Last Week: HOW TO Treat Your Dog’s Pneumonia
As pet parents, we may not often notice that our pets aren’t as resilient as their cartoon land-on-all-fours representations might make them out to be. Our pets, dogs especially, are tough, but in no way are they exempt from landing themselves in life-threatening emergency situations. In fact, many pet parents have learned this painful reality one too many times. For this reason, learning emergency pet first aid is crucial for all pet parents to include in their real and mental medicine cabinets.
April marks National Pet First Aid Awareness Month, a very important month to learn how to take your dog’s health in emergency situations into your own hands. In honor of this month of awareness and learning, Find A Vet would like to focus specifically on the use of cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation (CPCR) as a life-saving technique that can make all the difference in an emergency when a pet parent must act quickly until veterinary professionals can intervene.
What is CPCR?
According to VeterinaryPartner.com, “cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation (CPCR, formerly abbreviated as CPR) is the treatment required to save an animal (or human) life when suffering cardiopulmonary arrest.” Cardiopulmonary arrest, which is also referred to as cardiac arrest or circulatory arrest, occurs when the heart stops pumping and interrupts normal blood circulation, says PetMD.com.
Without the heart doing its critical work of pumping blood and oxygen into vital organs, the body’s respiratory and cardiovascular systems, which work in coordination, are at risk of shutting down. The opposite is also true, where the heart is affected when a dog ceases breathing.
“If a dog fails to breathe for more than six minutes, it can lead to heart failure and cardiac arrest — both of which can be fatal,” writes PetMD.com.
Luckily for pet parents, CPCR can be used in such situations. CPCR creates a means of pumping blood and oxygen to the dog’s brain and vital organs to help keep the animal alive while waiting for emergency veterinary aid.
Unfortunately, VeterinaryPartner.com explains that though CPCR can save lives, many pets won’t necessarily bounce back from cardiac arrest. In fact, the majority of patients may not survive. Still, despite the statistics, pet lives are saved because of CPCR, and if your pet is one among the few that survive, you’ll be glad you had the skill to perform CPCR on your pet.
When do pet parents need to use CPCR?
Unless you are aware that your pet has a pre-existing condition that makes him or her susceptible to cardiac arrest, then cardiac arrest in your pet may come as a surprise. It’s important to be as well-prepared and as well-equipped as possible for all emergency situations. Frequent visits to your dog’s veterinarian for routine wellness exams may clue you in to possible problems that may lead to cardiac arrest. Having this imperative information in your corner may prepare you for any possible complications.
The following are some potential causes of cardiac arrest as described by PetMD.com:
Hypoxemia — abnormally low levels of oxygen in arterial blood
Low oxygen supply, possibly due to anemia
Heart disease (e.g., infections, inflammation, trauma, neoplasia of heart)
Metabolic diseases
Electrolyte imbalances (e.g., hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia)
Abnormally low bodily fluid levels
Shock
Use of anesthetic drugs
Toxemia — blood poisoning caused by bacterial toxic substances in the blood
Brain trauma
Electrical shock
If your dog does end up suffering from an episode of cardiac arrest, it’s important to note the signs so you can act quickly to save his or her life.
DrLarryPetVet.com and PetMD.com list the following signs and symptoms as red flag warnings that your pet is at risk:
A pet may suffer spontaneous loss of consciousness (syncope).
A pet may lack response to stimulation.
A pet may have dilated pupils.
A pet may display heavy breathing (dyspnea), gasping, or not breathing at all (no movement of the chest). Place a mirror in front of the dog’s nose to check for condensation.
No heartbeat. (Feel the lower part of the chest behind the elbow for a pulse.)
Bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes (cyanosis); a sign that oxygen in the blood is dangerously diminished.
Gums are blue/gray or pale/white. (Note: It is best if you check the color of your pet’s gums when he or she is healthy to have a good frame of reference for this. They should be pink. They should blanch to white when you press on them, then quickly return to pink when you release.)
Hypothermia.
Having the ability to spot the signs that your pet is at risk for succumbing to cardiac arrest is half the battle. Once you’ve assessed your pet’s situation, you should know how to perform life-saving CPCR on your pet to increase his or her chances of survival.
Giving CPCR to Your Pet
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) warns pet parents to “always remember that any first aid administered to your pet should be followed by immediate veterinary care.” As you learn about giving your dog CPCR, remember that this should be utilized in emergency situations when immediate veterinary treatment is unavailable. Your pet should always see a veterinarian following such an episode. According to VeterinaryPartner.com, CPCR consists of two parts: rescue breathing and chest compressions. This is a very delicate process, so make sure to review these steps repeatedly so that the procedure is clearly outlined in your mind (you can also print this HOW TO guide and include it in your pet first aid kit).
First and foremost, stay calm and alert. This may sound easier said than done, but keeping your composure in emergency situations will increase your chances of successfully performing CPCR on your pet. Once you are calm, VeterinaryPartner.com says pet parents should ensure their pets are in fact “arrested and unconscious.” Do this by talking to your pet and gently shaking them to make sure they’re not deep in sleep.
Once you’re certain that your pet is unconscious, follow what DrLarryPetVet.com calls the ABCs of CPCR. Remember: A for Airway, B for Breathing, C for Cardiovascular.
A = Airway
Extend your dog’s head, pull out his or her tongue, and look into your dog’s mouth to make sure the coast is clear. Is there any mucus, vomit or a foreign object that might be blocking the airway? With your fingers remove any saliva, vomit or foreign objects. Sweep your fingers deep into your pet’s throat to make sure that his air passage is completely clear. Only attempt this if you are positive that your dog is unconscious, otherwise you risk being bitten.
