As much as we try to protect our pets, accidents do happen. So, it is important to be as prepared as reasonably possible. One way to be prepared is to know how to give cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
CPR is an emergency technique used to help
someone whose heart and/or breathing has
stopped. Although somewhat modified, the
same techniques used for people – rescue
breathing and chest compressions – can be
used to help treat an animal in distress.
The first lesson to know about CPR is that it
doesn’t restart a stopped heart. The purpose
of CPR, in both humans and animals, is to
keep them alive until the heart begins beating on its own
or a cardiac
defibrillator can be used. In people, about 15 percent of
those getting CPR
actually survive. In animals, CPR is frequently
unsuccessful, even if
performed by a trained veterinarian. Even so, attempting
CPR will give your
pet a fighting chance.
The ABCs of CPR
In both humans and animals, you must follow the ABCs:
airway,
breathing and circulation, in that order. If you suspect
your pet is in
distress, immediately look at his posture. Note the
presence of blood,
vomit or feces; his breathing pattern and other bodily
sounds; and any
materials, such as possible poisons, around him.
It is vital to know for sure that your pet isn’t breathing
or doesn’t have a
pulse before beginning CPR; it is dangerous to apply CPR
to an animal (or
a person, for that matter) if he is breathing normally and
has a pulse.
Look for the chest rising and falling or place a mirror in
front of his nose
and watch for condensation. When checking for a pulse,
remember that
animals do not have a distinct carotid (neck) pulse. To
determine if the
heart is still beating, place your hand on the left side
of the chest.
Airway
If your pet has stopped breathing, check to see if the
throat and mouth are
clear of foreign objects. Be careful about placing your
fingers inside the
mouth. An unresponsive dog may bite on instinct. If the
airway is blocked,
do the following:
Breathing
If your dog is breathing, allow him to assume the position
most
comfortable for him. If he isn’t breathing, make sure the
airway is open,
and begin rescue breathing. Again, remember that even an
unresponsive
dog may bite on instinct.
For medium to large dogs, you will be performing
mouth-to-nose
breathing. Close the mouth and lips by placing your hand
around the lips
and holding the muzzle closed.
For dogs over 30 pounds, give 20 breaths per minute.
For dogs less than 30 pounds, give 20 to 30 breathes per minute.
Now check for a heartbeat. If no heartbeat is detected,
begin cardiac
compressions with rescue breathing.
Circulation
For most animals, chest compressions are best done with
the animal
lying on his side on a hard surface. For barrel-chested
dogs such as
bulldogs and pugs, CPR is best done with the animal on his
back.
Make sure your pet is on a hard surface. The sidewalk or
ground should
work. If the animal is on a soft area, chest compressions
will not be as
effective.
For small animals (less than 30 pounds)
For animals 30 to 100 pounds
Place your palm or fingertips over the ribs at the point where the raised elbow meets the chest.
Kneel down next to the animal with the chest near you.
Compress the chest about 1 inch at a rate of twice per second. (Small animals have higher heart rates than people so compressions need to be more rapid.)
Begin 5 compressions for each breath. After 1 minute, stop and check for a heartbeat. Continue if the beat has not resumed.
For animals over 100 poundsKneel down next to the animal with the back near you.
Extend your elbows and cup your hands on top of each other.
Place your cupped hands over the ribs at the point where the raised elbow meets the chest.
Compress the chest 2 to 3 inches at a rate of 1.5 to 2 times per second.
Begin 5 compressions for each breath. Check for a heartbeat after 1 minute and continue if none is detected.
Perform CPR as you would for large pets.
Compress the chest about once per second.
Apply 10 compressions for each breath. Check for a heartbeat after 1 minute and continue if none is detected.
Perform CPR until you have reached a veterinary hospital. After 20 minutes, however, the chances of reviving an animal are extremely unlikely.