get trained, get confident, and maybe get a little getaway too 😏🌴✈️

👇 Register on the website for an existing class - or host a class for triple entries!!!

02/04/2026

In person - certified Canine First Aid and CPR courses available for pet owners and pet professionals!

Your dog looks to you for everything. Food, water, shelter, companionship... and safety.

Don't let them down in their time of need. Take a canine CPR and emergency first aid class. You'll learn hands-on, how to handle the life-threatening situations. You'll also learn basic information on response to environmental situations such as hyper/hypothermia, poison, skunk encounters, as well as managing digestive emergencies and how to recognize 'it can wait' and 'vet NOW' differences. We teach foreign body and toxin response, parasite control, burns and break management, stabilizing for transport and so much more.

Classes are across Canada and listed by province/territory on the website.

Be the person your dog believes you to be. Their lifeline.

02/03/2026

✅ TUESDAY TIP 🐾

Vomiting & Diarrhea: When to Watch vs When to Worry

One upset tummy can happen… but repeated vomiting or diarrhea can lead to dehydration quickly — especially in small dogs, seniors, and puppies.

🟡 OK to Monitor at Home (for the moment)

If your pet is otherwise acting normal, you can usually monitor closely if:
✅ Vomits once
✅ Has one or two loose stools
✅ Still wants to drink water
✅ Energy is mostly normal
✅ No blood seen
✅ No painful belly / bloating
✅ No known toxin exposure

📌 Even then: keep a close eye and don’t ignore your gut feelings.

🚩 WHEN TO WORRY Checklist (Call a Vet ASAP)

🚩 Vomiting more than 2–3 times in a few hours
🚩 Can’t keep water down
🚩 Vomiting continues longer than 12–24 hours
🚩 Repeated dry heaving / retching with little coming up
🚩 Bloated belly or signs of abdominal pain
🚩 Your pet seems restless, pacing, or can’t get comfortable

🚩 Diarrhea that is very frequent (every hour or constant)
🚩 Large amounts of watery diarrhea
🚩 Diarrhea lasting more than 24 hours
🚩 Straining with no stool produced (or painful stooling)

🩸 Blood = Always Take Seriously

🚩 Blood in vomit
🚩 Blood in stool (bright red OR black/tarry stool)
Even “a little blood” can signal irritation, infection, or something more serious.

😞 Behaviour Changes

🚩 Weakness, wobbliness, or collapse
🚩 Lethargy / “not themselves”
🚩 Not interested in food or affection
🚩 Signs of dehydration:

dry/tacky gums
sunken eyes
sticky saliva
extreme tiredness

✅ What You CAN Do Safely While You Monitor

✔️ Offer small sips of water frequently
✔️ Keep them resting and calm
✔️ Prevent scavenging / treats / rich foods
✔️ Switch to a harness if coughing/retching (collars can worsen gagging)
✔️ If vomiting stops, call your vet about when to reintroduce food safely

🚫 Avoid giving human meds unless your vet specifically advises.

Hydration matters more than food in the first few hours.
And when in doubt — call your vet early. It’s always okay to ask.

✅ Save this post. You’ll be glad you did.

01/26/2026

Now more than ever you need to be prepared to be the first responder for your pet.

The vet isn’t close enough.
The internet isn’t fast enough.
And panic steals time.

Knowing pet first aid gives you confidence and skills when seconds matter.

Find a course near you - we teach all across Canada and schedule new classes and locations weekly. Courses listed by province/territory on the website.

01/24/2026

OMG - those faces 🥰 - stay warm and entertain your critters! Everyone has cabin fever in this weather 🥶