VeterinaryPartner.com warns to “be aware of a hard, smooth, bone-like structure deep in the throat, which is likely to be the hyoid apparatus (Adam’s apple). Serious injury could result if you pull on the hyoid apparatus.”
B = Breathing
Once you’ve checked your dog’s airway for possible blockages, move on to observing your dog’s breathing. As VeterinaryPartner.com explains, at times putting the dog in an extended head/neck position with the tongue pulled out will prompt breathing. Monitor your dog for 10 seconds after clearing the airway. Check to see if his chest is moving, if air is moving through his nostrils, or if he is struggling to breathe. DrLarryPetVet.com also suggests checking your pooch’s gums at this point. Are they pink or bluish/gray or pale/white? Pink gums are a sign of increased circulation.
If steady breathing has resumed, do not administer CPCR. This could cause serious harm to your pet. If breathing does not resume, then begin rescue breathing via mouth-to-nose resuscitation with the following steps outlined by DrLarryPetVet.com and VeterinaryPartner.com:
With the dog lying on its side, extend the head and neck.
Be sure the airway is clear. In larger dogs pull the tongue forward.
Grasp the muzzle, hold the corners of the mouth tightly closed and place your mouth over the animal’s nose (for cats and small dogs, cover both the nose and mouth).
Force air into the lungs for 2-3 seconds, making sure the chest is rising.
Take your mouth away when the chest has fully expanded and pause for three seconds. The lungs will deflate without your help. Repeat until the animal begins to breathe on its own.
While administering rescue breathing, VeterinaryPartner.com instructs pet parents to “push down on the stomach area every few seconds to help expel the air that may have blown into the stomach. If the stomach is allowed to distend with air, the pressure will make the rescue breathing efforts less effective.”
C = Cardiovascular
While administering rescue breathing on your dog, DrLarryPetVet.com says pet parents should continue to check their dogs’ heart for a pulse. You can accomplish this by checking your dog’s gums to see if they’ve become pink. Press on them to see if they blanch white and then quickly go back to pink.
Check for a heartbeat. The AVMA explains that “the heart is located in the lower half of the chest on the left side, just behind the elbow of the front left leg.” You can also listen for a heartbeat by bringing your ear to your dog’s chest. If you’re unable to find your dog’s heartbeat, then you should begin chest compressions while alternating with rescue breathing.
The AVMA outlines the following steps for performing chest compressions on your dog when he or she is under cardiac arrest:
Gently lay your pet on its right side on a firm surface. Place one hand underneath the pet’s chest for support and place the other hand over the heart.
For dogs, press down gently on your pet’s heart, about one inch for medium-sized dogs; press harder for larger animals and with less force for smaller animals.
To massage the hearts of tiny pets, cradle your hand around the animal’s chest so your thumb is on the left side of the chest and your fingers are on the right side of the chest, and compress the chest by squeezing it betw
een your thumb and fingers.
Press down 80-120 times per minute for larger animals and 100-150 times per minute for smaller ones.
Don’t perform rescue breathing and chest compressions at the same exact time; alternate the chest compressions with the rescue breaths, or work as a team with another person so one person performs chest compressions for 4-5 seconds and stops long enough to allow the other person to give one rescue breath.
Continue until you can hear a heartbeat and your pet is breathing regularly, or you have arrived at the veterinary clinic and they can take over the resuscitation attempts.
DrLarryPetVet.com gives the following weight guidelines to follow when performing CPCR on your pet:
Small dog or cat (0-25 pounds): Give one breath, three chest compressions, and repeat.
Medium dog (25-50 pounds): Give one breath, five chest compressions, and repeat.
Large dog (over 50 pounds): Give two breaths, 10-15 chest compressions, and repeat.
“In the vast majority of cases, artificial ventilations will continue to be required for a period of time, even though heart function has returned. This is due to the nervous system depression that occurs as a result of the arrest,” says VeterinaryPartner.com.
What to Expect After CPCR
Though it’s a sad reality, only 10 percent of dogs will recover from cardiac arrest even if they’ve been successfully treated, says PetMD.com. If your dog does recover you can expect him to spend several days in the veterinary hospital where he’ll be monitored by his veterinarian.
It’s important to know your dog’s full health history, so you can help veterinary caretakers determine the cause of the cardiac arrest. It’s at this point that having stayed calm during the CPCR process will truly help. If you can note your dog’s symptoms, symptom timeline, severity, etc., then you can better assist your dog’s veterinarian in helping your dog fully recover.
“[Your dog's veterinarian] will then perform a complete physical examination, focusing on the dog’s airways, breathing ability, and circulation. Your veterinarian will also constantly monitor your dog’s blood pressure and pulse rate,” says PetMD.com.
Your dog’s veterinarian may request chest X-rays, complete blood count, biochemistry profile, and urinalysis to determine your dog’s state of health.
Preparation is key in any emergency situation, so make sure to hunker down and learn the critical skill involved in performing CPCR on your pet. It might make the difference between life and death.
Find A Vet HOW TO articles are intended for informational purposes only. You should always consult with your veterinarian about any health issues affecting your dog.
PHOTOS: dogs.thefuntimesguide.com, drjustinelee.com, themagicpaw.com
Have you ever had to perform CPCR (CPR) on your pet? Tell us about your experience in the Comments section below.
Category : HOW TO
