CPR FOR PETS

Do you know what to do if your pet stops breathing? Knowing a few emergency procedures if your dog or cat is choking, or having difficulty breathing, could save your pet’s life because you may not have time to get to a vet.  Here are the steps for doing CPR on a dog and cat.

CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) preserves brain function until proper blood circulation and breathing can be restored.

The signs that indicate the need for CPR include unconsciousness, lack of arousal, lack of physical movement, or eye blinking. These symptoms can occur from drowning, choking, electrical shock, or a number of other situations.

If your pet has a foreign object stuck in his throat, it is important to try and dislodge it before performing CPR.

Performing mouth-to-snout resuscitation

• Perform 100-120 chest compressions per minute
• Perform a compression to mouth-to-snout ventilation ratio of 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths
• Perform cardiac massage / chest compressions according to the different chest types and sizes of dogs (shown in diagrams below).

The key to CPR is remembering the ABCs:

Airway,
Breathing, and
Cardiac compression.

To perform the three techniques, follow these steps:

1. Lay the dog on a flat surface and extend the head back to create an airway. Current practices recommend laying the dog on his right side (heart facing up), however the latest recommended guidelines state that either the left or right side is acceptable.

2. Open the jaws to check for obstructions, and if any exist and are not easily removed, try to dislodge the object.

3. Cup your hands around the muzzle of the dog’s mouth so that only the nostrils are clear. Blow air into the nostrils with five or six quick breaths, again, depending on the size of the dog. Small dogs and puppies and require short and shallow breaths. Larger dogs need longer and deeper breaths. Continue the quick breaths at a rate of one breath every three seconds or 20 breaths per minute.

4. Check for a heartbeat by using your finger on the inside of the thigh, just above the knee. If you don’t feel a pulse, put your hand over the dog’s chest cavity where the elbow touches the middle of the chest. If you still don’t find a pulse, have one person continue breathing into the nostrils (mouth to snout), while another gives chest compressions / cardiac massage. If you are alone, do the compression and mouth-to-snout ventilation yourself.

5. Give the dog chest compressions (cardiac massage) by placing both hands palms down on the chest cavity of the dog. For most dogs, chest compressions can be performed on the widest part of the chest while the dog is lying on his side.

• For dogs with keel-shaped chests (i.e. deep, narrow chests) in breeds such as greyhounds push down closer to the dog’s armpit, directly over the heart.
• For dogs with barrel-chested dogs like English bulldogs lay the dog on its back and compress on the sternum (directly over the heart), like people.
• For smaller dogs and cats chest-compressions scan be done with one hand wrapped around the sternum, encircling the heart or two-handed on the ribs.
• For large dogs, place your hands on top of each other.
• For tiny dogs or puppies, place one hand or thumb on the chest.

6. Use the heel of your hand(s) to push down for 30 quick compressions followed by 2 breaths of air (ventilation) and then check to see if consciousness has been restored. If consciousness has not been restored, continue the compressions in cycles of 100 to 120 chest compressions per minute (the same rhythm administered for people).  For help with the rhythm of the compressions, think of the song “Stayin Alive” by the Bee Gees, or “Another One Bites The Dust” by Queen.  Use that beat or rhythm in applying your compressions.

7. Perform CPR in 2-minute cycles checking to see if breathing and consciousness has been restored.

Ideally, CPR should be performed while on route to emergency veterinarian care. If this is not possible, contact a veterinarian once the dog has started breathing.

The following diagrams illustrate how to perform chest compressions on dogs with different chest types.

Figure (A) illustrates the technique for most dogs. You can apply chest compressions to the widest part of the chest while the dog lies on its side.

Figure (B) illustrates the technique for dogs with keel-shaped chests.

Figure (C) illustrates the technique for barrel-chested dogs.

For small dogs and cats, chest compressions can be administered two ways.

Figure (A) illustrates wrapping one hand around the sternum while supporting the back.

Figure (B) illustrates two-handed compression.

Below is a helpful video on administering CPR on dogs and cats.

Preparing for Emergencies in Advance Can Save Your Pet’s Life

Ii is recommended that all pet parents become familiar with the CPR guidelines now, before your dog or cat needs them. When an emergency occurs, you won’t have time to start reading through the instructions, and you’ll likely be shaken and possibly panicked.

If you already have a firm grasp on how to perform CPR, you can move right into action, preferably in a car while someone drives you and your pet to an emergency animal hospital. You should not, however, practice CPR on a healthy dog, as this can lead to injury.

Unfortunately, many people feel helpless when they are faced with an injured or unconscious dog or cat. Without the knowledge of the simple steps of CPR or the basic understanding of pet first aid, you may lose the chance to rescue your most vulnerable member of the family. Take the time to show your pets how much you love them and learn how to perform CPR on your best friend.