CPR Can Save a Pet's Life

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, can be used to treat an animal that has stopped breathing or has no heartbeat. It involves mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions.

CPR can be broken down into three steps, which are called the ABC's of CPR: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. It is very important that CPR be performed in this order.

If an animal appears unconscious and motionless, the first step is to establish whether the animal has an open airway. Open the mouth, pull out the tongue, and examine the throat. Use your finger to check for and remove any foreign material from the mouth. If the animal is conscious, do not examine the mouth as you may get bitten.

The next step is to check for breathing. If the animal is not breathing, you must perform mouth-to-mouth, or in smaller animals, mouth-to-nose resuscitation. For medium-to-large-sized animals, holding the muzzle closed with your hands should seal the mouth. For cats and small dogs, your mouth will seal the pet's mouth when you perform CPR.

Placing your mouth over the animal's nose and exhaling directly into the nostrils begins resuscitation. After four to five quick breaths, the breathing should be checked again. If the animal does not start breathing after 20 minutes, it is not likely to revive. Small dogs and cats require 20 to 30 breaths per minute, and medium-to-large dogs require 20 breaths per minute.

If there is no heartbeat present, chest compressions should be performed as well. For small dogs and cats, the pet should be lying on its right side. The palm of one hand should be placed over the ribs at the point where the elbows touch the chest, while the other hand is placed beneath the right chest.

The chest should be compressed at the rate of five compressions followed by one breath. If there are two people present, one person can perform the breathing, while the other compresses the chest at a rate of three compressions for each breath then checks for a pulse.

For medium-to-large dogs, the hands must be cupped over each other and the arms kept straight and elbows locked. The hands should be placed at the point where the left elbow meets the chest. The chest must be compressed at the rate of five compressions followed by one breath. If there are two people present, one person can perform the breathing, while the other compresses the chest at a rate of two to three compressions for each breath, then checks for a pulse.

If done correctly, CPR can save a pet's life. However, pet owners should be aware that even if performed by an experienced veterinarian, CPR is not always successful. However,this should not deter anyone from trying it in an emergency situation. To learn more about CPR, ask your veterinarian.

Reprinted with permission from www.animalhealthcare.ca