Introduction
In the event of an emergency, small changes in your routine can save your pet's life. It's important that you are able to act calmly and quickly in order to handle any situation effectively. Here are some tips for resuscitating your dog or cat if there is ever a need:
Call your veterinarian right away.
If you are not sure if your pet is breathing, or if you think they may be in danger, call the veterinarian immediately. If your pet is unconscious and not breathing on its own, start CPR immediately and continue until help arrives or until the heart starts beating again.
- Check to see if your pet is breathing: Look at the chest for movement; listen for breathing sounds; feel breath on your skin (if possible) or check gums, tongue, and eyes for color changes that may indicate trouble with respiration or circulation.
- If necessary: Perform chest compressions by placing two fingers on either side of the chest just behind the elbow joint while pressing straight down 1-2 inches (2-5cm). Compress firmly enough so that there's no gap between each compression but do not push so hard as to cause pain in yourself or them! Repeat at a rate of 100 per minute until help arrives
Examine your pet carefully to see if he or she is breathing and has a heartbeat.
- Check if the pet is breathing. If you don't see or hear any sign of breathing, begin rescue breathing immediately.
- Check for a heartbeat by feeling for it in the chest area with one hand on top of the other (like when giving yourself CPR) or placing your fingers just behind the front legs and feeling for a pulse with your thumb on top of the back leg bone (the femur). If there isn't any beating under either location, call for help immediately and get them to a vet or animal hospital as soon as possible!
- If there's still no sign of life after five minutes of rescue breathing or if they don't respond at all after checking their pulse, call 911 immediately!
If there is no response, open the mouth and check if the throat is clear. Gently pull the tongue forward, clear vomit or material from the mouth, and begin rescue breathing.
If there is no response, open the mouth and check if the throat is clear. Gently pull the tongue forward, clear vomit or material from the mouth, and begin rescue breathing.
If you are not sure how to do this, here's how:
- Use your finger to clear any material from your pet's throat. You can also use a small piece of cloth if needed. Do not use your hand or fingers to block their nose while giving rescue breaths (you need access so that air can get into their lungs). If they have vomited recently, there may still be some material in their mouth that could block them from breathing properly again once they start breathing on their own again!
- Do not give rescue breaths if there is no response - call for help immediately instead! You want to give them enough time before starting CPR but don't want them dying because nobody else knows about this situation either...
If you see fluid coming from the nose or eyes, pinch the nose shut with your fingers and cover the mouth with yours. Breathe 2 puffs of air into your pet's mouth every 15 seconds until his or her chest rises again.
If you see fluid coming from the nose or eyes, pinch the nose shut with your fingers and cover the mouth with yours. Breathe 2 puffs of air into your pet's mouth every 15 seconds until his or her chest rises again.
If the chest does not rise after 5 minutes, call for help immediately!
Do not give mouth-to-snout resuscitation if you cannot see any signs of life from your pet, such as breathing, moving, or reacting in any way. Get help from a trained first responder immediately.
- Do not give mouth-to-snout resuscitation if you can't see any signs of life from your pet, such as breathing or moving. Get help from a trained first responder immediately.
- If there is no response, get help from a trained first responder immediately.
- Do not plug the nose with your fingers during CPR on dogs and cats; this may block the airway and make it difficult for them to breathe when they start breathing again on their own. Instead, pinch the nose shut with your fingers and cover their mouth with yours--this allows oxygenated air into their lungs without blocking their airway completely (which could cause them to suffocate).
You have to be calm and focused during times of crisis so that you can help your pet survive an emergency situation
Calmness is a key component of being a good pet owner, and it's especially important when it comes to saving your animal's life. When an emergency occurs, it's easy for panic to set in and cloud your judgment, making it difficult for you to take action on behalf of your pet. The best thing that you can do is try not to get flustered by whatever has happened--whether that means staying calm on the outside or taking deep breaths inside yourself until things start feeling more manageable again--and focus instead on what needs doing: remembering the steps of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), if necessary; performing first aid techniques like chest compressions or mouth-to-snout resuscitation; calling 911 if necessary; etcetera!
Conclusion
Pets are a part of our families and we want to do everything we can to keep them safe. The best way to save your pet's life is by being prepared for any emergency situation, so be sure that you know what to do when your pet has stopped breathing or has other symptoms of a medical emergency. If you're not sure how much training is necessary for this type of lifesaving work, check with local organizations such as fire departments or animal shelters who may offer courses on pet first aid or CPR training courses for owners who want more information about how they can save lives!
