DOG owners can learn the skills needed to save their pet's life at new first aid courses that have been launched by an Oxford-based vet.

Marianne Thomas has set up the classes in conjunction with the Dog First Aid franchise to teach people Oxfordshire how to effectively respond to a canine emergency.

Those who go along will be taught to tackle incidents including bleeding, poisoning, drowning, and chocking using six different techniques to appropriately dislodge a blockage.

CPR, using a life-sized dog dummy, is also taught.

Ms Thomas, who has practised as a vet for the past seven years, said: “I’ve seen and heard of countless scenarios where the dog wouldn’t have reached the vet alive if the owner hadn’t known what first aid was necessary.

“I have also seen many cases where the outcome for the dog would have been better, had someone had the skills to give first aid before they could get the animal to us.”

"Animals are so much more charming and wonderful than humans.

“I didn’t always have pets. I used to be scared of blood.

"It wasn’t until I was 14 years-old that I found a domesticated rabbit on the side of the road and managed to identify all of its features.

"After we took it to the vet, who confirmed everything I said was right, I thought I could do this vetting business.”

Ms Thomas, who works at Vets4Pets in Botley, ran the first of the intensive courses at the end of July.

Each course costs £49.50 and includes follow ups over email and Facebook to ensure retention of what is learnt.

The qualification is valid for three years and Ms Thomas recommends that people come back after that period to refresh their knowledge.

The Abingdon resident said: “The feedback so far has been very positive.

"Everyone has said good things.

"One dog owner, who owned nine dogs, even said that she learned ‘a huge amount’ even despite having so many dogs for so long."

Dog First Aid was set up by Jo Middleton two years ago.

Despite being an experienced first aider in the NHS, she was helpless when her lurcher, Flash Gordon, bounded towards her covered in blood.

She subsequently established the organisation to ready canine owners like her for the worst so they can prevent it.

To learn more about the courses and the dates they will run in Oxfordshire email marianne.thomas@dog-first-aid.com