When your pet has an emergency, the best thing you can do is be prepared and remain calm.
If your dog experiences a traumatic event, such as becoming unresponsive or unconscious, you need to know how to perform CPR on your dog.
If you are alone at home and no one is coming to help, do not attempt CPR. Rush your pet to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital.
What is a dog CPA?
Before knowing about CPR for dogs, it is important to understand Canine Cardiopulmonary Arrest (CPA). CPA in dogs is when the dog’s heart stops beating and the dog stops breathing. CPA in dogs can be caused by a variety of triggers, including:
CPA is a life-threatening medical emergency in which damage to the brain and other organs can begin in as little as four minutes without oxygen, leading to rapid death.
If you are alone at home and no one is coming to help, do not attempt CPR. Rush your pet to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital.
If your dog is unresponsive, it can be difficult to determine if CPA is occurring. In this case, it is important to take a few seconds to assess the situation.
- Are they responding? Call their name and shake them awake.
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are they breathing? Check to see if your chest is moving up and down.
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Is the airway clear? Check for objects that may be choking, such as rawhide or toys. If you have something stuck in the back of your throat, try to remove it. However, be careful not to push it all the way down your throat.
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If your dog fights when you try to look at the back of his throat, stop immediately. They don’t need CPR and can bite you.
If your pet is responsive and breathing, CPR is not necessary, even if the pet is unconscious. However, you should take your pet to an emergency veterinary hospital as soon as possible.
If your dog is unresponsive when you call his name or shake him, he is not breathing, and you can open his jaw without resistance, begin CPR immediately.
What is CPR for dogs?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or canine CPR is an emergency life-saving procedure that involves both chest compressions and mouth-to-nose breathing.
Chest compressions are used to mimic the beating of the heart and circulate blood containing oxygen and nutrients to organs. Mouth-to-nose breathing is used to mimic normal breathing through the lungs and facilitate oxygen intake and carbon dioxide excretion.
If your dog is undergoing CPR and you have someone to drive you to the veterinarian while you perform CPR, start CPR immediately and follow the CPR route. Continue resuscitation.
If you are alone at home and no one is coming to help, do not attempt CPR. Rush your pet to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital.
How to perform CPR on a dog
1. Lay the dog on its side
To begin chest compressions, lay your dog on his side on the floor and kneel next to him with his spine facing you. Please check the following:
- shoulders are directly above the hands
- elbows locked
- Core (abdominal) muscles work to compress
- Place your hands on top of each other by interlacing or interlacing your fingers.
The size and shape of your dog will determine where you place your hands.
- Medium-sized dogs (21-50 pounds): above the widest part of the chest
- Large and giant dogs (over 51 pounds): above the widest part of the chest
- Keeled dogs (e.g. Greyhound): beyond the heart
- Flat-chested dogs (e.g. English bulldogs): Place the dog on its back on top of its sternum (breastbone).
2. Begin chest compressions
Chest compressions should be performed at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute, regardless of the dog’s size or breed.
Each compression should reach a depth of one-third to one-half the width of your pet’s chest. In between compressions, press hard and fast to make sure your chest rises completely.
To find the point above the heart, pull your dog’s elbow up a third of the way up the dog’s chest. The tip of your elbow on your chest is where your heart is.
To find the widest part of the dog’s chest, feel the top of the dog’s ribcage while lying on its side.
CPR for dogs small dogs
For small dogs (under 15 pounds), use the one-handed method.
For the one-handed method, wrap your hand around your sternum with your thumb over your heart and pointing toward your spine.
Compression should be performed by moving the thumb towards the other fingers while keeping the thumb parallel to the palm.
3. Start breathing through your mouth and into your nose.
To perform mouth-to-nose breathing on your dog:
- Keep your dog’s mouth closed with one hand.
- Lay your dog’s head flat on the floor and extend his neck in line with his spine.
- Place your mouth over both nostrils to create a seal.
- Give two quick puffs into your nostrils.
- Make sure your chest rises as you breathe in.
4. Continue the pattern
CPR for dogs involves alternating chest compressions with mouth-to-nose breathing.
Step 1: Perform a total of 30 chest compressions, using the chest compressions appropriate for your dog’s size and breed, as outlined above.
Step 2: Stop chest compressions and pause for approximately 5 seconds.
Step 3: Have your dog take two quick breaths using the mouth-to-nose technique.
Step 4: Repeat steps 1-3.
Be sure to stop compressions before breathing. Otherwise, air will not move to the lungs.
5. Change people if possible
If a caregiver is present, one person can perform chest compressions and a second person can provide rescue breaths.
Be sure to stop compressions before breathing. Otherwise, air will not move to the lungs. Rescuers can be rotated approximately every two minutes to prevent fatigue.
If your dog regains consciousness, is breathing on his own, or begins to respond to you, stop CPR.
take the dog to the veterinarian
The goal of CPR at home is to keep your dog alive long enough to be taken to a veterinarian. Load your pet into the car as soon as possible and continue CPR during the trip (as long as there is someone else driving).
CPR should never be performed while driving and should only be performed in the vehicle if it is safe to do so. To move your dog safely, towel or sling Place it under it and it will provide a cushion when going from the floor to the car.
If you are alone and cannot get help to transport your pet to the veterinarian, do not attempt CPR and immediately take your pet to your local veterinarian or 24-hour animal emergency hospital.
