CPR

[Oscar's Mom]

Does anyone know how to do doggy cpr? Just what do you do if they are choking on something?

<FONT COLOR="#00FFFF" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by Oscar's Mom on December 11, 2000 at 11:51 AM</font>

[dutchman]

I'll have to see if I can find more detailed instruction from my first aid class handout but here are a few hints. In the event of choking you and use the Heimlich just push with an upward thrust just below the ribs.

As far as CPR the success rate is very low (I think they stated less than 5% when done by professionals) and due to inefficiency in small animals don't attempt to continue for more than ten minutes as any longer than that there will most likely be too much brain damage due to lack of oxygen.

You can preform compressions with the dog on either it's side or back. If it is on the back you follow the same general rule for hand placement as in humans 2-3 fingers up from the xytoid (SP) so that you don't freak it off. General hand placement tip for compressions while they are on their side is to pull the front leg upward and about where the elbow domes up to should be close to the heart. One suggestion is to use you hands now with a healthy animal placing your fingers in that general area on their left side. When you are directly over their hear you should be able to feel it beating. The compression rate is very rapid since dogs tend to have a rapid normal pulse. I believe they figure to shoot fore was about 120 compressions per minute but let me check my notes. I will also have to check my notes for compression to breath ratio. Breaths are given by holding the muzzle closed and breathing into their nostrils. Watch for the chest to inflate. If the chest won't inflate then there is most likely an obstructed airway.

As in human CPR cracked ribs are to be expected if you are doing proper chest compressions but they will heal if the dog otherwise pulls through. While the success rate is low you know what the outcome will be if you don't make any attempt.

I'll try to check my notes tonight and post more detailed instructions. Let hope none of us ever have to use this information.

Tom

[Mark]

Hi Tom,

I look forward to seeing your notes. I've wondered what might be the correct way to administer CPR before. I had a friend who says he had a friend that saved his dogs life that way.

You're right though, even though the success rate is low . . . it's better than just watching them die without trying. Then you'd always wonder, "what if?".

Thanks for anything you can contribute,

Mark

[Oscar's Mom]

Tom - thanks for the information. I would hope to never need it but it is good to know atleast something.

[Jean]

A good site to visit for info on Animal CPR is http://members.aol.com/henryhbk/acpr.html

Jean

[Mark]

Thanks Jean,

Good stuff!

Mark

[dutchman]

The site Jean posted looks pretty good. Here is a summary of what was discussed in our class. Some of this has been changes slightly to make it shorter other parts are compete from out handout. I think this information combined with the page Jean pointed us to gives some good information.


Two means to provide CPR
Rescue breathing
Chest Compressions

Approach to preform CPR
First establish that the animal is in arrest. Talk to it, shake it, make a loud noise. No response assume in arrest.

Second ensure open airway. extend the head and neck look in the mouth for a foreign object, vomit, or any other obstruction.

Third observer the chest for evidence of breathing. If no breathing observed for 5-7 seconds start rescue breathing. Close mouth breath in through nostrils watch for chest to expand.give 2 long breaths 1.5-2 seconds in duration. Watch the animals chest to see if it is breathing on it's own. If no breathing is observed continue breathing into the animal 12-20 times a minute. Stop every two minutes to check for spontaneous breathing. At this point check for a pulse or hear beat. If there is no heat beat or pulse the animal is in cardiopulmonary arrest. Begin compressions immediately.

HOW DO I ADMINISTER COMPRESSIONS DURING CPR

In cat's and dogs under 15 pounds apply compressions at a rate of 120 times each minute. In dogs over 15 pounds apply compressions just behind the heart at a rate of 80-100 times each minute.

Is rescue breathing required during chest compression? Interestingly, new research shows that CPR with only chest compressions provides the same survival rate in dogs as compared to standard CPR with chest compressions and ventilation. As the chest is compressed you will hear air leaving the mouth and nose. When the chest is not being compressed there will be some passive refill of air into the lungs.

How long should I continue with CPR. In all likelihood, if there is no return of spontaneous breathing or heartbeat/pulses after 20 minutes the animal is dead.

