CPR For Animals— The ABC’s of CPR
A
ASSESSMENT
- Survey the scene for safety.
- Stimulate the animal – Shake gently and call its name Loudly.
- Call for help! Call your Veterinary Emergency Hospital or clinic and arrange for transport.
- Make sure animal is on hard flat surface. Move only if Necessary. Support neck and spine when turning or moving the animal.
AIRWAY
To OPEN The AIRWAY
- Place in the correct position. See Above.
- Pull tongue forward. (In animals less than 5 pounds, tongue Will fall forward on its own. Do not force your finger into Mouth to pull tongue forward with small animals.)
- Sweep contents of mouth out.
- Close mouth – Keeping mouth closed over the tongue. Hyper-extend head to normal sniffing position.
B
BREATHING
LOOK. LISTEN and FEEL for BREATHING
- Hold mouth shut. Place your mouth over pet’s mouth.
- Give two full breaths – mouth to nose.
In animals less than 5 pounds, give two small breaths; Only enough air to make
the chest rise. Because of the anatomy, you may have to
place your mouth over your pet’s mouth and nose).
C
CIRCULATION/COMPRESSIONS
- Check the femoral pulse for 10 seconds.
- If there is a pulse present but no breathing, then RESCUE BREATHING.
- If there is no pulse, or if there is a pulse present but it is less than 30, start COMPRESSIONS. Follow chart below.
FOR ANIMALS NOT BREATHING BUT WITH A PULSE
RESCUE BREATHING
- To open airway: See Description under Procedure A = AIRWAY.
- If not breathing, then breathe for animal at the RESCUE BREATHING RATE shown below.
- Keep the head hyper-extended in normal sniffing position at all times and mouth locked over the tongue.
- Keep checking for femoral pulse— IF THE PULSE IS LOST, RESUME FULL C.P.R.— See PROCEDURE C–3 = CIRCULATION/COMPRESSIONS.
OBSTRUCTED AIRWAY PROCEDURE
FOR CONSCIOUS ANIMAL
- Perform Heimlich maneuver. Forcefully give 5 to 10 inward and upward thrusts in the sub-diaphragmatic (under the last rib) abdominal area. Continue to monitor the pulse.
- If the obstruction is relieved and the pulse veterinarian as soon as possible.
- IF PULSE IS LOST, RESUME FULL C.P.R.— See PROCEDURE C–3 = CIRCULATION/COMPRESSIONS.
FOR UNCONSCIOUS ANIMAL
- Open the Airway. As described in Procedure A
- Pull tongue forward. Finger sweep to remove foreign body. In neonates tongue will fall forward on its own. Do not force your finger into mouth to pull tongue forward.
- Lock mouth over tongue. Give two full breaths, mouth to nose. In small pets, give two small breaths, just enough to make chest rise.
IF VENTILATIONS ARE UNSUCCESSFUL
- Perform Heimlich Maneuver of 5-10 inward and upward thrusts in abdominal sub-diaphragmatic (under the last rib) area.
- Perform blind finger sweep for possibly dislodging foreign object.
- Attempt to reventilate 1 time. Repeat procedure until successful or until help arrives or the animal can be transported to the veterinarian.
