CPR for Pets: A Lifesaving Skill Every Pet Owner Should Know
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is a widely recognized lifesaving emergency technique. Usually, when a family member experiences critical conditions such as stopped heartbeat or breathing, we can take advantage of the "golden four minutes" to perform CPR and save lives.
Similarly, when a pet experiences an emergency shock, rushing them directly to the hospital often means missing this crucial window of time. Therefore, if pet owners know how to perform CPR on their dogs, they can gain valuable time and, in some cases, restore their pet's heartbeat and breathing even before reaching the vet.
It is natural for pet owners to feel the urgent need to perform CPR when their beloved dog's life is in danger. However, few people are actually able to administer CPR correctly to their pets. Although data shows that the survival rate after CPR in animals is around 5%, which is far lower than that for humans, knowing how to perform CPR still offers a chance to save a pet's life instead of doing nothing and feeling helpless.
Emergency CPR for Pets: The Golden 4 Minutes
When a beloved pet suddenly goes into shock, becomes unconscious, or even stops breathing and their heart stops beating, besides rushing them to the vet, pet owners can choose to perform immediate emergency CPR on their dog. This quick action may improve the chances of survival. However, it is crucial to understand the critical timing for performing CPR.
Just like in humans, the key "golden 4 minutes" applies to performing CPR on pets. If CPR is continuously administered within 20 minutes, the likelihood of the pet's heart and lung functions recovering is significantly increased.
Before starting CPR, there are important preliminary steps that must be confirmed and carried out, such as clearing any foreign objects from the mouth and locating the dog's heart position. Only after these steps can CPR be properly performed.
Because CPR requires significant force, it can cause serious injury to the pet if not absolutely necessary. Therefore, before beginning CPR, pet owners should follow the "Check ABC" principles to ensure it is appropriate to continue.
The "Check ABC" principle basically means that when you try to wake your dog and there is no response, you must first check their heart rate, breathing, airway, and circulation. If you find that your pet has no heartbeat or breathing, only then should you start CPR.
Check A (Airway)
Lay your dog on its side and open its mouth to examine the oral cavity and throat for any foreign objects blocking the airway.
Check B (Breathing)
The best way to check your dog's breathing is to hold a single hair close to the nostrils and observe if it moves with each breath, or place a mirror near the nose to see if it fogs up from the breath's moisture.
Check C (Circulation)
Press on the inside of the dog's thigh to feel for a pulse.
CPR Emergency Guide: When and How to Perform CPR on Dogs
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) for dogs should be performed only when you notice that your dog has no heartbeat or breathing, often due to emergencies such as heatstroke-induced shock, car accidents, or drowning. It's important to understand that performing CPR can potentially cause injuries such as broken ribs or muscle damage in your pet. This is because effective CPR requires a certain amount of force and depth when pressing the chest. If pet owners are hesitant to apply enough pressure out of concern for hurting their dog, it may jeopardize the primary goal of restoring the dog's heartbeat and autonomous breathing.
The "Dog CPR" Memory Aid
- Wake the dog up
- Check pulse and breathing
- Clear airway obstructions
- Perform artificial respiration
- Perform chest compressions
- Immediately transport to a hospital
The following detailed explanation uses a demonstration from New Taipei City Government's Animal Protection and Quarantine Department CPR emergency video. All wise and loving pet owners are encouraged to study these steps carefully.
Wake the Dog
If you suddenly find your dog collapsed and motionless, first stay calm and keep a clear head. Gently shake the dog or pat its body to check if it is conscious. If the dog does not respond, quickly move it to a flat surface and lay it on its right side. Avoid placing the dog on elevated platforms. Then, stretch the neck forward or slightly upward to open the airway properly.
Check the Pulse
Use your middle and index fingers to press gently on pulse points such as just below the ankle or on the inside of the hind leg. Check for any pulse. It's a good practice to regularly check your dog's pulse when healthy to understand its normal heart rate, which helps in emergencies.
Check Breathing
To determine if your dog is breathing normally, observe if it is breathing with its abdomen (which is uncommon for dogs). Abnormal breathing signs include noisy or labored breathing, discoloration of the tongue or mouth mucosa, which may indicate heatstroke, poisoning, or airway blockage. After checking breathing, straighten the neck and extend the front elbows to help expand the chest.
Clear Airway Obstruction
To keep the airway clear, examine the dog's mouth and throat for any foreign objects. If you find any obstruction in the throat, try to carefully pull out the tongue to help remove the object, ensuring the airway is not blocked before proceeding with CPR (artificial respiration and chest compressions).
Artificial Respiration
Perform artificial respiration by sealing your mouth over the dog's nose. Hold the dog's jaws shut with both hands, then blow air gently into the nose so that air can enter the lungs. Blow 1 to 2 times, each lasting 1 to 2 seconds, and observe if the chest rises or falls slightly. This process should be coupled with chest compressions in a ratio of 1 breath to 7 compressions, continuing until the dog regains spontaneous breathing and heartbeat. Avoid over-inflating the lungs, as this can cause lung damage.
Chest Compressions
The heart of a dog lies beneath its front elbow. When pressing, concentrate your force on this spot. The compression depth should be about one-third of the thickness of the dog's body when lying on its side. Perform 2 CPR cycles every minute, where one cycle consists of 1 breath and 7 chest compressions. Continue these cycles for up to 20 minutes, with approximately 80 compressions per minute.
Immediate Hospital Transport
Throughout the CPR process, closely monitor for any recovery of pulse or heartbeat. Once the dog's heartbeat returns, immediately transport it to a veterinary hospital for further care.
Important CPR Tips for Dogs
Finally, it is important to specially remind everyone that the CPR procedure described above uses a medium to large dog as an example. If your dog weighs less than five kilograms and is a small breed, remember to perform chest compressions using only four fingers. All other steps and principles remain the same.
No matter the cause of your pet's shock or loss of consciousness, it is crucial for pet parents to learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) as early as possible. This knowledge enables you to provide effective emergency care quickly when you notice any abnormal condition in your pet.
Of course, being attentive to your dog's daily care and closely observing their health status is the most basic responsibility you have toward them!
