Courses available in FR · EN · DE
Course overview
- Alert
- Protect
- Resuscitate
- Collaborate
- Assess
- Coordinate
Training locations
The pet first aid training (dogs and cats) is offered throughout Switzerland, with sessions organised in French-speaking Switzerland, German-speaking Switzerland and, depending on requirements, in other regions. SafetyFirst prioritises locations suited to practical training, allowing participants to practise pet first aid procedures safely.
Training can take place:
- in fully equipped training rooms,
- at partner facilities (shelters, animal centres, schools),
- or at sites dedicated to professional training.
This flexibility makes it possible to meet the needs of both private individuals and organisations in the animal sector.
Practical information
- Duration: 2 days
- Participants: maximum 10 people per session for personalised learning
- Prerequisites: none; the course is accessible to everyone
- Format: in-person, combining theory, demonstrations and practical exercises
- Training languages:
- 🇫🇷 French
- 🇬🇧 English
- 🇩🇪 German
- Audience: dog and cat owners, professionals and volunteers in the animal sector
- Materials provided: course materials, demonstration equipment and training equipment
- Certificate: SafetyFirst certificate of attendance – Pet First Aid
Learn how to respond in an emergency before the vet arrives
The pet first aid training course is designed to teach participants how to respond to common emergencies involving dogs and cats. Over 2 days, it helps you recognise warning signs, keep an injured animal safe and apply essential first aid procedures while awaiting veterinary care. The course focuses on assessing the animal’s general condition, respiratory emergencies (choking), wounds, poisoning, trauma and heat- and cold-related emergencies. A practical course accessible without prerequisites.
Pet first aid training is offered to pre-formed groups and can be organised directly at your premises or in a suitable training room.
Target audience
This course is intended for anyone wishing to be able to respond effectively to an emergency involving a dog or cat while awaiting veterinary care:
- Dog and cat owners, individuals or families
- Animal-sector professionals: dog trainers, groomers, boarding kennels, shelters, pet sitters
- Volunteers and people involved in animal protection
- People working with animals (breeders, animal centres, care facilities)
- Anyone wishing to develop basic pet first aid skills
No medical or veterinary prerequisites are required. The course is designed to be accessible to everyone.
Learning objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Assess the general condition of a dog or cat in an emergency
- Identify signs of life-threatening distress requiring immediate action
- Keep the animal safe and protect themselves against bites and scratches
- Apply appropriate first aid procedures for dogs and cats
- Respond to an airway obstruction (choking)
- Perform basic resuscitation procedures adapted to the animal, without replacing a veterinarian
- Manage common emergencies: wounds, burns, trauma and poisoning
- Prevent and manage heat- and cold-related emergencies (heatstroke, hypothermia)
- Transport an injured animal safely to a veterinary facility
The aim is to buy time, limit deterioration and improve the animal’s chances of survival before a professional intervenes.
Course content
The course takes place over 2 days, combining theory, demonstrations and practical exercises.
- Animal first aid fundamentals
- Physiological differences between dogs, cats and humans
- Behaviour of an injured or stressed animal
- First aider safety: preventing bites and scratches
- Assessing the animal’s health
- Observing consciousness, breathing and mucous membranes
- Recognising life-threatening emergencies
- When to intervene and when to contact a veterinarian immediately
- Respiratory emergencies and basic resuscitation
- Respiratory distress and warning signs
- Basic resuscitation procedures adapted to dogs and cats
- positioning the animal
- external chest compressions adapted to the animal’s size and body shape
- rescue breathing depending on the situation
- Limits of non-veterinary intervention and the importance of professional care
- Wounds, burns and trauma
- Cleaning and protecting wounds
- Managing bleeding
- First aid procedures for burns
- Suspected fractures and basic immobilisation
- Poisoning and internal emergencies
- Recognising the signs of poisoning
- What to do and what not to do
- Importance of identifying the product and contacting a veterinarian
- Choking and airway obstruction
- Recognising choking in dogs and cats
- Procedures adapted to the animal’s size and species
- Monitoring after the intervention
- Heat- and cold-related emergencies and environmental emergencies
- Heatstroke: prevention and management
- Hypothermia: protection and gradual warming
- Managing stress and pain
- Transport and keeping the animal safe
- Handling an injured animal
- Safe transport techniques
- Preparing for transfer to a veterinary clinic
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Certified trainers, ready to deliver training courses.
Success rate of training participants.
Average rating given by participants.
Companies trained in health and safety at work.
Certified trainers, ready to deliver training courses.
Success rate of training participants.
Average rating given by participants.
Companies trained in health and safety at work.
Your advantages with SafetyFirst
Interactive training
Our training courses combine interactivity and practice for a dynamic and engaging safety learning experience.
Customised training
We value your time: courses are scheduled around your availability to minimise operational disruption.
Certified Training
We incorporate international safety standards, finely tuned to your company’s local specifics.
Why choose SafetyFirst for pet first aid training?
SafetyFirst offers pet first aid training based on a rigorous, educational approach that respects the role of the veterinarian. The trainers focus on simple, safe procedures adapted to dogs and cats, with a strong emphasis on practical skills. Small groups allow for personalised support and clear demonstrations. The course is accessible to everyone, with no prerequisites, and is suitable for both private individuals and professionals in the animal sector. Available in French, English and German, it enables participants to develop useful reflexes for responding calmly and effectively to an emergency while awaiting veterinary care.
Related training:
Preparing today, protecting tomorrow.
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FAQ: Pet First Aid
Anyone who owns a dog or cat, as well as professionals and volunteers who work with animals.
No. No medical prerequisites are required. The course is designed for the general public.
No. It teaches participants how to respond in an emergency and stabilise the animal, but it can never replace a veterinary consultation.
Yes. Participants learn appropriate basic resuscitation procedures, within the limits of non-veterinary intervention.
Respiratory emergencies, wounds, burns, trauma, poisoning, choking and heat- and cold-related emergencies.
Yes. SafetyFirst offers this course in French, English and German.
No. SafetyFirst issues a certificate of attendance, but this is not an official certification.
