CANINE CPR

RESCUE BREATHING

Just as in people if your dog stops breathing you need to start respirations immediately.

* Place your dog on their side on a hard flat surface

* Make sure your dog is truly not breathing. If your dog is not breathing its gums with turn blue.

* Check your dogs airway. Make sure it is clear and that there are no foreign objects blocking the airway stopping your dog from breathing.

If there is an object blocking the airway grab the tongue and pull it forward. If this does not remove the object then use your fingers or hemostats or whatever means necessary to remove the object. If you still can not remove the object then use the Heimlich maneuver.

* Once the airway is clear being giving your dog rescue breaths.

To do this leave your dog lying on his side and lift the chin to straighten out his airway.

Use one hand to grasp the muzzle and hold the mouth shut.

Place your mouth over the dogs nose and make a seal with your mouth. Blow gently into the dogs nose. You want to see the chest expand with the air. Be careful not to blow too hard or you can damage the lungs. Remember on bigger dogs you will have to blow a little harder than smaller dogs.

Wait for the air to escape from the lungs before giving another breath to the dog.

You should be giving your dog 20 breaths per minute to sustain them.

Continue doing this until either you dog starts to breathe again on their own or until the heart stops beating.

* Get your dog to the vet immediately once breathing resumes!

CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION(CPR)

If the dogs heart has stopped beating you must begin CPR immediately. It is best to have 2 people preforming the CPR, one to breathe and one to do the compressions but it is possible to do the CPR alone also.

If performing CPR with 2 people you need to give one breath to three chest compressions.

If performing CPR alone you need to give one breath to five chest compressions.

FOR SMALL DOGS

* Lay the dog on their side on a hard flat surface.

* Place the palm of your one hand one the ribcage directly over the heart. Place your other hand on top of the first. (For puppies place your thumb on one side of the chest and the rest of your fingers on the other side to keep them out of the way.)

*Compress the chest about one inch. Compress (squeeze on puppies) and release evenly at a rate of about 80-100 compressions per minute.

Continue this until your dog breathes on its own and has a steady heartbeat.

* Get your dog to the vet immediately after breathing and heartbeat is restored!

FOR LARGE DOGS

* Lay the dog on their side on a hard flat surface.

* Place one hand over the other over the widest part of the dogs ribcage that is not over the heart.

* Keeping your arms straight with the elbows locked compress the chest. You should compress the chest 1/4 of its width. Compress and release evenly at a rate of about 80 compressions per minute.

Continue this until your dog breathes on its own and has a steady heartbeat.

* Get your dog to the vet immediately after breathing and heartbeat is restored!

CPR IN NEWBORNS

*Clear the airway. Hold the pups head downward to allow gravity to help drain the amneotic fluid from the mouth, nose and lungs. You can also use a suction bulb to clear the fluid.

*Place your mouth so it covers both the pups mouth and nose and give 2-3 little puffs of air. Do not give large breaths or blow hard or you will burst the pups lungs. Note: Brucellosis can result in weak or dead pups and can be transmitted to humans through contact with the puppy or the fluids.

*Check for a heartbeat. Feel the chest wall with your fingers or using a stethoscope. If no heartbeat, then compress the chest in the area right at the back of the bent elbow (location of the heart) with thumb on one side of the chest and forefinger on the other. Press the chest gently and quickly remembering that a pups heartbeat is 120-180 beats per minute.

*Every 15-20 seconds give another few puffs of air.

*Before restarting the cycle be sure to check to see if the heart is beating and the pup is breathing.

*Once the heart has restarted you can stimulate the pup more by rubbing vigorously with a towel. Continue working with the pup for 20 minutes or so to ensure survival.

*If the heart is not beating and breathing has not resumed, then continue with CPR. If you have not revived the pup within 5-10 minutes, then it is unlikely that the pup can be saved as it will have sustained brain damage due to lack of oxygen.

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