PetCPR

CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) has saved countless human lives and is something that everyone should know how to perform. This is not just something for humans but CPR is also something that can be performed on pet dogs and cats as well. While no one wants to have to do this with their beloved four-legged friend it is good to know so that if the need arises you can be ready.

The process

For the most part pet CPR is very much the same as with humans. The first thing is to see if the pet is breathing and has a heartbeat. If they do not begin CPR by laying them on a flat surface with their right side against the surface while pushing hard and fast on their chest at a rate of 100-120 per minute. (The Bee Gee’s 1977 hit Stayin’ Alive is commonly used as an example of how fast to do chest compressions as it is 103 beats per minute) After 30 compressions give two rescue breaths into their nose to try to open up their airways. Continue this cycle until the pet begins breathing again and regains a steady pulse while checking to make sure they are still breathing every 2 minutes. This should be done until the pet reaches a veterinary hospital for treatment.

Importance of knowing CPR

This simple act can save your pet’s life when they go into cardiac arrest and can be performed by anyone. If you need help with this or just want some guidance many pet service sites like veterinarians or pet stores offer classes or programs detailing pet CPR that you could enroll in. After all where you should place your hands or how hard you need to push may not seem straight forward when it comes to your pet and it can vary by the size of the animal. A proper course might take a few hours but should your pet ever need CPR those few hours will be well worth it. Some organizations even offer the seminars for free or for a minimal cost and some can even be done online.
At Doggie DoLittle we strive to provide the safest possible environment for your pet. We want them to leave us feeling and looking good but if something happens we have staff on hand that are pet CPR+ certified. The last thing we want is for tragedy to strike your pet while they are with us. We want your pet to keep coming back and the last thing that we want anyone to think is that their pet is not in good hands.

References:

https://pettech.net/
https://www.petmd.com/dog/emergency/common-emergencies/e_dg_cardiopulmonary_resuscitation
https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/performing-cpr/pet-cpr
https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/first-aid/cat-dog-first-aid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_izvAbhExY

My little dog – a heartbeat at my feet. -Edith Wharton