CPR for Dogs and Cats

CPR for Dogs and Cats
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CPR - Cardiopulmonary resuscitation - is an attempt to supply blood flow and oxygen to the tissues of the body when normal respiration and/or heart function have failed. Time is critical as irreversible tissue damage occurs within 2-4 minutes of respiratory or circulatory arrest. Signs of cardiac arrest include unconsciousness, cessation of breathing, pale to grey-white gums, dilated pupils.

If your dog becomes unconscious, respiratory arrest may occur, and usually occurs before cardiac arrest. The heart may continue to beat for several minutes after the breathing stops. Artificial respiration, or rescue breathing, must begin immediately to save your dog's life. If the heart stops, chest compressions must be given right away to keep the blood pumping. Artificial respiration and chest compressions given together are called cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR.

Rescue Breathing (artificial respiration):
(Performed when there is no breathing)

If your dog has gone into respiratory arrest, begin Rescue Breathing (artificial respiration) immediately.

• Check for heart activity
  Feel for pulses - femoral artery
  
• Listen to the chest
  Be sure your dog has stopped breathing: watch for the rise and fall of the chest, feel for breath on your hand, look at the gums - - they will turn blue from lack of oxygen.
  
• Call for help if available
  
• Lay your dog on his side on a hard flat surface.
  
• Check the airway
  it must be clear. Open the mouth and look for a foreign object. If an object is blocking the airway, grab the tongue and pull it outward. If this does not dislodge the object, use your fingers, pliers, or tongs to grasp it. If the object cannot be reached or pulled out, use the Heimlich maneuver. Clear mucus. Careful - DO NOT GET BITTEN!
  
• Once the airway is clear, begin rescue breathing.
  
• With your dog on his side, lift the chin to straighten out his throat.
  
• Use one hand to grasp the muzzle and hold the mouth shut.
  Hold dog's nose with his mouth closed.
  
• Inhale, then place your mouth over dog's nose and mouth and exhale
  Put your mouth completely over the nose and blow gently; the chest should expand. Blow just enough to move his chest (blow harder for large dogs, gently for cats and small dogs).
  
• Wait for the air to leave the lungs before breathing again.
  
• Continue giving between 12 - 20 breaths per minute (one breath every three to 5 seconds) until your dog breathes on his own or as long as the heart beats.
  
• Continue to monitor the heartbeat.

CPR:
(Performed when there is no heartbeat)

   If your dog's heart has stopped beating, CPR must begin immediately. It is best to have two people performing CPR - - one continuing artificial respiration while the other does chest compressions. Follow the instructions for artificial respiration, alternating with chest compressions. For two people performing CPR, alternate one breath with three compressions. For one person performing CPR, alternate one breath with five compressions.

• The prognosis is poor if fixed and dilated pupils do not constrict down after initiation of CPR.
• Check efficiency by feeling for pulses often
• DO NO STOP CPR FOR LONGER THAN 30 SECONDS

CPR For Smaller Dogs:
(under 30 pounds)

• Lay your dog on his side on a flat surface.
  
• Place the palm of your hand on the rib cage over the heart. Place your other hand on top of the first. (For puppies and kittens, put your thumb on one side of the chest and the rest of your fingers on the other side.)
  
• Compress the chest about one inch. Squeeze and release rhythmically at a rate of 80 to 100 compressions per minute.
  
• Continue CPR and Rescue Breathing until your dog breathes on his own and has a steady heartbeat.
  
• Single resuscitator: 2 breaths / 15 compressions
• Double resuscitators: 1 breath / 3-5 compressions

CPR For Larger Dogs:
(over 30 pounds)

• Lay your dog on his side on a flat surface.
  
• Place one hand on top of the other over the widest portion of the rib cage, not over the heart.
  
• Keeping your arms straight, push down on the rib cage. Compress the chest 1/4 of it's width. Squeeze and release rhythmically at a rate of 80 compressions per minute.
  
• Continue CPR and Rescue Breathing until your dog breathes on his own and has a steady heartbeat.
  
• Single resuscitator: 2 breaths / 15 compressions
• Double resuscitators: 1 breath / 3-5 compressions

   The instructions are for reference purposes and should NOT be considered a replacement for actual Pet CPR training. Thanks to dogpatch.org and brentwoodpetclinic.com for some of the information presented here