How to practice artificial respiration and cardiac massage?

Artificial respiration is an extreme attempt to save the animal’s life. You must act quickly but also calmly and decisively.

The animal should be lying on one side with the head slightly extended over the neck. The air must be introduced into the airways, keeping the mouth tightly closed, or into the oral cavity, keeping the nostrils closed.

Blow with a certain force for 2-3 seconds observing the lifting of the chest that must then be helped to empty it, compressing it after removing the hands from the nasal cavities and the mouth.

7 to 10 breaths per minute should be performed until breathing resumes spontaneously. If the heartbeat is not present and the heart function ceased. Cardiac massage should be performed immediately. It is the only intervention that in extreme situations can save the life of the animal.

With the animal lying on the side, place the palm of the hand (or both if it is a large animal) on the chest immediately behind the elbow. Exercising a series of 60 compressions per minute.

In small animals, such as cats and dwarf dogs, compression can be carried out with a single hand, by grasping the chest at the height of the heart, behind the elbows, with one hand and compressing rhythmically. While squeezing you should count up to 2 while only up to 1 when releasing.

Often in very severe trauma, cardiac arrest is followed by respiratory arrest. Cardiac massage should be performed together with artificial respiration. Performing one breath approximately every 5 cardiac stimulation compressions. These are always situations of serious emergency. Therefore, all these operations must be performed while urgently going to an emergency room or to the veterinarian.