xgj1-pet

This is a 2 part article on how and when to perform CPR on your dog. This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to take the place of hands on training by your veterinarian.

There will be instances where you might have to perform CPR on your dog. What? CPR on your dog? Are you serious? Yes, it is serious - serious enough that it may save your pet's life.

There are some instances where a pet may accidentally get something stuck in its airway. This will cause choking and ultimately, death. Also, pet CPR will prove vital in cases where the pet has lost its breathing or a pulse. This is the case of most pets that go into cardiac arrest. If this happens, it is urgent that the pet's airway, breathing, and circulation are restored and maintained.

To perform such, owners must be aware of the proper procedure of performing CPR. Most trained veterinarians will be knowledgeable in this procedure. You may want to consult with them for proper advice on the procedures outlined here. In any event remember your ABC's.

Airway

After determining that the animal is non-responsive, step one in performing dog CPR is obtaining a good airway. This is a very important step. You should seek to achieve this first before continuing on.

Remember that making sure your pet has a clear airway is the most important aspect of CPR. Without oxygen your pet could die within minutes.

Pull out the tongue of your pet carefully. The emphasis here is on carefully. Pets, even when unconscious can bite by instinct. Keep the pet's neck straight, and line up the neck and the back. In case there is neck trauma, do not hyperextend the neck.

Then, try giving the animal two rescue breaths. Perform this by putting your mouth to its nose, and keeping the animal's mouth closed. If your breaths go in then you can continue. However, if they do not go in, it means that there is an obstruction in the animal's airway.

In this case, inspect the animal's airway, and try to extract the obstructing object. If you cannot, try doing a modified Heimlich maneuver. Turn the animal over with its back against your chest and its head towards the ground in a bear hug. Deliver five thrusts to the abdomen. Imagine making each thrust dislodge the object. Be careful that you do not deliver too much pressure as it may cause damage if overdone.

Do not stop until you are able to clear the airway. Even if the animal goes into cardiac arrest (meaning no heartbeat), the primary concern is to open the airway and keep it clear.

Watch for Dog CPR-Part 2 coming soon. We will then cover Breathing and Circulation.

Pets can be an important part of a child's life. A child learns a lot from having an animal to care for. Just take a look at some of the lessons a child (or adult) picks up.
Responsibility - This is one of the first lessons that comes to mind, and likely the one that parents use to try to dissuade a child when he says, "Can we get a dog?" For some people, the responsibility of caring for an animal can become a huge chore that outweighs the joy of having that pet. But for those who stick it out, the pet is a good teacher and children who have a pet from an early age learn quickly about the responsibility of caring for an animal that's dependent on them for food, water and other needs.

Some chores are fun, some aren't - The early days of having a pet are usually not that difficult, until Fido doesn't make it to the door or the gerbil cage has to be cleaned. That's when the pet owner typically begins to weigh the fun of playing ball with the dog against the chore they're facing now. Learning that some of the chores are fun (like playing with the kitten) and some aren't (cleaning the litter box) is a fact of life.

Caring - Nurturing is not an instinct that comes naturally to all people. Pets are one way to teach that trait, or to bring it to the surface. Many programs around the world use pets in daycares, schools and nursing homes. People who have responded little to friends and families will instinctively reach for a dog or cat.

Patience - Pets teach us to be patience, and one of the best catalysts for this lesson is by teaching your pet tricks. Note that not all pets are conducive to this lesson.

Playing - It's difficult to imagine that some people have forgotten how to play, but it's true. Most kids don't need to be taught to play, but a pet can remind us that life isn't all about the chores. Sometimes it's just time to build a terrific hamster cage or take a walk in the park - literally.

Science - Some schools are seeing the benefits of having live animals in the classrooms. Teachers are encouraged to choose a pet that can live at school in a cage of some sort. Those animals can then be used to teach life science, including topics such as length of gestation, development and eating habits. While those lessons are very limited in focus because students are learning about one particular kind of animal, expanding on that first-hand knowledge tends to be easier than if students learned only from a text book and photos.

There's no doubt that allowing a child to adopt a pet is a big step, but it's also a worthwhile investment. Remember to choose age appropriate animals and to select an animal that fits your child's lifestyle and personality. For example, if you have a kid who's always into building, consider a mouse or hamster and help him build an awesome hamster cage in his room. If you live in the country with room for a dog to run, a canine pal may be the better bet. If space is very limited, hermit crabs may be just what you need.