Online CPR Certification Blog

First Aid and CPR Classes for Pets

As pet owners, we have a responsibility to keep our pets safe and healthy. The best thing you can do is make sure that your dog or cat has access to emergency care.

While it’s important to prepare for anything, the reality is that emergencies are rare. However, in the event that one does occur, it’s important to know how to react so you don’t cause more harm than good. That’s where CPR first aid training comes in.

In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about first aid and CPR classes for pets.

We’ll also provide answers to some frequently asked questions about these programs so that you can feel confident about enrolling in one when the time comes.

What is CPR?

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Cardio refers to the heart, pulmonic refers to the lungs and resuscitation means “to revive” or “bring back.”

In other words, when you perform CPR on a cat, your dog you are trying to get their heart pumping again and breathing going again.

The consequences of delayed CPR on pets

Delayed start of chest compressions is one of the major causes of mortality in cases where pets are brought to veterinary hospitals.

As much as giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation may seem strange, it can help keep oxygen circulating through your pet’s lungs while they wait for emergency medical help.

Situations Where First Aid and CPR Classes for Pets Come in Handy

Here are some common situations where first aid and CPR classes for pets can come in handy:

1. Your pet has an accident or gets injured. 

Accidents happen, even to the most well-behaved pets. If your pet is hurt during an accident, it’s important to know what to do until you can get him or her to a vet. Even if your pet isn’t seriously injured, knowing how to administer first aid could save his life.

2. You’re traveling with your pet.

Traveling with pets can be stressful — especially if you’re taking them on an airplane or long car ride. To make sure they stay comfortable while they’re traveling, consider taking first aid and CPR classes for pets before you hit the road.

3. Your pet has a serious medical condition. 

If your dog or cat has been diagnosed with a serious medical condition like heart disease or diabetes, it’s important to know what symptoms may be expected so that you can react quickly if something happens outside.

Why CPR for Pets is Different from Human CPR

While there are many similarities between human and animal anatomy, there are also differences that may affect which techniques work best for each species. For example:

• Pets do not have a diaphragm like people do, so CPR doesn’t work the same way on them as it does on people. If you suspect your pet isn’t breathing normally — meaning it doesn’t appear to be using its diaphragm — don’t attempt CPR unless instructed by a professional first aid provider or vet
• In dogs and cats, the sternum is not as thick as in humans and can easily be fractured. This makes chest compressions more difficult to perform.
• The trachea (windpipe) of dogs and cats is narrow, making it harder to breathe through a tube.
• The heart of a cat has four chambers instead of two like in humans. This affects how quickly animals can recover from cardiac arrest.

Lastly, a cat has a sternum that’s flexible enough to allow you to easily push your fingers through it from the back of the chest, but it’s harder to do this with a human.

CPR on a Dog

CPR is a lifesaving technique that can help keep your pet alive when he or she is not breathing. It’s important to know how to perform CPR on a dog, especially if you’re alone and there’s no one else around to help.

Performing CPR on a dog can be a difficult task because of their size, but it can be done if you are calm and follow the proper steps. Always remember, however, that performing CPR on an animal is only meant as an emergency measure and should not be used as part of regular pet care.

Signs your dog needs CPR

Your dog may need CPR if he suddenly stops breathing or has a cardiac arrest. Here are signs that could indicate your dog needs CPR:

• Sudden collapse

If your dog suddenly collapses on the floor, it could be a sign of a heart attack or respiratory failure.

• Unresponsiveness

If your dog is unresponsive, you might notice him lying still with his eyes open or closed, shallow breathing and no response to stimuli like noise or touch.

• Slow heart rate: 

If your dog’s heart rate is below 60 beats per minute, it could indicate a serious condition such as low blood sugar or liver disease.

If you suspect that your pet has suffered a heart attack or seizure, call your vet immediately. These conditions require immediate attention from a professional.

How to Perform CPR on a Dog

If your dog stops breathing and becomes unresponsive, follow these steps:

Put your pet in CPR position

Lay your pet on his or her side with their head facing you.

If they are having trouble breathing normally or have labored breathing, lay them on their side first so that they don’t struggle against you while you’re trying to help them breathe again.

If your dog is conscious and walking around normally, simply pick him up and lay him down gently on his side. This will help her relax as much as possible before beginning CPR.

Don’t try to force his body into position — let him lie down where he feels comfortable and relaxed.

Check for breathing and issue CPR

Check for breathing by looking at the chest area of your pet’s body.

If no movement can be seen in this area, then begin administering CPR.

