![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happypetsinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Happy-Pets-Blog-CPR-Dogs-and-Cats-5.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/p>\nDo 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\u2019s life because you may not have time to get to a vet. \u00a0Here are the steps for doing CPR on a dog and cat.<\/p>\n
CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) preserves brain function until proper blood circulation and breathing can be restored.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
If your pet has a foreign object stuck in his throat, it is important to try and dislodge it before performing CPR.<\/p>\n
Performing mouth-to-snout resuscitation<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n- Perform 100-120 chest compressions per minute<\/li>\n
- Perform a compression to mouth-to-snout ventilation ratio of 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths<\/li>\n
- Perform cardiac massage \/ chest compressions according to the different chest types and sizes of dogs (shown in diagrams below).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The key to CPR is remembering the\u00a0ABCs:<\/em><\/p>\nA<\/strong><\/span>irway,
\nB<\/span><\/strong>reathing, and
\nC<\/strong><\/span>ardiac compression.<\/p>\nTo perform the three techniques, follow these steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n1. 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.<\/p>\n
2. Open the jaws to check for obstructions, and if any exist and are not easily removed, try to dislodge the object.<\/p>\n
3. Cup your hands around the muzzle of the dog\u2019s mouth so that only the nostrils are clear.\u00a0Blow 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.<\/p>\n
4. Check for a heartbeat by using your finger on the inside of the thigh, just above![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happypetsinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Happy-Pets-Blog-CPR-Dogs-and-Cats-6.jpg?resize=159%2C91&ssl=1\")
<\/a> the knee.\u00a0If you don\u2019t feel a pulse, put your hand over the dog\u2019s chest cavity where the elbow touches the middle of the chest. If you still don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n5. Give the dog chest compressions (cardiac massage) by placing both hands palms down on the chest cavity of the dog.\u00a0For most dogs, chest compressions can be performed on the widest part of the chest while the dog is lying on his side.<\/p>\n
\n- For dogs with\u00a0keel-shaped chests\u00a0(i.e. deep, narrow chests) in breeds such as greyhounds push down closer to the dog\u2019s armpit, directly over the heart.<\/li>\n
- For dogs with\u00a0barrel-chested dogs\u00a0like English bulldogs lay the dog on its back and compress on the sternum (directly over the heart), like people.<\/li>\n
- For\u00a0smaller dogs and cats\u00a0chest-compressions scan be done with one hand wrapped around the sternum, encircling the heart or two-handed on the ribs.<\/li>\n
- For\u00a0large dogs, place your hands on top of each other.<\/li>\n
- For\u00a0tiny\u00a0dogs or puppies, place one hand or thumb on the chest.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
6. Use the heel of your hand(s)\u00a0to 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). \u00a0For 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. \u00a0Use that beat or rhythm in applying your compressions.<\/p>\n
7. Perform CPR in 2-minute cycles\u00a0checking to see if breathing and consciousness has been restored.<\/p>\n
Ideally, CPR should be performed while on route to emergency veterinarian care<\/strong>. If this is not possible, contact a veterinarian once the dog has started breathing.<\/p>\nThe following diagrams illustrate how to perform chest compressions on dogs with different chest types.<\/p>\n
Figure (A<\/strong>) illustrates the technique for most dogs<\/strong>. You can apply chest compressions to the widest part of the chest while the dog lies on its side.<\/p>\nFigure (B<\/strong>) illustrates the technique for dogs with keel-shaped chests<\/strong>.<\/p>\nFigure (C)<\/strong> illustrates the technique for barrel-chested dogs<\/strong>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happypetsinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Happy-Pets-Blog-CPR-Dogs-and-Cats-2.jpg?resize=379%2C1024&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/p>\nFor small dogs and cats,<\/strong> chest compressions can be administered two ways.<\/p>\nFigure (A)<\/strong> illustrates wrapping one hand around the sternum while supporting the back.<\/p>\nFigure (B)<\/strong> illustrates two-handed compression.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happypetsinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Happy-Pets-Blog-CPR-Dogs-and-Cats-3.jpg?resize=468%2C1024&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBelow is a helpful video on administering CPR on dogs and cats.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
The key to CPR is remembering the\u00a0ABCs:<\/em><\/p>\n A<\/strong><\/span>irway, To perform the three techniques, follow these steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 2. Open the jaws to check for obstructions, and if any exist and are not easily removed, try to dislodge the object.<\/p>\n 3. Cup your hands around the muzzle of the dog\u2019s mouth so that only the nostrils are clear.\u00a0Blow 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.<\/p>\n 4. Check for a heartbeat by using your finger on the inside of the thigh, just above 5. Give the dog chest compressions (cardiac massage) by placing both hands palms down on the chest cavity of the dog.\u00a0For most dogs, chest compressions can be performed on the widest part of the chest while the dog is lying on his side.<\/p>\n 6. Use the heel of your hand(s)\u00a0to 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). \u00a0For 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. \u00a0Use that beat or rhythm in applying your compressions.<\/p>\n 7. Perform CPR in 2-minute cycles\u00a0checking to see if breathing and consciousness has been restored.<\/p>\n Ideally, CPR should be performed while on route to emergency veterinarian care<\/strong>. If this is not possible, contact a veterinarian once the dog has started breathing.<\/p>\n The following diagrams illustrate how to perform chest compressions on dogs with different chest types.<\/p>\n Figure (A<\/strong>) illustrates the technique for most dogs<\/strong>. You can apply chest compressions to the widest part of the chest while the dog lies on its side.<\/p>\n Figure (B<\/strong>) illustrates the technique for dogs with keel-shaped chests<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Figure (C)<\/strong> illustrates the technique for barrel-chested dogs<\/strong>.<\/p>\n For small dogs and cats,<\/strong> chest compressions can be administered two ways.<\/p>\n Figure (A)<\/strong> illustrates wrapping one hand around the sternum while supporting the back.<\/p>\n Figure (B)<\/strong> illustrates two-handed compression.<\/p>\n
\nB<\/span><\/strong>reathing, and
\nC<\/strong><\/span>ardiac compression.<\/p>\n<\/a> the knee.\u00a0If you don\u2019t feel a pulse, put your hand over the dog\u2019s chest cavity where the elbow touches the middle of the chest. If you still don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nBelow is a helpful video on administering CPR on dogs and cats.<\/strong><\/h5>\n