CPR for Cats and Dogs

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Instructions on how to do CPR for a cat or dog are below.

 

WARNING: DO NOT PERFORM OR PRACTICE CPR ON A DOG OR CAT WHO IS ALREADY BREATHING ON HIS/HER OWN. If you think the animal may be unconscious and not breathing, always call the animals name and try to rouse her/him prior to starting CPR.

 

If your animal is not breathing, it is better to do CPR poorly than not at all while you get the animal to the emergency vet. FYI, Courses in emergency aid for animals are available from time to time in D/FW. I took one at Plano Animal Services. Margaret

 

 

http://depts.washington.edu/learncpr/cat_dog.html

 

CPR for Cats & Dogs CPR for cats and dogs is similar to CPR for humans. These directions assume the animal is unconscious and the risk of being bitten by the animal is not present

1. Remove any obstruction.

Open animals mouth and make sure the air passage is clear. If not remove the object obstructing the air passage. 2. Extend the head and give several artificial respirations: A. For large dogs: close the animal's jaw tightly and breathe into the nose. The animal's chest should rise. Give 2 breaths. B. For small dogs and cats you may be able to cover the nose and mouth with your mouth as you breathe. The animal's chest should rise. Give 2 breaths.

3. Next perform chest compression A. For large dogs you may be able to position the dogs on its back and compress the chest just like for humans. B. For small dogs and cats as well as large dogs with funnel chests, you may need to lie the animal on its side and compress the side of the rib cage. Alternatively you can position the animal on its back and press on both sides of the rib cage. C. The rate of chest compressions varies with the size of the animal

i. Dogs over 60 lbs: 60 compressions per minuteii. Animals 11 to 60 lbs: 80-100 compressions per minuteiii. Animals 10 lbs or less: 120 compressions per minute

4. Alternate breaths with compressions The ratio of compressions to breaths should be approximately the same as for humans - 30:2 Continue doing this until the animal responds or begins to breathe on its own.