Press down on your pet’s chest about two inches above their heart and about one third of the way in from the left shoulder blade area (where it meets their spine). Give 30 chest compressions at a rate of 100 beats per minute (30 compressions per second

After each compression of their chest, allow for about one second for them to inhale before starting another compression. Continue doing this until your pet begins breathing again or begins moving around normally again.

CPR on a Cat

If you have a cat, the chances are you’ll need to perform CPR at some point. This is not something that you want to do, but it’s better to be prepared than not.

Signs your cat needs CPR

Your cat may need CPR if:

• He’s unconscious.
• He’s not breathing on his own.
• His heart isn’t beating properly.

You may also need to perform CPR if he’s having trouble breathing, such as wheezing or gasping for breath.

How to Perform CPR on a Cat

Here’s how to perform CPR for cats:

1. The first step is to check whether your cat is breathing. If they aren’t, then you can start performing CPR. If they are, then it may be necessary to get them to the vet as soon as possible so they can be treated with oxygen and fluids.
2. You will need to use a finger in order to feel their chest and see if they are breathing or not. If they aren’t, then perform 30 compressions on their chest at a rate of 100 per minute until either they start breathing again or help arrives.
3. Once they have started breathing again, then carefully place them on their side (not on their back) so that any fluids that may have been inhaled can drain out of their mouth and nose naturally.

CPR on Pets: How to Tell if Your Dog or Cat is Recovering

Once you’ve given your pet CPR, it’s important to monitor their progress and watch for signs of improvement. If your dog or cat is still not breathing normally after 20 minutes, get them to the vet as soon as possible.

There are some things that you can look out for that might indicate that your pet is recovering from cardiac arrest:

1. Normal breathing

Your dog or cat will start breathing normally again. This doesn’t mean that they’re completely out of the woods; it just means that they’re no longer in cardiac arrest mode. They may still be unconscious, but they should at least be breathing on their own again.

How to tell if they breathing:

• The chest rises
• The sides of the chest move inward and outward with each breath
• The animal is able to walk around without help

You can also tell the animal is recovering normally if they can respond to your voice and touch.

2. Stable heart rate

Their heart rate will stabilize and remain steady at around 100 beats per minute or above (for cats). As long as their heart rate remains steady and their pulse isn’t weak or thready anymore, they should be doing OK.

You’ll know if their heart rate is too high because it will feel fast when you press on their chest.

Rescue Breaths on a Pet

If you’ve ever seen a pet owner perform rescue breaths on their dog or cat, you may have wondered how effective this is. The answer? Not 100%. Rescue breaths are not recommended for pets because they require an open airway, which is difficult when performing CPR on an animal.

Can I Perform Rescue Breaths on a Pet?

You can try to perform rescue breaths on your pet if the animal is unconscious and not breathing, but there are no guarantees that the technique will work.

This is because the tongue, teeth and soft palate of pets often block their throats, making it impossible to ventilate them effectively. This means that the air won’t flow into their lungs — which is critical for survival in any situation.

How to perform rescue breaths on a pet

Rescue breaths are designed to help maintain oxygen flow and circulation during cardiac arrest until more advanced medical care can be provided.

First, make sure the animal has a clear airway. If necessary, open their mouth and remove any obstructions such as food or vomit.

Then tilt their head back slightly and pinch their nose closed with one hand while placing your other hand over their muzzle.

Take a deep breath, then exhale into their nose while using your thumb and forefinger to close off their nostrils.

This will force oxygen into the lungs through the mouth and nose instead of through the windpipe, which may have been blocked by an obstruction in its path.

Other Tips When Issuing CPR and First Aid on Pets

Never give a dog or cat an aspirin or other medication without first consulting with your veterinarian. Many drugs can be fatal to pets.

Always perform CPR on a dog or cat before attempting rescue breathing. Bouts of bradycardia (slow heartbeat) often last longer than they do in humans, which may cause permanent brain damage if CPR is not performed immediately.

Pets have a higher body temperature than humans; their blood is warmer and pumps faster. This means if your pet has been injured, it’s important not to apply cold packs or ice to the area because it could cause more damage due to loss of circulation.

Pets have fewer pain receptors than humans, so they will be less likely to respond when you touch an injured area. However, it’s still important to be gentle with them while treating their injuries so as not to cause further damage or hurt them more by moving them too much.

How Long Should I Perform CPR on a Pet?

If your pet experiences cardiac arrest, you should perform CPR until a medical professional or Emergency Medical Technician arrives.

However, if you are not trained in First Aid or certified in CPR, it is important that you get immediate help from professionals. They will be able to assess whether your pet can be revived and continue treating him accordingly.

It’s also crucial that you take care of yourself during such an event—experts say bystanders who experience severe stress after seeing such an event are prone to experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms later on.

