by Chelsea Padget

Created on: December 23, 2011   Last Updated: December 26, 2011

The Heimlich maneuver and CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) are techniques used to save the lives of people and animals. It is important for you as a pet owner to know how to perform these two life-saving techniques on your pet. If your pet has an object stuck in his windpipe (trachea) and he is not breathing, the Heimlich maneuver can be used to dislodge the object. After the object is dislodged and your pet is still not breathing or has no pulse, you will need to perform CPR. 

The Heimlich maneuver and CPR both begin with a check called  "ABC". The letters ABC stand for Airway, Breathing and Circulation. Before beginning the Heimlich maneuver, you should always perform the ABC check. To perform the ABC check you first check the Airway for foreign objects. 

Never perform the blind finger sweep on your pet. Dogs have a bone at the base of their tongue that can easily be mistaken for a lodged object. If you try to remove this bone, you can cause serious injury to your pet. Next check for Breathing, then check your pets Circulation by checking for a pulse to see if he has a heart beat.  

If your pets airway is blocked and you can't remove the object by hand, you need to begin the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge the object so your pet can begin breathing again: 

Heimlich maneuver: 

To perform the Heimlich maneuver on a pet that is choking, start by standing or kneeling behind your pet, with your pet facing away from you. Put your arms around your pets waist, just below his ribs. Make a fist with one hand and place your other hand over the fist. Give a good, strong squeeze or jerk inward and upward towards your pets back bone. You need to apply enough force to move your pets body. If after three or four squeezes, the object still hasn't dislodged, take him to the nearest veterinarian. 

Once you have cleared your pets airway, he should be O.K. Make sure he is breathing. If your pet is not breathing, then check his pulse. If you do not feel a pulse then begin full CPR. If there is a pulse present but your pet is not breathing, you will need to breath for him while getting him emergency help.

Assisted breathing:

If your pet has a pulse but is not breathing, you will have to breath for him. To give your pet breaths, first you need to close your pets mouth completely. Next, put your mouth over his nose and give two strong, quick breathes. Check for breathing again. If your pet is still not breathing keep giving him breaths at the rate of 20 per minute, while on your way to the nearest veterinarian.


Compressions:

If your pet has no pulse, you will need to perform CPR to keep circulation going through his body. Your pet needs blood and oxygen circulating through his body to sustain life. You can imitate a pumping heart and keep circulation pumping through your pets body through compressions. 

Compressions are given by placing the heel of both of your hands on your dogs side (he will have to be placed on his right side for compressions). Push down quick and steady. Watch your dogs chest to see it rise and fall. Do two breaths first, then five compressions. Continue this routine of two breaths per five compressions until you either get your pet emergency assistance at the nearest veterinarian or he starts breathing on his own.

After performing CPR for 20 minutes, your pet is unlikely to be saved. 

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