A disturbing sight is to see your beloved pet dog lying unconscious on the floor. It’s a heartbreaking sight and an overwhelming one too, but you cannot afford to just stand idly by.
As bad as things may seem, you may still be able to rescue your pet. Performing CPR is something you can do to improve the chances of your pet making it through a harrowing ordeal.
If you aren’t aware of how to properly perform that lifesaving procedure, please go ahead and check out the information included below.
Determine Hand Placement
After seeing your dog unconscious, you need to act quickly. Chest compressions need to be performed, but they have to be appropriate for your dog’s body type.
According to the Red Cross, you need to place the heel of one of your hands over your pet’s heart and then use your other hand to cover it if you are working on a smaller dog. For deep-chested dogs, you need to place your hands over the widest part of your pet’s chest. Target the widest part of the sternum and place your hands over that if your dog is barrel-chested.
Perform Chest Compressions during CPR
With your hands in the correct position, you can now proceed with the chest compressions. Line up your shoulders so that they are above your hands and try to minimize the movement of your elbows. Start pressing down on your dog’s chest and try to compress about half of it.
After pressing down, wait for the chest to revert to form before pressing down again. You will need to perform about 30 chest compressions.
Provide Rescue Breaths
The next step is to breathe life into your dog. You can do this by first extending your dog’s neck upward as this will clear up the airway. Follow that by holding your breath, covering your dog’s nose, and then exhaling into his/her mouth.
Give at least two breaths of oxygen to your dog.
Repeat CPR Procedures
You must keep the CPR going until your pet starts to breathe again. Make sure you check for breathing and a heartbeat after every two minutes.
It is also wise to continue with the CPR until you are able to bring your dog to the veterinarian.
A lifesaving procedure often used on people can also be utilized to preserve dog health. Take the time to learn about how to give your dog CPR during National Pet First Aid Awareness Month in order to prepare yourself for unfortunate incidents that may happen in the future.
Accidents can happen if your dog goes outside unsupervised. Ensure the safety of your pet by hiring a dog walker. TAILored Pet Services sitters are certified in Pet First Aid/CPR so please feel free to email through our website or call us at 425-923-7791 to schedule service.
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