It helps to take First Aid and CPR classes for pets as you may need them one day.

Can I use an AED on a Pet?

Yes. Only veterinary AEDs designed for use with animals are capable of delivering treatment in pets, so it is important that you purchase one from a reputable manufacturer.

The vast majority of veterinary AEDs cannot deliver sufficient electric shock to humans and should not be used by them; only use an AED designed specifically for pets if you are trying to resuscitate an animal.

Defibrillation can also be delivered manually, though many vets are against it. If a pet receives manual defibrillation, it must then be transported immediately to an emergency room where an electric defibrillator can be used.

Without immediate treatment using an electric defibrillator, pets in wanting conditions may not survive cardiac arrest.

What Causes SCA and Heart Attack in Pets

1. SCA

The most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest in pets is heartworm disease, but there are also many other causes.

Arrhythmias, which are irregularities in a pet’s heartbeat rhythm, can be caused by age or congenital defects. Older pets may experience arrhythmias from enlargement of cardiac tissue due to congestive heart failure.

2. Congenital defects

Congenital defects can lead to irregular beats from birth; dogs with cardiomyopathy often have an inherited susceptibility towards heart rhythm disturbances.

3. Abnormalities in conduction pathways 

Abnormalities in conduction pathways that carry electrical impulses through a pet’s heart can lead to premature contractions, called ectopic beats.

4. Infections

An infection within your pet’s heart muscle—myocarditis—can also cause abnormal rhythms. And certain medications like steroids and anti-inflammatories can affect how your pet’s heart functions.

Any one of these conditions could potentially result in SCA if not treated quickly enough. So it’s important to know what signs to look out for!

Why You Should Visit a Vet After a CPR Event or Sudden cardiac arrest/Heart attack

Even if you performed an emergency resuscitation, it is imperative that your pet sees a veterinarian.

This is especially true in situations where you believe there was no heartbeat prior to resuscitation or in situations where you continue resuscitation beyond 10 minutes.

It’s not uncommon for patients who have suffered cardiac arrest from trauma, poisoning or other sudden issues to exhibit a short period of cardiac activity followed by hours of no activity only to spring back into life hours later.

The patient may not show signs of life until his/her body fully metabolizes whatever toxin was causing their temporary cardiac arrest/heart attack. This is also known as Lazarus Syndrome because it mimics scenes from Jesus’s raising of Lazarus in John 11.

If your pet experiences a sudden heart attack or cardiac arrest, please seek veterinary care immediately. If you are unable to get immediate care due to location or time constraints, please do everything possible to keep your pet warm and monitor him/her closely.

Why Pet Owners Should Consider Pet CPR training

Many of us spend countless hours training our pets. And, it’s absolutely necessary that you know your pets’ behavior patterns. However, if your pet suddenly goes into cardiac arrest, you might not be able to react fast enough without an emergency plan in place.

Fortunately, there are classes that teach pet CPR techniques so owners can keep their fur babies alive until they reach veterinary care.  By enrolling in these first aid and CPR classes for pets, you’ll learn how to perform chest compressions, as well as how to administer rescue breaths.

Additionally, you’ll also learn about other lifesaving methods such as automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and animal-specific treatments like administering insulin with an injection.

Best of all; these courses will give you peace of mind—which is invaluable when it comes to your furry family members!

First Aid and CPR Classes for Pets: What Are Your Options?

Finding pet first aid or pet CPR classes can be difficult if you don’t know where to look. It may surprise you that training for pets is now offered in most regions.

If your town doesn’t have any certified pet first aid instructors, call around at pet shops, vets, or your local American Red Cross chapter to see if they can point you in the right direction. Sometimes what turns out to be your best option is asking one of their staffers who has taken classes.

Most people get CPR training through community health centers, hospital-sponsored programs, or via online certification courses (if available). Unfortunately, these options are often geared toward humans only.

However, if you do find an instructor who will take your pet (and many do!), then consider it money well spent.

After all, every dog deserves to live as long as possible—and getting them trained up with basic first aid skills is a great way to make sure they can stay safe in case of emergency situations.

Final Words on First Aid and CPR Classes for Pets

First aid and CPR classes for pets are becoming more popular as the number of pets in the United States continues to rise.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are about 72 million owned dogs and 84 million owned cats in America today!

Because there are so many pets out there, it’s important that their owners know how to properly perform first aid and CPR if the unfortunate situation should arise where these skills would be needed to help an animal breathe again or keep its heart beating.

If you don’t know how to perform CPR properly, take classes or ask someone who does know how to do it properly.

The last thing you want is for them to suffer more because you were trying to help but didn’t know what you were doing.