The worst has happened. Your beloved companion is hurt. You need to act and act quickly. In this article, we look at 2 possible techniques you can use to save your dog’s life. They cannot replace the intervention by a qualified Vet. They are meant to help you and your pet survive until you can reach the vets.

As mentioned in the previous article, you need to remain calm. You have to be firm but gentle. You also need to restrain your pet to prevent further injury. This also allows you to check for the signs indicating the type of injury sustained. Whatever the situation, you need to look at the heart and the respiratory system.

Heart Massage

As soon as you can, check your dog’s heartbeat. You can do so by gently squeezing the lower third of the dog’s chest. Use your thumb and forefinger. If you cannot tell from this technique, place the canine on his or her side. In order for you to make the dog comfortable, remove the collar, halti or harness. Place the head stretched out in a relaxed position.

Next. Open the dog’s mouth. Pull out the tongue. You can employ either your fingers or a cloth. Once you have the tongue in hand, hold it gently. This will ensure the dog’s airway passages are clear. If necessary, use the cloth or finger to clean out the mouth.

If you still cannot feel a heartbeat, move to plan B.. Take the palms of your hands. Place them firmly on the lower third of the animal’s chest. Compress the chest. Release. Be sure to adjust the intensity of the pressure to suit the size and weight of the individual dog. Repeat the technique again. Apply pressure at the rate of 1 second for a minute. Check the life signs once again. If the dog still does not have a heartbeat, you might have to begin to employ artificial respiration.

Artificial Respiration

There are 2 basic approaches to implementing artificial respiration. They are based on the causal factor or factors of the cessation of breathing. If your canine has ceased to breathe due to inhaling vomit, drowning or consuming improperly liquid medication, try the suspension method. Hang the dog from its rear legs. Hold him or her there for approximately 15 seconds. If there is an obstruction, shaking the animal in this position may loosen it.

This technique may not be possible if you have a large dog or lack the required muscles. In this case, raise only the hind quarters in the air. Be sure you raise the pelvis high enough. You then shake the animal 3 or 4 times in hopes of removing the problem.

If this method fails, you can try another technique. Lay the animal on his or her side. You then duplicate the technique shown under Heart Massage. You place the dog on one side of its body, remove any restrictive items, open the mouth and pull out the dog’s tongue. Clean the mouth. These actions may help clear the passageways of any debris.

If your animal still is not breathing, you can copy the compression method used to start the heart. In this instance, however, you place the palms of both hands just beneath the animal’s front legs. Use the fingertips only if the canine is small. Close and extend all the fingers if you are applying pressure to a medium-size dog. Employ extended and open fingers when massaging the chest of a large dog.

As you press down and release, listen carefully for any indication of breathing. Listen heard for the slightest of breaths. Repeat the compression pattern 5 seconds for every minute.

If both methods fail to initiate or restart breathing, you may have to begin artificial respiration. Place the muzzle of your dog between your 2 hands. Close the mouth and compress the lips. You are not going to blow into the dog’s mouth. You are going to gently place your mouth alongside the nose and blow into it. Be sure to adjust your position to prevent any escape of your life-giving air from the dog’s mouth. Stop every minute to listen. If the canine is still not breathing, continue the process every 5 seconds in a single minute. Continue blowing air into the nostrils until the animal can breathe on his or her own.

Remember. None of the above techniques can replace the care provided by a vet. You apply them only when the situation is an emergency.

Article provided by Heather Kerrigan of Oh My Dog Supplies, check out our cool selection of dog placemats online.