Emergency!

Ever wonder what you would do in an emergency? If I was a hooman you would probably have a list of different things you would try in an emergency: recovery position, CPR, mouth to mouth etc. However, I AM NOT HOOMAN. So what would you do in an emergency? The answer… exactly the same thing. In this post we are going to discuss all of these things but with our fluffy companions in mind.

The recovery Position

1. Lie us down on our right hand side

Just like you hoomans our hearts are on the left side so this position is handy for doing CPR

2) Extend the head and neck

This will help open our airways

3) Draw the tongue forward so that it hangs out

This so we don't choke on our tongues (make sure our tongue is hanging out at the front not the sides)

4) Remove any collar or harness

These again can restrict breathing so try to remove these.

ABC’s

Just like you hoomans do in emergencies its important to do an initial exam on your doggy friends

A - Airways

Extend the neck so the head is in line with the neck and pull tongue to the front of the mouth (not to the side).

Check the dogs airways for anything lodged in the dogs throat. If there is something there, if reachable try to get it. However, this can push the object further down the dogs throat so be very careful.

If you cannot get the object by hand proceed to the Heimlich Manoeuvre. (This will be covered in the next blog post keep an eye out!)

B - Breathing

Mouth-to-snout: So this is where things get a little gross. Dogs have very big mouths so mouth-to-mouth wont work. So close the mouth the best you can and give breaths to the doggies nose. You should see the chest rise and fall if successful. Carry on! If the chest is not rising and falling with mouth-to-snout go back to A.

In an ideal world you need to be doing 20 breaths a minute, however realistically as many as you possibly can, some oxygen is better than none!

C - Circulation

Is the dog bleeding?

Is the heart pumping?

You can check the dogs heart beat by feeling on the chest (left hand side) at the point of the elbow when the dog is in the recovery position. The femoral pulse can be felt in the groin area (behind the thigh right up in the groin have a feel).

If you definitely cannot feel a heart beat or pulse its time for CPR!

CPR

Place hands over the chest at the point of the left elbow (aprox. in the middle of the rib cage)

Compress chest 100-120 times per minute and continued for 2 minutes at a time and keep check that heart and pulse rate (I never said this wouldn't be exhausting especially when you are also having to give 20 breaths a minute!)

Compressions also have to be much harder than you think. You need to compress to about 1/3-1/2 of the chest depth and make sure you are lifting up to allow the heart to re-fill with blood.

If there is another person around keep taking turns! This is exhausting work but well worth.

Large/giant breeds

Compressions should be done over the widest part of the chest

Keel Chested breeds

Compressions with the hands directly over the heart

Barrel chested breeds

The dog should be on its back and the hands should be positioned in the middle of the chest. The same way you would do it on hoomans.

Cats and small breeds

Circumferential compressions. Use one hand and pump the heart with your hand around the front of the dogs chest (palm over the heart)

So there you have it guys a little information on how to help your doggies in an emergency. Remember though its vital to take these poorly pets to the vets!

Comment below and suggest some more health advice you would like.