Breathing for your Dog

We all hope nothing bad happens to our pets. However, if there is a problem, it is better to know what to do that to stand there and watch your pet die. Breathing for your dog is one of the basic things that every pet owner should know, just in case.

When do you breathe for your dog? The most obvious reason is that your dog has stopped breathing on his own. However, it should also be administered when the dog is taking very shallow breaths and not getting enough oxygen from them. If your dog is breathing shallowly, panting, or breathing unevenly, he may need you to breath for him.

Shock, bacterial infections in the lungs, heat stroke, bloating, heartworm disease, respiratory malfunction, and chocking are all potential causes that may be behind your dog’s breathing difficulty.

There are two methods of breathing for your dog that are used with dogs: compressions and mouth to nose. We will first discuss t he compression method.

First, check the heartbeat of the dog by feeling the large artery on the inner side of the mid-thigh.
Lay the dog on his right side
Pull the tongue forward and clear the airway. Check for foreign objects in the dogs mouth or throat, such as a ball or other toy the dog got stuck there. If necessary, perform the Heimlich to clear the airway.
Place your hands on the chest and firmly press down. You should be able to hear the air moving out.
Stop pressing the chest and listen for air to move in.
Continue compressions until the dog starts to breathe on his own.

If the compression method does not work, you will have to use mouth-to-nose resuscitation.

This is what you do for dog less than 30 pound to help them breath.

Lay the dog on his/her right side.
Pull the tongue out just far enough to clear the airway but not so far as to not be able to close the mouth.
Check for foreign objects in the dogs mouth and throat and remove them to clear the airway.
Put your mouth near the nostrils and blow slowly into them until you see the chest expand
Remove your mouth and allow the lungs to deflate.
Continue steps four and five until the dog starts breathing on his own.
Check the dogs pulse every minute.
If the dog’s heart stops, you will have to use both CPR and artificial respiration
Get the dog to your veterinarian or emergency hospital as soon as possible for follow-up

For dogs over 30 pounds, you follow the above procedure except the dog’s lips should be close and you should hole the muzzle closed while doing the breathing.

It is scary when your dog stops breathing. Now you will know what to do in that case and how to keep your dog alive until you can get the dog to the veterinarian for further treatment.