Doing CPR on your Dog

One of the scariest things that can happen t our dog is that their heart stops beating.  Do you know  what to do if that happens?  You will after reading this article.

CPR is a combination of artificial respiration and compressions to the chest to pump blood throughout the body.  Keep in mind that CPR is a desperate measure that can cause broken ribs and other injuries.  It should be used only as a last resort.

CPR for dogs under 30 pounds:

  1. Lay the dog on a flat surface with his right side against the surface.
  2. Cup your palms and hold the dog with one palm on either side above the heart region.
  3. Compress the chest for one inch to one quarter or one third the width of the chest for a count of one and then let go for a count of one.  Carry on with one hundred compressions a minute.
  4. If you are alone, you should breathe into the dog’s nose every five compressions.
  5. If you have help, they should breathe for the dog every two to three compressions.
  6. If the dog is not breathing on his own and has no pulse after ten minutes, he is dead.  CPR was unsuccessful.

CPR for dogs over thirty pounds:

  1. Lay the dog on a flat surface with his right side against the surface.
  2. Put one of your palms of the dog’s  rib cage, near the heart region, and put your other palm on top of it.
  3. Compress the chest for one-quarter to one-third the width of the chest for a count of one and then let go for a count of one.  Carry on at a rate of 80 compressions per minute.
    1. Close the muzzle with your hand before beginning artificial respiration.  If only one person is available, breathe into the dog’s nose once for every five compressions.  If two people are available, give artificial respiration once for every two compressions that are done.
    2. Continue doing CPR until the dog’s heartbeat and respiration are back to normal.
    3. If things are not back to normal in ten minutes, you can stop CPR, as it was not successful and the dog is dead.

CPR is hard work when done properly.  However, it is your pet’s best chance in the face of cardiac arrest.  You should take your dog straight to the veterinarian any time your dog stops breathing or his heart stops beating.  Ideally, a friend or partner should drive to the veterinarian while you sit in the back seat administering CPR.  This gives you pet the best chance to live.  Even if the pet revives, you should take him to the veterinarian to find out what happened to cause the cardiac arrest so that it can be treated and will not happen again.  You might not be so lucky that time.

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