CPR - Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation
A dogs heart is located in the lower half of the chest on the left side, behind the elbow of the front left leg. The function of the heart is to pump blood. The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs, where oxygen is added to the blood and carbon dioxide is removed from it. The left side pumps blood to the rest of the body, where oxygen and nutrients are delivered to tissues, and waste products (including carbon dioxide) are transferred to the blood for removal by other organs (such as the lungs and kidneys).
The heart beats because of a tiny electrical current that originates in the heart’s pacemaker called the sinoatrial node. Rhythmic electrical impulses or discharges cause the contraction of muscle fibers in the heart. While an animal is at rest, the sinoatrial node discharges many times each minute: about 30 times per minute in the horse, more than 120 times per minute in the cat, and 60 to 120 times per minute in the dog. In general, the larger the species, the slower the rate of sinoatrial node discharge and the slower the heart rate.
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FIRST STEPS
Visual risk assessment.
Ask permission to help if not your dog.
Try and get a response from the dog first by clapping and calling name.
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BEGIN CPR
Put dog in CPR position–lay dog down on its right hand side and extend head and neck – if the dog is on his left hand side take all 4 feet and roll over.
A – clear Airway (pull tongue out to do so)
B – check Breathing by looking from head to feet to see if chest is moving
C – check Circulation (pulse) inside of hind legs.
Push tongue back in (a dog cannot swallow its own tongue) and hold muzzle shut to seal mouth.
4-5 rescue breaths in the nostrils and then 30 quick compressions on chest (using base of palm of one hand, locking hands and keeping arms straight. (use I hand for a tiny dog).
Then 2 breaths in the nostrils followed by 30 compressions and repeat 3 times and then check for pulse.
Carry on compressions until rhythm in heart beat is back then you can stop the compressions and just continue rescue breaths 10-15 breaths per minute.
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CONCLUSION
Heart beat will come back first then breathing and then sometimes quite a bit later consciousness.
If left for 3-4 minutes with no oxygen then it maybe too late.
There is a 8% chance of getting the dog back.