Introduction
Have you ever been watching TV and seen a commercial for Pet CPR? If you haven't seen it, the ad shows a human doing chest compressions on a dog. While it may be humorous to think about giving CPR to your pooch, the truth is that pet owners should know how to perform CPR on their pets just in case an emergency situation arises. It's not as hard as you might think: There are steps that can be taken before arriving at the vet or animal hospital so that if something does happen, all available resources will be used to save your furry friend.
A CPR class isn't just for humans.
A CPR class isn't just for humans. It's a good idea for any pet owner to take a class, because it could save your pet's life.
You'll learn how to perform CPR on your pet, administer oxygen, use a defibrillator and much more.
If there is no pulse, you can perform CPR on your pet by giving them artificial respiration. First, make sure the animal is laying on their side so that they don’t choke on their own vomit or saliva. Then blow into their nose to get any mucus out of it before doing mouth-to-mouth breathing for one minute.
What to do if your pet is choking.
If your pet is choking, the first step is to make sure you can see their chest moving. If they're not breathing and their chest isn't moving, start CPR immediately.
- The Heimlich maneuver: Place one hand on top of your pet's abdomen and use the other hand to thrust upward in a quick, upward motion towards the rib cage. Do this about five times until whatever is stuck in their throat comes out or until they start to breathe again (it will be obvious when this happens).
- Back slaps: While holding onto the hind legs with both hands, firmly strike their back between 2-3 inches below where you are holding onto them with force enough so that it makes contact with their spine -- but do NOT hit hard enough that you break any bones! This should cause coughing which will help remove foreign objects from their airways if there are any present there at all; if no cough occurs after several attempts then continue with abdominal thrusts instead (see below).
How to check for a heartbeat if your pet is unconscious.
If your pet is unconscious and you can't find a heartbeat, start chest compressions. You can do this by placing two fingers on either side of their chest and pressing down at least 2 inches (5 cm). Press hard enough to compress the heart and lungs, but not so hard that it causes pain or discomfort for them.
Start with 30 compressions per minute until help arrives or until they regain consciousness.
The first step to getting your pet CPR certification is to participate in the class.
When to perform CPR on a dog or cat.
When you find your pet unconscious, stop what you are doing and take the following steps:
- Call an emergency veterinarian. Do not wait to see if your pet will come around on its own.
- Perform CPR on the animal if it is struggling to breathe or has no pulse (and if you have been trained how).
If your pet is conscious, try to find a pulse by placing two fingers on either side of their chest. You can use the carotid artery located under the jaw.
When not to perform CPR on your pet.
If your pet is not breathing, or is not breathing normally, do not perform CPR. If your pet has a broken back or other serious injury, do not perform CPR. And if your dog has been poisoned by something like antifreeze (a common occurrence during summer months), do not perform CPR.
If you are unable to reach an emergency veterinarian, take your pet directly to one.
Knowing when and when not to perform CPR will help keep your pet safe in an emergency situation. If you are not sure what to do, call a vet. If you can't reach a vet and feel that it's an emergency situation, take your pet to the vet as soon as possible.
Conclusion
The most important thing to remember is that pets can get sick and injured just like humans. If you're worried about your pet's health or have noticed any unusual behavior, it's important to take them to the vet as soon as possible. Be sure that all family members know how to perform CPR on their pets in case of an emergency!
If you are not sure what to do, call a vet. If you can't reach a vet and feel that it's an emergency situation, take your pet to the vet as soon as possible.
