Veterinary medicine is a very delicate field where only professionals should act, however, there are some cases and emergency conditions in which having basic knowledge can mean the difference between life and death of a animal. Some of these cases are closely related to resuscitation in canine patients.
In this article on our site we will talk about the basic notions of resuscitation in dogs in order to inform guardians about the main situations in which they must act while the veterinarian arrives. Read on for the most basic dog first aid and discover how to resuscitate a dog
What is dog CPR?
Cardiorespiratory or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is defined as the set of maneuvers aimed at the oxygenation of vital organs when the circulation stops suddenly, regardless of the cause of the stop. It should be taken into account that it is a technique described as temporary, since it is performed while the medical services arrive. It has been studied and described in humans since the year 1775, approximately, and has been evolving according to efficacy and medical discoveries. CPR has certain considerations depending on the age and size of the patient, as well as the cause of respiratory arrest and the species that warrants it.
Dog vital signs to consider
When performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a dog, the following vital signs must be known and taken into account:
- Pulse: pressure wave caused by the expansion of the arteries as a result of blood circulation. It gives us clues about heart rate and blood pressure, depending on how strongly the pressure is felt.
- Heart rate: is defined as the number of beats that a living being has during a given time.
- Respiratory rate: vital constant that is defined as the number of breaths that a living being has during a given time. In dogs it ranges from 10 to 30 breaths per minute.
- Capillary refill time: it is a test that provides us with information about tissue oxygenation. It is done by applying pressure to the gum until it loses its color. When this happens, the pressure is removed and the capillary refill should not exceed 2 seconds.
- Mucous membrane coloration: it is not a physiological constant, but it is a fundamental guide that can reveal valuable information on the state of he alth of our dog in a fairly simple way. We can appreciate them at the level of the gums (and also other parts). Blue mucous membranes are called cyanotic and are associated with defective oxygenation; yellowish mucous membranes are called icteric and are associated with liver problems; white mucous membranes are called anemic and are associated with low hemoglobin or hypotension; pink mucous membranes are associated with a he althy animal.
When to do CPR on dogs?
Not all canine physiological problems are resolved with CPR. In fact, there are many pathologies that do not respond to this technique. In addition to the fact that it is only indicated when there is a cardiorespiratory arrest, the cause must first be known, since some pulmonary complications can end up aggravating with this technique. The most frequent cases that warrant CPR in dogs are:
- Shock: is defined as the body's inability to cover the vital requirements of the organs. There are many types of shock (hypovolemic, septic, obstructive, etc.) and many of them require CPR until medical personnel arrive.
- Poisoning: some foods or chemical substances can poison our best friend, thus compromising her breathing. This situation can put your life at risk if you do not perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the dog in time.
- Cranial-encephalic trauma: some injuries usually have important consequences and can endanger the life of our furry. In some cases, the use of CPR may be required while arriving at the veterinary clinical center.
- Coma: Prolonged period of unconsciousness caused by injury or illness.
- Ictus: condition of the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain, causing in many cases a syncope that ends up requiring resuscitation.
- Asphyxia: most of the time in dogs it occurs due to foreign bodies. In this case, a more appropriate maneuver should be performed, but after clearing the airway the dog will probably need CPR.
How to resuscitate a dog?
CPR must go through many steps to be effective. The correct use of the tools that the person in charge of carrying it out will dictate its success. However, here's how to CPR a dog. Before doing CPR, try these tips:
- Diagnose as quickly as possible if the arrest your dog is going through is momentary or really needs CPR. It is the first thing to do and although it is a very subjective step, it is quite easy to do. If the animal does not respond to any type of stimulus, or to the call, it is time to quickly look for the cause.
- Verifies the dog's physiological constants before starting resuscitation. It is important to have knowledge of an approximation of the state of the animal. In this case, you will take into account three physiological constants: the heart rate, the respiratory rate and the Capillary Refill Time You need to know for sure if the patient is still breathing, if their heart is still beating, and an estimate of their circulation. The color of some mucous membranes, such as the gums, will also give you clues about the dog's state of he alth.
- When you realize for sure that the dog is not breathing, it is important that you find the cause as much as possible. On some occasions, you may not be able to reach a conclusion, but there are causes that the owner can simply diagnose using common sense. A clear example of this step would be trying to find a foreign body stuck in your dog's throat, since if you find it, you will have to remove it instead of do CPR.
Now yes, once you have completed the steps above, perform the cardiopulmonary resuscitation on your dog like this:
- Extends the animal's head to facilitate the passage of air through the trachea. Remember that the dog must be lying on the right side, in this way the left side will be exposed, which will facilitate the cardiac massage.
- Grasp the head firmly and, knowing that there is no foreign body, proceed to give breaths directly into the mouth.
- Massage at the level of the heart (between the third and fifth intercostal space) by placing one hand on top of the other and interspersed with chest compressions. These compressions must be performed carefully according to the weight and breed of the dog, since for obvious reasons, if you exert a force greater than the one you should end up injuring the animal.
- For every 15 compressions, 5 breaths are given in large breeds and 3 breaths for every 10 compressions in small dogs.
- When the dog can breathe on its own, you should immediately call the veterinarian This step is often refuted, as sometimes it is described that he alth personnel should be called before starting resuscitation, but this will depend on the urgency of each particular case.
Each reason a dog goes into cardiorespiratory arrest has its own complications. The breed, age and chronic diseases that the animal may have are determining factors that will mark the success of the procedure. If there is any secret in these cases, it is undoubtedly to act as quickly as possible, thus guaranteeing constant oxygenation of all important organs. However, we insist, whenever possible, you prefer a professional to perform CPR on your dog.
