First aid for Fluffy

   The fuzzy little dog lay lifeless on the rug, Susan Freedman hunched over him.

   "One thousand one, one thousand two," she counted and then breathed into the dog's mouth.

   After a minute of this rescue work, she reached for the pup's leg and took his pulse.

   "He's alive," she yelled, "He's alive." Her classmates burst into laughter.

   A bit of theatrics was appropriate: Freedman had just rescued a fake dog - a specially outfitted mannequin used to teach cardiopulmonary resuscitation and rescue breathing.

   "Good job," said instructor Kathilee Champlin of the American Red Cross, Pikes Peak Chapter. "Maybe press a little harder. But don't pat, compress the chest more."

   Freedman was one of 14 students who attended a recent pet first-aid class at the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region. It was the first such local class conducted by the Red Cross; others are planned this year.

   The students eagerly took on the rescue role. One after another, they breathed into four dummies - two dogs, named Mattie and Maggie, and two cats, called Zoey and Sophie.

   "Remember, dogs have cleaner mouths than we do," Champlin said.

   They learned a neat trick to make a rescue easier: Take a small, plastic water bottle with a screw-on top and cut it in two. Clamp the wide end over the animal's mouth and nose, and then blow through the mouth end of the bottle.

   The pet owners said they would have no qualms about putting their mouths on an animal's snout to save a life.

   "It wouldn't bother me a bit," said Karen Kirouac, who has three dogs at home and regularly attends dogagility matches.

   The students learned how to perform the Heimlich maneuver on a choking animal, splint a broken leg, give a pill to an animal, treat shock, stop bleeding, help an animal that has been hit by a car or bitten by a snake, treat frostbite and heat stroke, help a choking animal, and deal with other emergencies.

   The classes are an outgrowth of the Cat First Aid and Dog First Aid guides - which include DVDs - published by the American Red Cross.

   "People care so much about their pets, that we thought they would want to know how to deal with emergencies, and would enjoy a class," says Heather Walma, Pikes Peak Chapter health and safety director. The class illustrates some of the information in the books and DVDs, and students get the books and DVDs as part of their tuition.

   Carol Pennica, Humane Society board member, took the class in case she ever needs to rescue Kramer, her bichon frise.

   Arlo Tan, a pediatrician at the Air Force Academy, was at the class because he recently adopted his first dog, Hank, a 10-month old Havanese.

   Sally Pfrimmer of Cañon City said she was glad to get all the information.

   Astro, her 1½-year-old Labradoodle, has swallowed coins, gotten foxtail burrs in his ears, cut his paws and been speared by a porcupine. "There are some things I feel I can manage, but there are other things I don't know how to handle, that's why I'm here. I don't want to be helpless," Pfrimmer said.

   She added, "I've really got a lot out of the class. I hope I don't have to try them out."

   CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0371 or carol.mcgraw@gazette.com

TAKE A CLASS

The American Red Cross, Pikes Peak Chapter, has Pet First Aid classes scheduled. The cost is $35 per class, and they will be held at the chapter office, 1040 S. Eighth St. Registration: 632-3563 or pparc.org.

Red Cross classes will be held in fall at the Humane Society; 473-1741.

Pet first-aid books for cats and dogs ($17) are available at the chapter office. Pet first-aid kits are available for $12.50-$18.

Dog First Aid classes: May 27, June 24, July 29, Aug. 26, Sept. 29, Oct. 27, Nov. 19 and Dec. 9.

Cat First Aid classes: May 28, June 25, July 30, Aug. 27, Sept. 30, Oct. 28, Nov. 20, Dec. 10.

HANDLING A PET EMERGENCY

Here are a few tips taken from the pet first-aid class and books provided by the American Red Cross:

Know your pet - his natural way of breathing, temperature and pulse rate - so you can tell when something is wrong.

Never allow your pet to ride in the front seat, in your lap, in the bed of a pickup or with his head out the window.

Foods that can harm pets: cocoa, garlic, chocolate, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, milk, mushrooms, onion, salt, sugarfree gum, yeast.

Constipation: If it is mild, try adding 1/4 teaspoon of bran or pumpkin to your pet's diet. If it doesn't work, take your pet to a vet.

Keep this number handy: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, 1-888-426-4435. Also keep your vet's number and that of an emergency pet center available.

When in doubt about any ailment or medical question, contact your veterinarian.