Safety Tip: CPR for Dogs

Raise your hand if you are certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, or CPR, for humans? (How many of you just raised your hands?) Well, did you know that you can also use CPR to save your dog’s life if he or she stops breathing too?

If you don’t know what CPR does, it:

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CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) preserves brain function until proper blood circulation and breathing can be restored.

The signs that indicate the need for CPR include unconsciousness, lack of arousal, lack of physical movement, or eye blinking. These symptoms can occur from drowning, choking, electrical shock, or a number of other situations.

Source: CPR for Dogs, DogHeirs Team, October 5, 2011

A board member recently posted a very detailed article on Canine CPR from DogHeirs on Facebook. We found it so interesting, we wanted to share it.

• DogHeirs: CPR for dogs (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) by DogHeirs Team, October 5, 2011

Below is a video on administering CPR on dogs, that was also included in the article. Note: The instructional video below recommends a compression to ventilation ratio of 15 compressions followed by one breath. A June 2012 Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care article recommends a compression to ventilation ratio of 30 compressions followed by two breaths.

And remember, the Key to CPR is the ABCs:

• Airway,
• Breathing, and
• Cardiac compression

What safety tip do you want to read about in one of our blogs?