What do I do when the animal is resuscitated? Take it directly to the nearest vet's office. The biggest problem seen following arrest is a second arrest. Irregardless, the animal's brain and tissues will be suffering from the effects of decreased oxygen and they need aggressive medical therapy.


Let's all hope noe of us ever have to use this information.

Tom

[Penny's Aunt]

Tom, please don't take this personally, but I disagree with some of the info you provided. I know you were just quoting, & passing on the best info you have. Also, the following is just my opinion.

When I was working for a vet clinic, we lost very few dogs or cats after having to do CPR on them. Most of the ones we did lose I think we lost mostly from the condition that caused the arrest more than anything else. Our success rate was FAR HIGHER than 5%. Closer to 80% if memory serves correctly.

Then there's the info that chest compressions only had the same success rate a chest compressions + ventilation.

I don't understand how this can be. If you are doing compressions at the correct rate, you're doing 2 per second. The breathing rate of even small dogs is (comparatively) quite a bit slower than this. So how could the heart compressions allow for the dog to exhale? If they aren't being allowed to exhale, they can't be inhaling much. Of course, maybe that's the reason for the low success rate.

As Tom said, look at your dog NOW. Feel for his heart so you know where it is. Watch his ribs move when he breathes. That's the part YOU want to move if you have to do his breathing for him.

For information only, this is the way I was trained (take it or leave it): IF THE DOG IS BREATHING, HIS HEART IS BEATING. The opposite may not be true.

Put the dog on a hard surface like a table or floor. YOU CANNOT DO PROPER COMPRESSIONS ON A SOFT SURFACE. If the dog is large, grab his scruff & the loose skin over his hips, or his legs, & drag him.

It is easiest to do the compressions for both heart & breathing if the dog is on his side with his spine closest to you, & his tail toward your primary-hand side (usually right). Tuck him close to you so he doesn't slide: against your abdomen if you have him on a table, against your knees if you have him on the floor.

Tip the dog's head back (don't force it hard) to make sure the airway isn't compressed. Open his mouth & pull his tongue out gently so it isn't blocking the back of his throat (he can get more air, faster, through his mouth than his nose).

Do the heart compressions as Tom described, aiming for approx. 2 beats per second. Feel the heart rhythm NOW to get the "beat". On smaller dogs, you can usually just use your thumb. On large dogs, use the heel of your hand.

Some people advocate having the dog on his back, but I think that is harder to do (esp on deep-chested dogs like dachsies), & would contribute more broken ribs. THIS IS JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION.

Every 5 manual beats or so, stop, & depress the lower part of the rib cage. This presses upward on the lung area & forces air OUT of the lungs. Be sure to pay attention & pause long enough to let air go back INTO the lungs. Repeat heart compressions.

If you have someone helping you, they can breathe into the dog's muzzle, but some people are weird about that, & I feel that they might be of more value driving you & the dog to the vet, but that's just my personal opinion.

If you have a van with an open floor, or a pickup, transfer the dog as quickly as you can to the flat surface of the vehicle & continue to do CPR as someone drives you to the vet. Depending on your car, you might be able to put him on the front floor of the passenger side & bend over to continue working on him. I've never tried it, but if you have a piece of wood (etc) handy, you might put in on your lap & put the dog on the board.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE CALL FIRST TO MAKE SURE SOMEONE IS AT THE VET'S!

Contrary to what you see on TV, the heartbeat & the breathing usually DO NOT resume at the same time. The heart always starts first if you have been successful. The breathing may come soon after, or not. Continue the manual breathing if the heart is beating until you can get to help, or the dog starts breathing on his own.

Again, as Tom said, if there is no heartbeat after 20 minutes, the race is lost. BUT there is no time limit on a good heartbeat with no breathing. Keep going until you get to a vet.

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<FONT COLOR="#00FFFF" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by Penny's Aunt on December 15, 2000 at 02:51 PM</font>

[dutchman]

Penny's Aunt,

No offense taken. I always enjoy your first had experience and have been known to recommend some people here seek you input. I would Question 80% success rate the norm with human CPR is only about 30% and I suspect it would be less with small animals.

By providing multiple sources of information we can only encourage people to do more research on their own which results in a more informed reader. When I have some more time I'll try to do some more research and see what other sources of information I can find.

Thank you for the alternative views.

Tom