By Delsie Lewis

Do you know how to do CPR on your pet? You can learn it and you can save your pets life. Recognizing your pet needs CPR may be challenging, we don’t want to believe our fur kids are not alive. BUT quick recognition and quick action could save your pets life. If your pet is still and appears to be asleep but will not wake when you call them or shake them, check for breathing. Is the chest moving? Look at your pet’s mouth, are the gums turning blue, is the tongue turning blue? As with humans, when the blood stops circulating these areas will turn blue quickly. If so your pet needs immediate CPR.

Today we will discuss CPR for dogs, the next article will be on cats.

CPR on a dog is different than humans in a few ways but can be just as effective. On dogs you hold the mouth closed and seal your mouth completely over the nose and breathe through the nose. This forces air into the lungs without it escaping around the edges of the mouth. Start CPR by giving 3 good breaths to your pet. If the dog does not respond you need to check for a pulse in the inside of the back leg. (see photo above)

Chest compression’s are done with the dog laying on the right side, extend the head all the way forward or up as if it were sniffing, this will open the airway. Place the palm of one hand directly on top of the rib cage. Press down approximately 1 “do this about 80-100 times per minute. If your pet weighs over 30 lb. doing compression’s may be harder, standing on your knees, lock your elbows and use your upper body strength to help do compression’s, you will also have to press a little deeper on a bigger dog approximately 1/3 the depth of the chest. You must continue to do rescue breathing, giving 2 rescue breaths after every cycle of 80-100 compression’s. You may need to continue this procedure until you can get your dog to a veterinarian office. You can perform CPR holding your pet or on the car seat if needed. It may not be as effective but it can save a life.

Check out Fur Babies website and their Facebook Page Fur Babies Adoptions and Rescue.

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