Advanced K9 Medics Course

I was fortunate to attend a 16 hours Advanced K9 Medics course held in Pennsylvania. The course was theory and practical with a series of final assessments and a written exam.

I have completed K9 First Aid training before but what I like about this one was its no-nonsense life-saving skills taught. Enough to save a K9’s life, or at least keep it alive until professional assistance is reached.

The training was enhanced by the practical exercises and Techline Technologies ( https://www.techlinetechnologiesinc.com/ ) even had a K9 manikin which was remotely operated. It barked, growled and cried, would breathe, have a heartbeat, pulse, and open wounds, bleeding; all at the control of the instructor. This meant that as the scenario progressed the symptoms changed and tested your casualty awareness and response to the changing conditions. This training alone was of huge benefit as often time training is just one static scenario due to the availability of casualty stimulants. Being constantly tested in all aspects of casualty care meant you were provided realistic training scenarios and testing situations.

Topics covered:

Understand and explain the differences between human and canine anatomy Understand and

Explain differences between human and canine physiology Demonstrate Knowledge of the phases of care as per the CoTCCC Demonstrate Knowledge of all aspects of Canine “MARCH”

Demonstrate the ability to safely approach and restrain canine using appropriate techniques

Demonstrate the ability to perform a neurological assessment on canine Identify canine IM injection sites

Understand the canine vascular system

Demonstrate the ability to perform an “On the move assessment” Demonstrate the ability to perform a head to tail assessment

Understand canine’s respiratory system

Demonstrate the ability to obtain canine respiration rate

Demonstrate the ability to obtain a canine pulse

Demonstrate the ability to evaluate canine circulation

Demonstrate the ability. to obtain canine temperature

Demonstrate the ability to evaluate canine’s hydration level

Demonstrate the ability to care for canine minor bleeding

Demonstrate the ability to treat canine thoracic chest trauma

Demonstrate the ability to treat massive hemorrhage in canine Demonstrate the ability to manage a.canine’s compromised airway Demonstrate the ability to perform canine CPR

Understand what bloat is and how it affects canine

Demonstrate the ability to treat canine for bloat

Demonstrate the ability to start intravenous access on canine

Demonstrate the ability to gain intravenous access on canine

Understand heat emergencies in canine

Understand concepts of Evaporation, Conduction, Convection, Radiation, and Activity in canines Demonstrate treatment of heat emergency in canine

Demonstrate appropriate treatment of ocular trauma

Demonstrate appropriate splinting of canine extremities

Understand analgesia considerations and dosages in canine

Understand clinical signs and treatment of toxic ingestion in canines