Sunday, September 2, 2012

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation for dogs

By Jerry Welsh


CPR can save your dog's life! Dog owners are encouraged by the American Red Cross and other animal health organizations to learn how to give the pet CPR. For families with pets, at least one member has to know how CPR is done. CPR means cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This chest compression and rescue breathing is aimed to resuscitate the pet that have had cardiac arrest. Cardiopulmunary procedure is an emergency care that will stabilize the pet's condition after cardiac arrest.

Electrocution and ingestion of poisonous substances, ingestion of foreign object that can create an airway blockage can snuff the life of the pet. Prevention will naturally be the best bet to save the pet from these life threatening conditions. However, we know that accidents can never be prevented given the energetic and inquisitive nature of the pet. Learning first aid methods will be a dog owner's insurance against serious injuries that can cause the death of the pet. Competency of the owner to administer CPR can stabilize the condition before the pet is transported to a veterinary facility. The skill of the pet owner to administer this first aid method can save the life of the pet and can give the pet owner the chance to enjoy the companionship of the pet for many more days. To be able to save the life of the pet with CPR, an owner has to learn how to give artificial respiration and chest compression competently. CPR can be administered by following the ABC process.

A is for the dog's airway. The first step is to check if the dog's airway is not blocked. Artificial respiration will be ineffective if the dog's airway is blocked. To check the airway, the dog's head must be extended, the mouth opened to be able to see if an object is creating a blockage. If manual removal of the blockage is not possible, Heimlich maneuver must be done on the pet.

Rescue breathing is the next step but it can only be done if the airway is clear. Lay the pet on his side, hold the snout close with one hand and blow over the dog's nose. Blow over the dog's nose once every three seconds until the dog is already breathing without help. Breathing must be at full lung capacity to revive large dogs. Artificial respiration for small dogs must be gentler. Breathing is aimed to move the chest and not to inflate the lungs.

Chest compression is done to a dog that has lost consciousness and to one that has no pulse nor heartbeat. The palm of the hand must be positioned over the dog's heart. With the other hand placed on top of the other start compression. Compress the chest 3 times every two seconds. It would be necessary to breathe on the nose after doing five chest compressions




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