Canine CPR Training

History

• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, was first endorsed in the human medical community in 1740 by the Paris Academy of Sciences, when they issued a statement advocating for the use of mouth-to-mouth respiration. In the 1890s, chest compressions were added to the artificial respiration routine to help stimulate the body's breathing. Nearly a century later, in 1980, cardiopulmonary resuscitation became a widely accepted practice for veterinary use and is advocated as a life-saving measure by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Significance

• Like humans, dogs may have an illness or become involved in an accident or trauma where they stop breathing. In emergencies like these, CPR can keep the dog alive and breathing until emergency veterinary medical help can be sought. Large dogs are easier to perform CPR on than small dogs, though the techniques are similar for both. Canine CPR training provides dog owners with a way of helping their pet in an emergency. The techniques learned in canine CPR training can potentially save a canine companion's life.

Concepts

• Canine CPR involves laying the dog on his side on a flat surface and confirming whether the dog is unconscious and not breathing. Canine CPR training encompasses how to check and clear the airway for foreign objects, as well as artificial respiration techniques used in canines. Canine CPR training also involves teaching pet owners and dog lovers how to perform chest compressions and take an accurate reading of a dog's pulse.

Finding a Trainer

• Pet shelters, animal welfare organizations, humane societies and veterinary clinics offer canine and pet CPR training classes at little or no cost to the public. For the most comprehensive education, find a class sponsored by the American Red Cross. These classes cover what to do in the event of an emergency, how to tell if CPR is needed, how to safely perform CPR and methods of safely administering CPR to avoid illness or injury to the dog or your person.

Considerations

• Vital signs are variable among dogs, even dogs of the same breed. Canine CPR works to simulate the natural vital signs of the dog, so knowing the dog's normal heart rate and respiration rate during normal circumstances is helpful. Be aware that if the dog does regain consciousness, it may be scared and act out of fear-based aggression. Those learning canine CPR should also learn how to properly restrain a dog. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation should not be used in place of proper emergency veterinary care, and is only a means of helping the animal until medical help is reached.