Pet owners, you’re not alone in feeling helpless during the final moments of your pet's life. We’ve all been there. But there is something that you can do to help, and it doesn't require any special training or equipment: CPR. Here's how to perform CPR on your pet successfully and save lives for years to come!
What is pet CPR?
CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a technique used to help people who are not breathing and/or have no pulse. It's also used on animals that have stopped breathing and have no heartbeat.
CPR can save your pet's life if they suffer from a heart attack or other serious medical condition that causes them to stop breathing and/or lose their pulse. If you ever find yourself in this situation with your pet, knowing how to perform CPR can mean the difference between life and death for your furry friend!
How do I know if my dog needs CPR?
If you notice any of these symptoms in dogs:
- Not moving at all
- Has trouble standing up straight
Check for breathing and pulse: If you’re not sure if your dog is breathing, check by placing your hand on his chest and feeling for movement. Use the same technique to check for a heartbeat; place two fingers on the inside of their leg, just above the knee.
Why do pets need CPR?
CPR can be a lifesaver for your pet. It's also important to note that many pets have the same cardiac issues as humans, such as heart attacks and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat).
If you suspect that your pet may be having a problem with their heart, it's important to act quickly. This is why knowing how to perform CPR on animals is so vital: it could save their lives!
What to do before you start CPR.
Before you start CPR, it's important to check the animal's airway and breathing. If the pet is unconscious and not breathing, start chest compressions immediately. If there is no pulse or heartbeat but the animal is still conscious (and possibly even coughing), perform only rescue breaths until help arrives or your vet tells you otherwise.
Has a strange look or is drooling. A dog who starts having trouble breathing (and isn't just panting because they're hot) can quickly go into cardiac arrest, so it's important to keep an eye on your dog when they're active. If your dog shows any of these symptoms, get them checked out by a veterinarian right away!
Is coughing, gagging or having trouble breathing. Has a strange look or is drooling. Has blood in the vomit or diarrhea or is lethargic and weak.
How to perform CPR on pets.
- Check if the pet is breathing. If not, begin chest compressions.
- If your dog or cat is still alive, continue monitoring its vitals and keep performing checks every few minutes until you can get help from a veterinarian or call 911 (if it's safe to do so).
- In an emergency situation where there's no time for formal training, you can use a blanket or piece of clothing to keep your dog warm while waiting for help to arrive--just place it on its side so that air doesn't get trapped in its lungs and cause further damage.
- Open up their airway by gently pulling back on their tongue until there's enough room for them to breathe freely again without obstruction from anything else like mucus buildup around their mouth area.
- Place them flatly down on their chest if possible; this will allow gravity work against gravity when trying stop bleeding during CPR attempts later on down road."
Pet owners can save their pets by learning and practicing CPR.
Learning pet CPR is an important step in helping your pet. Pet owners can save their pets by learning and practicing CPR. Pet CPR is not the same as human CPR, but it's still not difficult to learn. It's important to practice pet CPR often so you're prepared if something happens. If you don't feel confident enough in your skills, ask someone else for help!
Many people don’t realize that pet CPR is different from human CPR. Human CPR uses chest compressions, while pet CPR doesn’t require chest compressions. Instead, it involves mouth-to-snout resuscitation and artificial respiration.
We hope that this article has helped you understand the importance of pet CPR. We know how difficult it can be to lose a pet, but if you have the knowledge and skills to perform CPR, then there is a chance that your pet will survive an emergency situation. You may not always be able to prevent accidents from happening, but knowing how to respond quickly and effectively will make all the difference in whether or not your beloved furry friend lives or dies!
