VIDEO: Proper Technique For Performing CPR On Pets

By  //  December 30, 2014

Does performing CPR on animals work?

ABOVE VIDEO: If you cannot get your dog to veterinary help quickly to save his/her life, you might be in the position of having to perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on him/her to restore his/her breathing and heartbeat. Elaine Acker, CEO of Pets America, demonstrates the proper technique for performing CPR on pets. They shot this video with “Wolfgang” because he’s a larger manikin and the process is easier to see. However, this works the same way with cats. Just adjust the depth of your compression’s accordingly just as you would with an infant vs an adolescent in human CPR.

Though you may be a loving animal guardian and you take care of your fur babies as if they were your own children, you may not be aware that there is such thing as artificial respiration (AR) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for pets and animals.

Pet CPR is appropriate when a dog, cat or other animal is experiencing cardiopulmonary arrest, more commonly known as cardiac asset, which is the sudden or abrupt loss of heart function.

Keep in mind that CPR guidelines do change and are updated periodically, for both animals and humans, so be aware of this and stay consistent in staying up to date on pet CPR.

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Does performing CPR on animals work? According to the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS), Less than 6 percent of dogs and cats that experience cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) survive to hospital discharge, while the survival rate in people is over 20 percent.

Regardless of the chances, you must do all you can to save your dog or cat.