In the same way that it’s important to know how to administer first aid and perform CPR on a human, having this know-how can help prepare you for a pet emergency.

Let’s assume you know how to recognise a pet emergency (Hint: click on the link if you don’t!), what happens if your pet stops breathing? Would you be able to remain calm and take the necessary measures to help save your furry friend’s life?

The importance of Pet CPR

A pet emergency is a very stressful situation to face. This is why being trained in pet CPR is so important. It really could be the difference between life and death for your pet.

It’s believed that most pets will experience some type of emergency during the course of their life. Furthermore, more than half of animal hospital visits are linked to an emergency situation. This is precisely why it’s important to know pet first aid and how to perform pet CPR.

Of course, it’s essential to know when you should give your pet CPR. The answer to this is only when the animal is not breathing.

So, how do you know if your pet is breathing or not? After all, in some emergency situations, an animal may look like it’s not breathing, but in reality, he or she is breathing very shallowly.

To discover if a pet is breathing, get in a position where you can see if the chest is rising and falling. If this is difficult, put your cheek next to the dog’s nose to feel for airflow. Alternatively, place your ear near the dog’s nose to listen for breathing.

Be mindful that an animal can be unconscious but still breathing. In this instance, CPR is not necessary.

Performing CPR

In cases where a pet is not breathing, there is too little time to get them to the vet for treatment. Immediate action is required to give the animals a chance to survive. The following steps explain how to perform CPR on your pet.

#1 Position

Lie your dog on its right side in a safe area. Ensure their head and neck is straight, as this creates a direct and open airway.

Kneel in front of the dog so that your knees are just in front of the dog’s stomach.

Slip your left hand under the dog’s chest (the back of your hand will feel the floor underneath it). Your hand should be positioned where the dog’s heart is.

Place your right hand on top of your dog’s chest, where his heart is.

#2 Compressions

Using the heel of your right hand, press in firmly. This action compresses the chest wall over the heart. Aim for a rate of 2 compressions per second.

NOTE: For larger dogs, you can instead place both hands (one on top of the other with fingers interlaced) on the top of the chest. Keeping elbows straight and moving your body forward so that your shoulders are directly above your hand, push down on the rib cage using firm, fast movements.

For small dogs weighing 14kg or less or cats, you can cup your hand and place the fingers underneath the dog’s rib cage and the thumb on the top side, near the heart. Draw your fingers and thumb towards each other to compress the heart. Compressing 1/4 to 1/3 of the chest wall is sufficient.

#3 Artificial breathing

If your pet is not breathing you can perform artificial respiration after approximately 6 seconds or after each set of 5 compressions.

Place your hand over the dog’s muzzle to ensure the lips are closed.

Then, put your mouth over the dog’s nose and blow gently while watching to see if the dog’s chest rises and falls. If the chest does not lift, blow harder and check the dog’s mouth is properly sealed.

NOTE: For small dogs, you can place your mouth over their entire muzzle.

Administer one breath after every 15 compressions or two breaths after every 30 compressions.

#4 Check

Make sure you regularly (every 1-2 minutes) check your pet for signs of life. You are looking for consciousness, breathing and response.

CPR and/or artificial breathing should be continued until the pet starts to breathe on its own or regains a steady heartbeat. Ideally, you will have called the vet initially to advise of the situation. If you have a friend or helper, transport your pet to the vet immediately. One person can drive while the other continues to perform CPR on the pet.

 

Disclaimer: The information in this post is provided for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice.

 

 

Information sources:

CPR for your pet. Vet West. Accessed online via: https://www.vetwest.com.au/pet-library/cpr-for-your-pet

Schenker M. CPR for dogs: A step-by-step guide to saving your dog’s life. July 2021. Accessed online via: https://www.caninejournal.com/how-to-do-cpr-on-a-dog/

 

 

Image source: Jack Hunter on Unsplash