Every dog owner has a special bond with their pet, but that bond doesn't mean you should be complacent about emergencies. If you've ever wondered what to do if your furry friend is having an emergency and can't breathe, read on! The following guide will teach you what steps to take when your pet starts choking or collapses.
Dogs may be the most loyal, faithful companions a person can ask for, but that doesn't mean they can't suffer from emergencies like heart attacks or choking.
If you've ever had a dog, then you know how loyal and faithful they can be. They will follow you around for miles, even if it means walking through an icy puddle or getting stuck under a car tire. But just because dogs are so often considered man's best friend doesn't mean that they are immune from suffering from emergencies like heart attacks or choking.
A dog having a heart attack is not uncommon; in fact, it happens quite often! Heart attacks in dogs tend to occur due to underlying health issues such as obesity or high blood pressure that can lead up to a coronary occlusion (blockage) within the coronary arteries--the vessels that supply blood throughout your body including your heart muscles themselves. In order to save your furry friend during this time of need, here's what needs to be done:
If you ever find yourself in an emergency situation with your pet, follow these steps to save their life.
If you ever find yourself in an emergency situation with your pet, follow these steps to save their life.
- Check for breathing and vomiting. If they aren't breathing or are having trouble breathing, call your vet immediately! It is important that you do not try to perform CPR on them until after they've received medical attention from a veterinarian or other professional.
- Start chest compressions on the side opposite where they most recently ate (this way they won't have anything in their mouth). Use two fingers placed just behind their front legs; make sure to push straight down while maintaining constant pressure on their chest (no more than 100-120 beats per minute). If there is any resistance at all when performing chest compressions, stop immediately! You may also want to check for a pulse again before continuing with this step - if there was one before but now isn't any more then skip ahead directly into mouth-to-snout resuscitation without stopping first.
- Check pulse after 30 seconds of continued compressions
Step 1: Check for Breathing and Vomiting
If your pet is not breathing or appears to be unconscious, then the first step is to check for breathing. If you cannot find a pulse at this point and your pet has no heartbeat, CPR may be necessary.
If you see that your furry friend has vomited recently (within 2 hours), it's possible that they have ingested something poisonous and need immediate medical attention from a veterinarian or poison control center.
Step 2: Call your veterinarian and CPR For Dogs
The next step is to call your veterinarian
Once you've called and given them your location, ask if you should begin CPR for dogs immediately. If they say yes, then go ahead and start compressions (see below).
Step 3: Start Compressions
- Use two fingers and press down on the chest. If you're using a palm-to-paw compressions method, place your hand over your dog's back, then use your other hand to place one finger between each rib. Push hard enough to feel their ribs move and breathe out as you push inwards (like giving an elbow bump), so that there is no space between your hands when they meet at the end of each compression.
- Pump fast! At least 100 compressions per minute are ideal for dogs; even faster if possible! Repeat until help arrives or until there's no more time left for resuscitation efforts.
Step 4: Check Pulse and Breathing Pause
After you've checked for a heartbeat, it's time to check your breathing.
- If your pet is not breathing and has no pulse, begin CPR by giving two quick breaths into the mouth (one second each). Then continue with chest compressions at the rate of 100 per minute until help arrives or you can get your pet to an emergency veterinarian.
- If they are still alive and have a pulse but are not breathing, give two quick breaths into the mouth (one second each). Then continue with chest compressions at the rate of 100 per minute until help arrives or you can get your pet to an emergency veterinarian.
Step 5 (Optional): Use Mouth-to-Snout Resuscitation
If the animal is not breathing, try mouth-to-snout resuscitation. This technique works by breathing air into their lungs and massaging their chest. It can be done with or without a pet first aid kit (see below).
If you have a pet first aid kit: Open it up and use the enclosed tools to help you perform mouth-to-snout resuscitation. These kits often include an oxygen mask for humans, but if yours does not then you will need to improvise by using whatever materials are available (e.g., tissue paper). If there's no way of creating a seal around your dog's nose and mouth, then don't worry too much about getting every last bit of air in there--just do what feels right! Remember: You're doing this because they're unconscious; they won't know whether or not they feel comfortable during this process just as long as they wake up again eventually!
If there isn't any sort of kit available: Simply place one hand over each side of its muzzle while holding onto its head firmly but gently at all times throughout this procedure so that it doesn't slip away from any sudden movements made by either party involved (you'll want both hands free since one will be busy performing CPR). Then lean down towards its face until their noses touch each other before blowing gently through nostrils until pinkish fluid begins coming out from between clenched teeth - after which point stop immediately because now would probably be a good time to check pulse rate again just in case something went wrong to somewhere along line earlier during the process due lack
Every second counts when it comes to saving a furry friend's life, so don't hesitate!
- If you're concerned that your dog is not breathing, check for chest movement.
- If you see no signs of breathing, start CPR by pressing down hard on the animal's chest once every second.
- Call your vet immediately and tell them what happened. Tell them how long the dog has been unconscious and if he or she has vomited recently (this may indicate poisoning). Also give them any medical history information about your pet--for example, if he/she has diabetes or heart disease.
- When emergency services arrive: Tell them what happened and where it happened; don't move him/her unless absolutely necessary!
Conclusion
If you ever find yourself in an emergency situation with your pet, follow these steps to save their life. Check for breathing and vomiting, call your vet and perform CPR on dogs, start compressions, and check pulse and breathing pause.