CPR for Dogs

AIRWAY

- make sure that the animal has an open airway

1. Lay animal down on either side.

2. Gently tilt the head slightly back to extend the neck.

3. Pull the tongue between the front teeth.

4. Use your finger to check for and remove any foreign material.

BREATHING

- if the animal is not breathing do the following:

1. Open the airway.

2. For medium and large dogs, seal the mouth and lips by placing your hands around the lips, gently holding the muzzle closed.

3. Place your mouth over the animal's nose and forcefully exhale.

4. Give four or five breaths rapidly, then check to see if animal is breathing without assistance. Unless the animal begins to breath regularly continue artificial respiration until you reach a vet, or for a maximum of 20 minutes. Use the following breathing rates: * Medium or large dog (over 30 lbs): 20 breaths per minute.*

CIRCULATION

- if there is no heartbeat or pulse

Medium to large dogs (30-90 lbs)

1. Stand or kneel with animal's back toward you (animal laying on *right* side).

2. Extend arms at the elbows.

3. Cup hands over each other.

4. Compress the chest at the point where the animal's left elbow lies when pulled back to the chest.

5. Compress so the chest moves about 1- 3 inches with each compression.

6. If working alone, do 5 compressions for each breath, then check for a pulse.

7. If there are two people, one person does the breathing while the other performs the compressions at a rate of 2 or 3 compressions for each breath, check for pulse.

Large dogs (more than 90 lbs)

1. Use technique for medium to large dogs.

2. If working alone, do 10 compressions for each breath, check pulse.

3. If there are two people, one person does the breathing while the other performs the compressions at a rate of six compressions for each breath, then check for a pulse.

* Do not start chest compressions before checking for heartbeat *

It is absolutely imperative that you ascertain the cardiac status of the animal, that is, that there is NO HEARTBEAT, before commencing chest compressions.

Just because an animal is not breathing does not mean he also has no heartbeat. (Although if he does, he won't for long if he does not receive ventilations or start breathing on his own by opening his airway quickly.)

Take your time when checking for a heartbeat and be sure there is none before beginning compressions. Check for about 10 seconds, sometimes it can be hard to find, or faint. Be sure before you compress!