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To most of us, the idea of doing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a pet might seem odd or even funny at first. How does it work, exactly? Can you do mouth-to-mouth on a dog? (More on that later.) But, to the team at Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies, being trained in CPR for dogs and cats is a serious part of caring for pets.
Thankfully, the likelihood of a pet needing CPR at a general veterinary practice or at home is low, but there are many emergency scenarios where CPR for dogs and cats is a vital life-saving tool.
It might be surprising to learn that, unlike human healthcare where medical professionals are required to be certified in CPR, there is no such requirement in veterinary medicine. To address this issue, the Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation (RECOVER) Initiative was founded in 2012 to set guidelines and life-saving standards for more successful CPR for pets. In fact, Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies criticalist, Dr. Andrew Linklater, was one of the specialists who worked on investigating the medical literature and helped to write the guidelines.
But, just because there are standards doesn’t mean all veterinarians are equally trained. That’s why it’s important to know if your veterinarians and other pet care professionals such as boarders and pet sitters are prepared if the worst should happen.
Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies is one of only a few veterinary practices in the Denver metro area—and less than a dozen practices in the whole state of Colorado—with certified RECOVER instructors.
“Our goal is to provide the best care possible to our patients and support for their families,” Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies Owner Dr. Megan Rector says. “That includes advanced training in CPR for our team and providing resources for clients to use in emergencies at home.”
Dr. Rector and board-certified veterinary criticalist Dr. Andrew Linklater are certified by the RECOVER initiative in both Basic and Advanced Life Saving techniques, which means they are not only skilled practitioners of CPR for dogs and cats, but they are also able to provide training to other veterinarians, pet care providers, and pet parents.
The goal of CPR is for the pet to have return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), which means their heart starts beating and blood starts pumping on its own. Patients who are able to achieve ROSC and be stabilized should ideally be transferred to a 24-hour hospital for continued care and monitoring. This means that an additional advantage to bringing your pet to the 24/7 ER hospital at Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies for emergency care is that, if CPR is needed, your pet won’t have to be transferred to a different hospital later.
The general health of the patient and the underlying cause of cardiac arrest are critical factors in the success of CPR, but the speed of intervention and the quality of life-saving measures also play a significant role in patient survival,” said Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies criticalist and RECOVER instructor, Dr. Andrew Linklater. “That’s one reason why the RECOVER initiative was so important.
Delivering successful CPR for dogs and cats requires a team approach. Much like what you see in medical dramas on TV, when a pet goes into cardiopulmonary arrest, the medical team jumps into action with every member playing a role.
As soon as cardiopulmonary arrest is suspected, Basic Life Support is initiated, including delivery of high-quality chest compressions and clearing the airway.
Assistance breathing is delivered with endotracheal intubation or a mask/manual resuscitator bag. In response to the question of whether you can give “mouth to snout” CPR to a dog or cat, the answer is that it can be done and may be necessary in some scenarios, but revised CPR guidelines released by RECOVER in June 2024 recommend avoiding mouth-to-snout contact if there is concern for infectious disease.
If the patient achieves ROSC, then they require Advanced Life Support, which encompasses everything beyond chest compressions and ventilation, including administration of fluids and medications, defibrillation, and close monitoring.
If your pet is in immediate distress, or you aren’t sure if emergency vet care is needed, call Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies at 303.660.1027 or bring your pet to the 24/7 Castle Rock veterinary hospital.
CPR can potentially increase the chance of survival if your pet’s heart stops beating. In general, CPR is performed when a pet is:
Signs/symptoms your pet may need CPR include:
To prepare for a possible emergency at home, this link has basic information on how to perform CPR for dogs. If you have to take action at home, the first step is to ensure there is nothing lodged in your pet’s mouth or throat.
Even if you do manage to remove the item, bring your pet for a follow-up visit to Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies or your general practice veterinarian to rule out any damage or further complications.
Of course, no one wants to wait until an emergency happens, and it’s much better to learn some pet first-aid ahead of time. Consider an online pet-owner course to learn the basics such as:
RECOVER online CPR training for pet owners ($35 fee) — This comprehensive and highly engaging course includes videos and quizzes covering the latest in CPR techniques. You receive an official certificate, which is endorsed by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care and the Veterinary Emergency Critical Care Society.
Any pet who experiences cardiopulmonary arrest and receives CPR should receive evaluation by a veterinarian and will most likely require hospitalization. If your pet has been treated by a general practice veterinarian first, they may be transferred to a hospital such as Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies for Advanced Life Support and additional monitoring.
We may not be able to prepare for all emergencies, but knowing that your veterinarians have advanced training in CPR for dogs and cats brings peace of mind when your pet is at the vet. And learning some of the basics as a pet owner could make a big difference in an emergency situation at home.