CPR Basics
Assessment of your pet begins with the ABC's:
Airway
Breathing
Circulation
Airway
Breathing
Circulation
- SURVEY FIRST - Make sure that the animal is actually unconscious and has stopped breathing. Talk to your pet and gently touch them first. Check for breathing and a pulse. If your pet is not actually unconscious, you could be seriously injured!
- CLEAR AIRWAY - Extend the head and neck and gently pull the tongue forward to open the airway. Look in the mouth for any vomit or saliva (remove this if it is present). If it is too dark to see into the mouth, sweep your finger deep into the throat to remove any foreign material. Be aware of the small bones of the throat (called the hyoid apparatus)--don't pull on this!
- OBSERVE FOR BREATHING - Once you have cleared the airway, the pet may start breathing on his/her own. Watch the chest for 10 seconds and listen carefully for any breathing sounds.
- GIVE 2 RESCUE BREATHS. Hold the mouth tightly closed. Place your mouth over the nose and make a tight seal. Give 2 deep breaths.
- CHECK FOR A PULSE.
- If no pulse is noted, begin CPR in a ratio of 30 CHEST COMPRESSIONS TO 2 BREATHS.
- CHEST COMPRESSIONS - Press about 1/3 to 1/2 the depth of the chest. Try to do 100 - 120 compressions/minute. This is fast! Check the pet every 2 minutes to see if you can feel a pulse or if any breathing is noted. If you are working with a partner, one person can give a breath every 10 seconds (not as often as you would think) while the other is doing compressions. Switch positions every 2 minutes to avoid getting too tired. You may find that the heart starts beating but the pet does not start breathing on its own and needs to have assisted breathing--this is normal when the nervous system becomes depressed after an arrest.
A) For most dogs, do chest compressions over the widest portion of the chest. Position the dog on its side (right or left).
B) In keel-chested (ie, deep, narrow-chested) dogs like greyhounds, do chest compressions with the hands directly over the heart (on either right or left side).
C) For barrel-chested dogs like English Bulldogs, do compressions directly over the heart with the dog lying on its back.
A) For most cats and small dogs (<10 kg) with compliant chests, the use of a 1-handed technique with the hand wrapped around the sternum directly over the heart may be considered.
B) Compressions directly over the heart with the pet lying on its side can also be used.
B) Compressions directly over the heart with the pet lying on its side can also be used.