I read this week that if an emergency presented itself animal owners would perform CPR to save their pets, but I wondered how many of us knew what was involved in pet CPR that would allow us to actually do some good. This is what I have found but I recommend you discuss this with your own vet regarding your pet, but do it ahead of time so should an emergency happen you will be prepared. To make it easy to remember it’s broken down into instructions that associate numbers and letters with the instructions, helping you to remember during times of stress
1 – 2 – 3 – A – B — C
ONE: Check the area and make sure it is safe for you to help. You can’t help your pet if you get hurt in the process.
TWO: Check for a response by tapping and calling your pet’s name.
THREE: Check to see if they are breathing by carefully place your hand in front of their nose and mouth, feeling for breath while insuring you do not cut off their air supply.
A is for Airway – lay your pet on their right side. Carefully pull their tongue forward out of their mouth (be cautious, even unconscious animals retain the bite instinct). Look in their mouth and throat for any foreign objects and carefully remove them if found. If you are unable to remove the obstruction perform the Heimlich* maneuver before proceeding. Once you are sure the airway is clear, move their head to straighten their neck and open the airway.
B is for Breathing – Close your pet’s mouth with your hand and breathe into its nose until the side of their chest rises. Give a second breath. If their chest does not rise, repeat step A.
.If it still does not rise perform the Heimlich maneuver:
* Hold the animal head down with its back against your chest.
* Give 5 sharp squeezes to the abdomen in an attempt to force the object out.
* Lay the animal down and look for an object in the airway or on the ground.
* Repeat step A.
C is for Circulation – The heart is on the left side of the chest cavity behind the elbow of the left front leg. Place one hand under the chest cavity for support. Press down on the heart with the other hand 15 times, compressing the chest 1/2 inch for tiny dogs, 1 inch for small dogs and 1 1/2 inches for larger ones. Small pets like rodents, use your thumb and forefinger to compress the chest. Pump 80-120 beats per minute for larger animals and 100-150 beats per minute for smaller pets.
Repeat steps A – B – C until your pet begins breathing.
I hope you never find yourself in the position to need these instructions but if you do you’ll have a fighting chance to save your best friend now rather than sit by helplessly and watch as they suffer. And never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.
Speaking of not forgetting, make this the year you have a lasting memory of you, your animals and your family by attending the Randolph County Humane Society Pictures with Santa event on Nov 1st at the Movie Gallery in Sparta from 1-4 and Nov 15th AFSCME Union Hall in Chester from 1-4. You don’t even have to bring your pet to take part, and where else can you get a framed 4 X 6 family Christmas portrait for $8.
I hadn’t thought of CPR for pets before. Great info. Very interesting.
For many families (mine included) pets are like our children, and during a medical emergency it’s important to know what to do because unlike children there aren’t many places to go for help. I appreciate that you took the time to give it a thumbs up. Thank you.