How to give CPR to your pet
Do you know how to perform CPR on your pet in an emergency? It’s something no pet parent ever wants to face, but being aware and prepared could help save you furry friend’s life.
If your pet is unresponsive and not breathing, here’s what to do:
1. Check for breathing and a heartbeat
- Check if your pet’s chest is moving. Check for a pulse on the inner thigh of the back leg, or where the left elbow touches the chest.
- If your pet is not breathing and you can’t find a pulse, commence CPR with chest compressions.
2. Position your pet
- Place your pet on a firm, hard surface.
- Turn them onto their right side. Or, if they are a barrel- or flat-chested dog (e.g. a Pug or Bulldog), place them on their back.
3. Position your hands
The position of your hands will depend on your pet’s size and shape. In all cases, place the heel of one hand directly on your pet and place your other hand directly over your first hand.
- For cats, small dogs and narrow-chested dogs:
Place your hands directly over your pet’s heart. The heart is where their elbow touches their chest.
- For deep-chested dogs (e.g. Greyhounds, Great Danes, Pointers):
Place your hands over the widest part of the dog’s chest. Lock your elbows and make sure your shoulders are directly above your hands.
Ensure the dog is on its back. Place your hands over the widest part of the sternum. Lock your elbows and make sure your shoulders are directly above your hands.
4. Perform 30 chest compressions
- Keep your arms straight, directly above your pet, and use your body to drive the compression.
- Push hard and push fast at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute, compressing the chest by one third to half its width.
- Make sure the chest comes back fully (recoils) before compressing again. Repeat this thirty times.
5. Give two rescue breaths
Extend your pet’s neck to keep the airway open.
- For cats and small dogs, cover their nose and mouth with your mouth.
- For large dogs, close their mouth and cover their nose with your mouth.
Exhale until you see the chest rise. then repeat. Give two rescue breaths.
6. Repeat compressions and breaths
- Repeat 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths for 2 minutes, at a steady rhythm, then check for a heartbeat.
- Continue to repeat CPR until there is a heartbeat and your pet starts breathing again on their own, or until 20 mins have gone by.
7. Get help
- Call your vet or emergency clinic immediately after starting CPR and continue CPR until you reach the clinic.
- Or, once your pet is stable enough to be transported, call the nearest vet and advise them that you are on your way. Be sure to tell them you have administered CPR.
We suggest you memorise the basics and print out or keep this article bookmarked so that you can access it quickly in an emergency. You never know, your knowledge and response could help save your pet’s life. ❤️
With thanks to https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/performing-cpr/pet-cpr
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