The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has updated its CPR guidelines for dogs and cats, emphasizing speed and standard techniques to improve survival rates. Here’s a quick guide to the most important updates.
1. Immediate Response
– Check for Responsiveness: Gently shake and call out to see if your pet reacts. If unresponsive, don’t hesitate to act quickly.
– Breathing Check: If your pet isn’t breathing, it’s time to start CPR right away.
2. Start Chest Compressions
– Rate: Aim for 100-120 compressions per minute.
– Duration: Continue compressions for 2 minutes, then quickly check for a pulse.
3. Ventilation
– Timing: Give a rescue breath every 6 seconds to keep oxygen flowing.
4. Rhythm and Pulse Check
– Quick Assessment: After 2 minutes, pause briefly to check the heart rhythm and pulse in under 10 seconds.
5. Advanced Life Support (If Available)
– Medications: Administer Epinephrine or Vasopressin every other cycle for shockable rhythms.
– Defibrillation: If necessary, defibrillate and increase the dose after the first shock if there’s no response.
Visual Guides:
Use the Initial Assessment Algorithm and CPR Algorithm charts to guide your actions. These visuals provide a clear, step-by-step approach to effectively performing CPR on your pet.
1 Comment
Jeremy Harville
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