The American Red Cross and the Humane Society of the United States have teamed up and published their first book called, "Pet First Aid" for dogs and cats.
The collaboration between the two was prompted by many local red cross chapters around the country showing an interest in pet issues, says Kathy Bauch, Senior Advisor for the Humane Society of the United States and contributor to the book.
One Florida red cross chapter showing such an interest is the West Palm Beach branch. Starting in December they will be conducting a pet CPR class complete with "Rusky Rover" mannequins to practice on. The four hour class will cover first aid procedures as well.
According to Bauch, animal CPR dates back to the mid-80's. "In vet medicine as a whole, just about every procedure that pertains to humans is now being done on animals." she says.
Listed below are the steps to follow in conducting animal CPR from the "Pet First Aid" book. This method is used to treat an animal who is not breathing or has no heartbeat. You must follow the ABC (airway, breathing, circulation) order when attempting CPR.
A=Airway Does the animal have an open airway? (The airway is the passage the animal breathes through. Check to see if the throat and mouth are clear of foreign objects.) If the answer is YES, go to Breathing. If the answer in NO, you need to open the airway. Do the following:
1. Lay the animal down, on either side. 2. Gently tilt the head slightly back to extend the neck and head. 3. Pull the tongue between the front teeth. 4. Use your finger to check for and remove any foreign material or vomit from the mouth.
B=Breathing Is the animal breathing? If the answer is YES, allow the animal to assume the body position most comfortable for them. Then, move on to Circulation. If the answer is NO, do the following: 1. Open the airway (see A=Airway) 2. For medium and large dogs, seal the mouth an lips by placing your hands around the lips, gently holding the muzzle closed. For cats and small dogs (less than 30 pounds), your mouth will seal the mouth and lips. 3. Place your mouth over the animal's nose and forcefully exhale. 4. Give four or five breaths rapidly, then check to see if your pet is breathing without assistance. If the animal begins to breathe, but the breathing is shallow and irregular, or if breathing does not begin, continue artificial respiration until you reach the veterinary hospital or for a maximum of 20 minutes. (Beyond 20 minutes there is little chance of reviving your pet.)
Use the following breathing rates: - small dog (under 30 pounds) or cat: 20-30 breaths per minute - medium or large dog (over 30 pounds): 20 breaths per minute
C=Circulation
Is there a heartbeat or a pulse? If the answer is NO, perform chest compressions. Do not assume there is no heartbeat or pulse simply because an animal is not breathing. Do not start chest compressions before checking for a heartbeat. (if the animal is conscious and responds to you, then the heart is beating).
Small dog (under 30 pounds) or cat There are specific instructions for chest compressions for dogs over 30 pounds, please refer to the "Pet First Aid" book for this. 1. Lay your pet down, on the animal's right side. 2. Kneel next to your pet with the animal's chest facing you. 3. Place the palm of one of your hands over the ribs at the point where the elbow touches the chest. Place your other hand underneath the right side of the animal. 4. Compress the chest 1/2 - 1 inch (your elbows should be softly locked during compressions). 5. Chest compressions are alternated with breaths. 6. If working alone, do five compressions for each breath, then check for a pulse. 7. If there are two people, one person does the breathing while the other does the compressions at a rate of three compressions for each breath, then check for a pulse.
Continue CPR until the animal has a strong heartbeat and pulse, or until you reach the veterinary hospital, or until 20 minutes have passed and your efforts have not been successful.
To order the "Pet First Aid" book by Bobbie Mammato, DVM, MPH ($10) contact the Naples Red Cross or a bookstore.
For emergencies when your regular vet is not open: The Emergency Pet Hospital 1217 Airport Pulling Road Phone: 263-8010 Hours: Monday-Thursday 5:00 pm - 8:00 am, Fridays opens at 5:00 pm and stays open until 8:00 am Monday.
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