A LIFESAVING first aid course which teaches dog owners vital techniques to use on their beloved pets in emergencies is coming to Westbury.

Jo Middleton, a trainer at Dog First Aid, said: “We set up about two years ago because one of my own dogs was injured and while I have a medical background I just completely panicked and I didn’t know what to do because it was my dog.

“I went to the vets and he said he’d heard that story a thousand times before, so me and a team of vets all worked together to set up a course to teach people what to do.

“It’s so inspiring, I do a lot of rescue work and you see a lot of stuff that would destroy your faith in humanity but doing these courses the people are just genuine animal lovers and it’s so good to see.”

Based in Warminster, the group offer courses throughout the country and teach owners how to bandage cuts, spot anaphylactic shock, allergic reactions and other life-threatening problems.

Pet owner Ellen Bothwick was forced to use the skills she learnt on the course just weeks later after her Tibetan Terrier, Boo, began to choke.

The 56-year-old said: “She’d just had a meal and began making a sound like she was trying to clear her throat but pretty quickly she was getting distressed.

“The first thing I did was check her airway and then tipped her up before I did the Heimlich manoeuvre which I learnt on the course.

“When I did that the piece of food shot out and she ran after it but if I hadn’t done the course I don’t know what the outcome would have been.”

The course in Westbury will take place on September 9 from 10am-1pm.

For more information or to book a place, visit www.dog-first-aid.com