Updated article from April 2016
HOW TO PREFORM CPR ON A SMALL DOG
It’s a Chihuahua owner’s worst nightmare! Can you imagine finding your dog unconscious and not breathing? How frightening that would be! Would you know how to preform CPR on a small dog in an emergency? It happens every day in this country from many different causes. They could be caught in a fire or more commonly they may have choked on something. What would you do? Panic? Probably, but if you know how to administer CPR on your dog before it happens, it could save your dog’s life.
It can happen at any time. This article is not to scare you, but to help you and I be prepared before the unthinkable happens!
WHAT IS CPR FOR DOGS?
CPR involves chest compressions. It can be done with or without artificial respiration.
You do NOT want to use CPR on your Chihuahua unless he or she is NOT breathing when you cannot hear or feel the dog’s heartbeat.
As mentioned, it can happen for a variety of reasons, illness, trauma, and most commonly, choking.
You need to be aware, however, that using CPR on your dog can potentially be harmful. It can cause physical complications or fatal damage if performed on a healthy dog.
It would be ideal to have someone with you to call your veterinarian for guidance while on the way to the hospital. Before beginning, be sure that your Chihuahua’s airway is clear of any objects. There are different guidelines depending on the size of your dog.
size really does matter
How you perform CPR on small and larger dogs differs both in the number of compressions and in the force used to administer CPR. Here, we are talking about small dogs. A dog 30 lbs or less is considered to be a small dog. Over 30 lbs is considered to be a large dog for the purpose of administering CPR.
For a Chihuahua:
- Form your hands around the dog’s ribcage
- Using thumbs and fingers press on the chest about 1/3 of the way down
instructions:
If you have determined that CPR is needed first make sure that the airway is clear. Especially if they are choking. Then determine that the dog is not breathing. If your Chihuahua is alert and able to bite you, do not attempt CPR.
Do your chest compressions firmly. Not too fast and not too slow. Continue for at least 5 minutes.
Just as you have heard about performing CPR on humans, using the song; “Staying Alive” to determine the pace and rhythm is a good rule of thumb.
During this time, someone should be trying to get you and your dog to the veterinarian while you continue administrating CPR for 5 full minutes.
If after 5 full minutes the dog is still not breathing you can try another cycle for another 5 minutes. By this time you should be at the veterinary hospital or clinic. If not, and the dog is still not breathing you can try 1 more cycle for 5 minutes. Do not attempt more than 3 cycles of chest compressions. It becomes less successful each cycle.
I sincerely hope that you never have to experience such a traumatic event. But, I also hope that you will feel better prepared should it happen to your Chihuahua.
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